º
-º
THE - 7.
Battle ºf Lundy's Lant. "
-
-
BY ERNEST CRUIKSHANK,
CAPTAIN, 44TH BATTALION.




PRESS NOTICES.
“The details of the most stubborn and sanguinary engagement ever fought in
the Province of Ontario are given by the author with a precision that excites admira-
tion.”—Empire. .
“Flowery language is not so much attempted by the author as an honest account
of how each engagement was lost or won, and in this particular he succeeds admirably.”
—Barrie Examiner. -
“The Battle of Lundy’s Lane, one of the most graphic and full accounts of that
memorable engagement that has ever appeared.”—Orillia Packet.
“Captain Cruikshank always writes naturally and with force, and his perfect ac-
quaintance with military duty makes his descriptions not only pleasant but profitable
reading, for he understands his subject and spares himself in no way.”—Ottawa Journal.
“These books, though pamphlets in size, are among the most reliable yet pub-
lished on that war.”—Mail. -
“Mr. Cruikshank does not write as an Englishman but as an impartial investigator
who has had access to original documents, and is intent upon putting the truth before
the world ... There is no doubt that Mr. Cruikshank’s history is indispensable to those
who desire exact knowledge of the history of Western New York.”—Rochester Post-
Express.
“I have just finished reading your excellent and valuable pamphlet entitled But-
ler's Rangers, and I congratulate you upon your lucid and candid presentation of the
history concerning these men and their work in the war between Great Britain and the
Colonists. There are details of the story, here and there, in which I, as a reader of
history, might not agree with you, but I am much pleased with the spirit which, in
addition to your untiring industry, has made of this obscure story so real a contribu-
tion to genuine history.” !.
[Letter from W. M. Elliot Griffis, LL.D., author of “Life of Sir Wm. Johnson.”]







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<> T H E Tºs-
BATTLE OF LUNDY'S LANE
25th JULY, 1814.
A HISTORICAL STUDY.
*-
sº."
BY ERNEST CRUIKSHANK, CAPTAIN, 44TH BATTALION.
º
THIRD EDITION.
WELLAND :
PRINTED AT THE TRIBUNE OFFICE.
NoTE To THE THIRD EDITION.
The very gratifying reception accorded to previous editions of this
pamphlet, which are now exhausted, has induced the Lundy's Lane Histori-
cal Society to undertake the publication of a third, which has been carefully
revised by the author. -
$
Fort Erie, 18th December, 1893.
THE BATTLE OF LUNDY'S LANE.
The month of December, 1813, was marked by the retirement
of the American troops from their lines at Fort George, which they
had occupied since the preceding May, under circumstances which
tended to cover their arms with disgrace. Under the pretext that it
was necessary to deprive their adversaries of shelter upon that from-
tier, the remaining inhabitants of Niagara were driven from their
homes and the entire village committed to the flames. With the
same intention Queenston was deliberately bombarded with red-hot
shot from the batteries at Lewiston. Many isolated farm houses
were destroyed by marauding parties of soldiers, or, when they
proved too substantial for instant demolition, were rendered uninhab-
itable by removal of the doors and windows. The few cattle still
remaining in the possession of the country people were mercilessly
slaughtered or driven away, and their grain and flour removed or
destroyed. On the 10th of December, General McClure wrote exult-
ingly from Fort Niagara to Governor Tompkins of New York: “The
village is now in flames and the enemy shut out of hope and means
of wintering in Fort George. This step has not been resolved on
without counsel,” he added, “and is in conformity with the views of
the Secretary of War, made known to me in previous communica-
tions.” This, however, was strenuously denied by the latter. “My
Orders,” he asserted, “were to burn it if necessary to the defense of
Fort George, and not otherwise. But he does not defend Fort George,
and then burns Niagara. My orders were given on the report of the
General that the attack of Fort George might be covered by Newark.”
Almost before the ink was dry on McClure's letter the flames of
Niagara had become the signal for the rapid advance of a small
British corps of observation, under Colonel John Murray, which lay
at Twelve Mile Creek. Putting his men in sleighs, the British com-
mander hurried forward through a blinding snowstorm, and fell upon
the incendiaries before their work of destruction was completed.
The village of Niagara had been already reduced to ashes, but the
barracks and defences of Fort George were left comparatively unin-
jured, and the retreating garrison left the whole of their tents stand-
ing in the works they had so precipitately abandoned. The recovery
of the left bank of the Niagara by the British was followed by the
6
surprise of Fort Niagara and the capture of the American batteries
at Lewiston and Schlosser, and, finally, by the occupation of Buffalo,
after a hard-fought action near Black Rock. Before the end of the
month the Americans were driven from every defensive position upon
their own bank of the stream, severe and stern retaliation had been
exacted for their ravages upon the Canadian settlements, nearly every
habitable building between Buffalo and Eighteen Mile Creek on Lake
Ontario being laid in ruins, and the terrified inhabitants had fled
beyond the Genessee. These successes put the small British force
employed in possession of an ample and Sorely needed supply of pro-
visions, ammunition, and military stores of various kinds, besides
furnishing them with comfortable winter quarters. Hitherto the
men had been unprovided with winter clothing of any description,
and they were still without a field-train, artificers, engineers, or regu-
larly Organized commissariat. During the preceding campaign, quan-
tities of ammunition had been spoiled by being conveyed with the
army in ordinary open farm wagons, for lack of regular tumbrils. *
Drummond at once projected the reduction of Detroit and the des-
truction of the American squadron on Lake Erie, then lying at Put-
in-Bay.” He pushed his outposts forward to the forks of the Thames,
and his scouts penetrated to the borders of Lake St. Clair, and even
ventured to cross into Michigan, where they captured the arms of a
company of militia.” The departure of the proposed expedition was
delayed by the mildness of the weather, which kept the roads impas-
sable until March.” By that time the garrison of Detroit had been
heavily reinforced, several thousand militia were collected at Put-in-
Bay for the defence of the ships, and the energetic Governor of New
York had been enabled to gather a large force of State troops at
Batavia.
The British General was at the same time obliged to proceed to
York to open the annual session of the Legislature of Upper Canada, for
he united the functions of administrator of the civil government with
those of commander of the forces, and during his absence the Ameri-
cans began to contemplate the recovery of Fort Niagara. With this
view three thousand regular troops were rapidly moved across the
State of New York from Sackett's Harbor to the encampment at
Batavia.” It had been ascertained from deserters that great discon-
tent existed in the battalion of the 8th or King's regiment, which
garrisoned that post, and that the same cause which had prevented
the advance of an expedition against Detroit had delayed the rein-
forcement of the division guarding the Niagara by troops from Lower
Canada. In fact Drummond had been obliged to weaken it by send-
1. Drummond to Prevost, March 21; 2. Drummond to Prevost, Jam. 21 ; 3. Drummond to Prevost,
Feb. 21 ; 4. Drummond to Capt. N. Freer, Feb. 19; 5. Lossing, Field Book of 1812, p. 762.
7 {
ing a detachment of the Newfoundland regiment and artillery to
relieve Mackinac, and withdrawing the battalion of the 41st from
York for the defence of Kingston." The number of desertions from
the garrison of Fort Niagara had become so great and the discontent
of the men so pronounced, that the battalion was finally withdrawn
and replaced by the 100th. Scarcely had this been accomplished than
they, too, began to desert in such numbers that General Riall, who
had been left in command of the division, was forced in utter despair
to recommend the abandonment of “that cursed fort,” as he forcibly
designated it.” At that time the British army was largely recruited
from the pauper and criminal classes, and many foreigners were
enlisted even into regiments of the line. Thus, five men deserting in
a body from the Royal Scots at this time were described as being all
foreigners. Besides being imperfectly clothed and often harshly
treated, they had received no pay for upwards of six months, and
their discontent at the irksome and monotomous round of duty in Fort
Niagara is not surprising.
Drummond, however, resolutely refused his consent to the evacua-
tion of a post so important, and, as fine weather returned, desertions
diminished. He was unremitting in his preparations for the coming
campaign. Through the worst of weather and execrable roads he had
hurried from York.to Kingston, and from Kingston to Delaware,
making inquiries into the resources of the country and the condition
of the inhabitants.” Ascertaining that the wheat crop near the fron-
tier was likely to prove deficient, he promptly prohibited the distilla-
tion of grain, and issued orders for the formation of magazines in the
vicinity of Long Point, a part of the country which had hitherto
escaped the ravages of the invaders.” The region between Chippawa
and Fort Erie had been so completely laid waste that it remained
almost uninhabited. In addition to his troops he had several thou-
sand non-combatants to feed, and in the destitute condition of the
country this seemed an almost hopeless task. Most of the western
Indians that had survived General Proctor's defeat, as well as the
whole of the Six Nations from the Grand River, three thousand per-
sons in all, of whom two-thirds were helpless women and children,
had sought refuge near the British cantonments at Burlington. Their
depredations so harassed and alarmed many of the inhabitants in the
vicinity that they abandoned their farms and took shelter in the
soldiers' quarters.” The homeless fugitives from the Niagara were
also dependent upon the over-taxed commissariat. While his armed
force numbered less than two thousand, between seven and eight
1. Drummond to Prevost, Feb. S ; 2. Riall to Drummond, March 15 ; 3. Drummond to Prevost, March
5; 4. Drummond to Prevost, January 25. “The crop in the Niagara District is short, but I think there
Y.". *gh for the Right Division if that at Long Point is collected in time;” 5. Drummond to Pre-
vost, Feb. 8 *
8 *
thousand rations were issued daily. Already, in the month of Janu-
ary, it became evident that the supply of meat would soon be exhausted,
and Drummond began to entertain serious apprehensions that he
would be compelled to abandon all that part of the Province lying
west of Kingston, from sheer want of food. Nor was the situation at
the latter post much more encouraging. Five thousand rations were
consumed there every day, and on the 5th April there remained but
sixteem barrels of flour in store. In fact his embarrassments in this
respect were quite as great as those of the Duke of Wellington during
the Peninsular war, who was so much engaged with this vital ques-
tion of food and supplies that he was accustomed to say that he did
not know whether he was much of a general but he felt certain that
he was a first-rate commissariat officer. Although a vote of censure
had been just passed on his predecessor in the Government by the
Legislative Assembly of the Province, for having proclaimed martial
law for the purpose of supplying his troops from the country, Drum-
mond was then compelled by danger of absolute starvation to resort
to it again, though with great anxiety and reluctance, as the inhabi-
tants did not appear willing to part with their produce at any price.
His efforts to induce the western Indians to remove to Lower Canada,
were unsuccessful, as well as his endeavors to persuade the Six
Nations to return to their deserted farms on the Grand River. The
inefficiency of the militia from want of discipline and defective equip-
ment, as well as lack of competent officers, having become manifest,
he directed the enlistment of a battalion of four hundred men from
among them to serve during the war, with the intention of permitting
the remainder to bestow their undivided attention upon their ordinary
pursuits, except in the event of a levy em masse to repel actual in-
vasion. Captain William Robinson, of the 8th, was appointed lieu-
tenant-colonel, and Captain James Kerby, of the Lincoln Militia,
major, of this corps. The ranks were rapidly filled up with stalwart
young recruits, and it was armed and exercised as a battalion of light
infantry, under the title of the Incorporated Militia. Sevéral captur-
ed field-guns and tumbrils were fitted for active service, and supplies
of grain and flour diligently collected in various parts of the country
for the support of the forces in the field."
It seemed evident that a fresh attempt at invasion would not
long be delayed. American newspapers clamored for the speedy
recovery of Fort Niagara. Late in January Black Rock was re-
occupied by their troops, and they began to annoy the British post at
Fort Erie by the fire of artillery from batteries there.” At the same
time they were reported to be building large barracks upon Lewiston
Heights, several miles inland. The subsequent movement of a large
1. Drummond to Prevost, March 29 ; 2. Drummond to Prevost, Feb. 1.
9
body of troops from Sackett's Harbor in that direction was almost
immediately revealed to the commandant at Kingston by deserters,
and General Riall was placed on his guard. Severe cold weather,
accompanied by heavy falls of snow during the latter part of March,
delayed the progress of defensive works already commenced by the
British, and early in April General Riall sallied out from Fort Niag-
ara and levelled with the ground the earthworks which had been
erected by the Americans the previous year along the right bank of
the river from its mouth to Lewiston, fearing that they might be
occupied by his adversaries." A deserter, who came in a few days
later, reported that seven thousand soldiers were already assembled
near Buffalo. The difficulties of the situation daily increased, and
the prospect for the future became more discouraging. A great
council of the Indians of Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, was convened .
by American agents at Dayton, and those present were informed that
they must take up arms against the British or be treated as enemies
of the United States. Each warrior was promised a stipend of
Seventy-five cents a day, and their wives and children would be re-
tained as hostages. The Delawares, Senecas, Shawanees, and
Wyandots joined in the war dance and were directed to assemble at
Detroit.” Similar steps were taken to enlist the tribes of New York
and Pennsylvania in the movement against Canada. Marauding
parties from Detroit made frequent inroads into the Western District,
carrying off the loyal inhabitants and destroying the settlements at
Delaware and Point aux Pins. In the middle of May, eight hundred
Americans conveyed in six ships of war made a descent upon Port
Dover, and burned the entire village, turning the inhabitants out of
doors in the midst of a chilling storm of rain and sleet.” They then
proceeded up the lake, destroying the mills near the coast, with the
grain collected for grinding, as they went. At the same time it be-
came known that another squadron of eight sail, filled with troops,
had passed into Lake Huron with the intention of attacking Mackinac,
the only post yet retained by the British in the west. The available
store of grain and flour was much diminished by these incursions.
Fresh meat was not to be had. The Indians daily consumed twice
as much flour as the whole of the troops.” In the small garrison of
Fort Erie alone, not much exceeding one hundred persons, no less
than sixty-nine cases of ague were reported in a single week. The
Provincial Dragoons had become almost unfit for service from the
miserable condition of their ill-fed and overworked horses. If Com-
modore Chauncey should succeed in getting out upon the lake with
the formidable frigate he had recently launched at Sackett's Harbor,
1. Drummond to Prevost, March 31, April 13 ; 2. Hildreth’s History, U. S. ; 3. Pittsburg Mercury ;
4, Drummond to Prevost, April 26.
OI
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11
forming a brigade of 2,562 of all ranks, under Major General Peter B.
Porter, recently a congressman from the Niagara District of New
York, and one of the chief promoters of the war. For two months
and a half both regulars and militia were constantly exercised in
battalion and brigade drill from seven to ten hours a day, until
they were considered to have attained a remarkable degree of
efficiency. The French system of field exercise was adopted, and, as a
roof of their rapidity in manoeuvring, it is stated that Scott's brigade
of four full battalions was able to execute an entire change of front
to either flank in three minutes and a half."
The Pennsylvania detachment, numbering about 600 men, under
Colonel Fenton, participated in the descent upon Port Dover, and did
not arrive at Buffalo till late in June. Gen. P. B. Porter proceeded to
Onondaga, the ancient council place of the Six Nations, and solicited
the assistance of those tribes in the proposed invasion of Canada.
This was promised readily enough, and a council was convened at
Buffalo to ratify the engagement. All the nations except the Mohawks
were represented at this meeting, and Le Fort, an Onondaga, was
elected principal war chief. Mainly through the exertions of the
celebrated Seneca chief Red Jacket, upwards of six hundred Indians
were assembled to share in the expedition, some of them coming from
the distant St. Regis village on the borders of Lower Canada, under
the command of a chief who was given the rank of colonel in the
United States army.”
While these extensive preparations for an invasion were in pro-
gress, Drummond was anxiously but fruitlessly urging Sir George
Prevost to reinforce the British forces in that quarter without delay.
His repeated warnings were to a very great extent unheeded by the
Governor, who had his attention fixed upon the numerous American
army massed upon the shores of Lake Champlain. Pencilled upon
the margin of Drummond's letter of June 21st, 1814, expressing his
firm belief that the main attack would be made on the Niagara, and
that the movement of troops towards Plattsburg was simply a feint to
prevent reinforcements from being despatched from Lower Canada
to his assistance, there may be yet seen this significant memorandum
in the handwriting of his irritable superior : “Much obliged to
Lieut.-Gen. Drummond for his opinion, but it is entirely without
foundation.” Thus Drummond was forced to rely for the time being
upon the troops already in the Upper Province. As soon as naviga-
tion opened he reinforced General Riall with the 103rd regiment,
and a small company of marine artillery. Even after the arrival of
these troops, the strength of the right division of the army in Upper
Canada, distributed from York (Toronto) to Long Point upon Lake
1. Albany Argus ; 2. Hubbard, Red Jacket, Hough Hist. St. Lawrence Co.
12
Erie did not much exceed 4,000 effectives of all arms.” It was
deemed necessary for the protection of York and Burlington against
a sudden descent by water, to maintain an entire battalion at each of
those posts. Both flanks of the position on the Niagara were easily
assailable by an enemy having command of the lakes, and the attack
upon the settlements at Port Dover had justly aroused General
Riall's apprehensions lest a strong force should be landed there and
gain his rear by the western road. Having undisputed command of
Lake Erie, an invading army might also be landed at Point Abino,
or Sugar Loaf, from both of which places practicable roads led to
the Niagara, and the successful pursuit of General Proctor the pre-
ceding autumn, as well as the recent inroads from Detroit, had
demonstrated the possibility of the rapid advance of a body of
mounted men and light infantry by way of the Thames. Therefore
it became necessary to watch all these routes to guard against Sur-
prise. Lieut.-Col. Hamilton, with the headquarter wing of the 100th,
was stationed at Dover, and detachments of light infantry, and
dragoons were posted at Delaware, Oxford, and the crossing of the
Grand River (Brantford.) The actual force available for the defence
*Weekly distribution return of 22nd June, 1814.
FoRT NIAGARA. FORT ERIE AND DEPENDENCIES.
Staff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 -
Royal Artillery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 19th Dragoons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 25.
R. M. Artillery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Royal Engineers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.
8th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... * * * * * * * * ... tº e < * * * * * * * . . . . 1 Royal Artillery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . e < * * * * * * * * * * I2 .
100th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61° Sth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
682 165
Sick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 8 & a a s = 8 2f, LONG PoinT AND DEPENDENCIES.
FORT GEORGE AND DEPENDENCIES. ..., 19th Dragoons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
19th Dragoons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 tºns.....'.......'............ 15
Provincial Dragoons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * 103rd Sºo 214
Royal Engineers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . gº ,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sº tº e º 'º º & & e -
Royal Artillery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. Kent Volunteers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
R. M. Artillery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 - 339
R. A. Drivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 3 Sick 6
Militia Artillery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 s & a s e s = e s e s : « . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1st Royal Scots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 762 BURLINGTON.
103rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lſº Provincial Dragoons 3
'orps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 • * * r * ºr ºf a *{\{OOT1S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .* * * *
Colored Corp - – Royal Artillery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
1050 R. A. Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 17
Sick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 103rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 417
QUEENSTON AND DEPENDENCIES. - - 456
19th Dragoons. . . . . . . . . . . - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 9 Sick 23
Royal Artillery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
R. A. Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 YORK,
1st Royal Scots. . . . . ... • , , , , , , , s , , s = • * * * * * * * * * * * 222 R. A. Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
- Royal Artillery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
re 29, Royal Engineers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Sick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 1st Royals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 6
CHII*PAWA AND DEPENDENCIES. 8th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *
19th Dragoons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 41st. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 572
Royal Artillery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 19th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Militia Artillery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • * * * * * * * * * * * * * 9 100th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
R. A. Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Royal Nfid. . . . . :... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
8th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . * * * * * * * * * 459 Incorporated Militia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406
491 1036
13
of the Niagara was thus reduced to less than 2,800 regular soliders,
300 militia, and 150 Indians, distributed along a frontier of thirty-six
miles, besides furnishing a garrison for Fort Niagara." Slight field-
works had been constructed at Chippawa and Queenston, and a new
redoubt built at Niagara to command the mouth of the river, at first
named Fort Riall, but subsequently known as Fort Mississauga.”
When these works and Forts Erie and George were properly garri-
soned scarcely seven hundred men remained available for field
operations. Many of the soldiers still nominally effective were so
enfeebled by disease, exposure, and fatigue in watching such an ex-
tended line, that they had really become unfit for active service. The
surgeon of the 8th recommended that the battalion of that regiment,
then stationed at Chippawa and Niagara Falls, should be immediately
removed, as the hospitals were full, and nearly every man in it had
been down with dysentery or intermittent fever within twelve
months.” The Royal Scots had suffered nearly as much in the same
way. Writing from Kingston to Sir George Prevost, Drummond
thus summed up the situation : “One of the best regiments is shut
up in Fort Niagara, another decidedly inefficient, and a third expected
to be so if compelled to take the field.” Late in June he determined
to relieve the 8th by the 41st, and sent forward the Incorporated
Militia to the frontier, but was unable to remove the Royals as he
desired to do. - -
- Deserters who came into the British lines agreed in representing
that an attack was imminent, and reported that the ardor of the New
York Militia had been much increased by the distribution of hand-
bills announcing that the Emperor of the French had gained a great
victory near Paris, in which he had taken the sovereigns of Austria,
Prussia, and Russia, and 40,000 prisoners. A squadron of nine armed
vessels had been assembled at Buffalo, and the enemy were described
as collecting boats in Tonawanda Creek, with the intention, it was
conjectured, of crossing the river below Grand Island. A party of
Indians, under Captains Caldwell and Elliott, was then sent out from
Fort Niagara in the hope of penetrating their designs, but although
they ranged the country for a dozen miles and burned a large new
barracks upon Lewiston Heights, they failed to discover anything of
importance. Owing to this uncertainty respecting his enemy's in-
tentions, General Riall was obliged to retain the greater part of his
field force at Chippawa and Queenston, and leave his right wing com-
paratively weak. In Fort Erie there was a garrison of 125 men, very
ineffective from sickness. Colonel Pearson, with a detachment of
Lincoln Militia, the light companies of the Royals and 100th, watched
1. James 2. Capt. Martin to Prevost, July 3. 3. Drummond to Prevost, May 21. 4. Drummond to
Prevost, July 4. -
14
the river from its head to Chippawa, where five companies of the
100th were posted. The 103rd was at Burlington, the Glengarry
Light Infantry at York, and the 8th had begun its march to Lower
Canada, in the hope of regaining health. Both in the Second Bat-
talion of the 41st and the 103rd there were several companies of mere
boys, and the majority of these corps were so youthful or otherwise
inefficient that they had been retained in garrison during the whole of
the previous year. . . -
Many of the disloyal inhabitants had fled from the Province
during the two preceding years; others had been taken into custody,
and most of those who refused to take the oath of allegiance were
sent into the United States. “It is but justice to say,” Drummond
remarked, “that by far the greater part of the inhabitants are well
disposed, and many have on various occasions manifested their
loyalty to the service by their actions in the field. Those chiefly
who have shown an opposite disposition are such as from time to
time have crept into the Province from the neighboring States and
settled on lands purchased from individuals.” -
A considerable number of the Lincoln Militia had been paroled
by the enemy during their occupation of portions of the district in
1813, and could not be again required to serve during the war. The
general proposed to increase the Incorporated battalion to 900 men
by the draft of one-fourteenth of the male population capable of bear-
ing arms. But he was decidedly opposed to the employment of the
remainder in military service, except when forced to do so by the
most imperative necessity. “I regret,” he said, that our present
circumstances should render it necessary to call upon the yeomanry
of the country for their services in the field while their farms must
be neglected, especially when produce and provisions of every kind
have become very scarce and extravagantly dear, and it is with
difficulty the commissariat are able to procure the necessary supplies.
These considerations would induce me most willingly to dispense with
the military for the domestic services of the militia if our regular
forces here were such as to enable me to do so.” *
Of all these circumstances the enemy were fairly well informed.
A careful estimate in April placed the British regular force on the
Niagara frontier at 1,940 men.” Since the opening of navigation one
of their armed vessels had cruised day and night along the north
shore of Lake Erie, constantly landing and taking off spies. •
At this opportune moment, the American army was skilfully
disembarked under cover of the guns of a brig of war and two
schooners, without the slightest opposition, in two divisions, one
1. Letter to Lord Bathurst, March 20, 1814. 2. Niles' Register, 1814; Royals, 780; 8th, 500; 41st,
300; Artillery, 160; D agoons, 100; Colored Company, 100. -
15
above and the other a short distance, below Fort Erie, at daybreak
on the 3rd July. Their movements were veiled by a heavy fog, and
a picket of the 19th Dragoons had barely time to escape. The
regular force of the invading army consisted of the 9th, 11th, 19th,
21st, 22nd, and 25th United States Infantry, part of the 2nd Rifles,
a squadron of cavalry, and four companies of artillery, numbering be-
tween four and five thousand of all ranks, and forming two brigades,
under Generals Scott and Ripley. The militia and Indians, compos-
ing a third brigade, under the command of General Porter, it is
probable exceeded two thousand." The entire force was commanded
by Major-General Jacob Brown, formerly an officer in the New York
Militia, who had gained much celebrity among his countrymen by his
success, or rather his good fortune, in the defence of Sackett's Harbor
the year before, and had been rewarded by a commission in the
United States army. His military knowledge was so slight that
General Wilkinson asserted that he was unable to post the guards of
1. Porter to Gov. Tompkins, 3rd July, 1814. Mr. Adams furnishes the following return, which, how-
ever, is evidently incomplete : *
Monthly return, 30th June, 1814.
. . 1ST BRIGADE.
Present for Duty. Aggregate
- ar *— ~ Present and
- * N. C. O. and men. Officers. Absent.
9th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 832 16 642
11th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $16 17 577
22nd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . e º 'º º s w = e e 217 12 287
25th . . . . . • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s • , a s 354 16 61%)
General Staff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 's 4 4
- 1319 - 65 - 2129
2ND RRIGADE.
21st. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 651 25 917
23rd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341 S 496
General Staff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2
992 35 1415
- . - HINDMAN's BATTALION OF ARTILLERY.
Towson's Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S9 - 101
Biddle's Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , º e º º S0 15 104
Ritchie's Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 I33
Williams' Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 73
413
- STRENGTH, 1st JULY, 1814.
Artillery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330 I5 413
1st Brigade. . . . . . . • * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1312 65 2122
2nd Brigade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 992 - 36 1415
Porter's Brigade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... • * * : * * * * * * * * * 710 43 S30
3344 159 , 4780
Although there is a general agreement among American historians in stating Brown's army at this
time at 5,000 men, Mr. Adams would have us believe that it did not exceed 3,600. Neither the dragoons,
bombardiers nor Indians are included in either of these returns, and if we can believe a confidential letter
from Gen. Porter, his brigade must have been more than twice as strong as represented in this return On
July 3rd he wrote to Gov. Tompkins from Buffalo : “Gen. Brown has crossed the Niagara and taken Fort
Erie with its garrison of 120 men, without the loss of a man, I had 500 Indians and 150 mounted men
with me where Gen, Brown wished me to be at the time of crossing. The infantry I left at Batavia with
Col. Swift, to wait for stores, My whole force will be about 1000 volunteers and 500 Indians. The Pennsyl
vania Volunteers will increase this to above 2,000.” Stone's command of mounted riflemen alone numbered
162. — Doty Hist., Livingstone County. * -
16
a camp correctly, and told a queer story of his planting a battery in a
hollow for the advantage of elevating the guns to fire at the heights
above. But he was undoubtedly brave and energetic. Ripley was
another active politician, who had been speaker of the Massachusetts
Assembly, but Scott and most of the field officers were professional
soldiers. -
Brown's instructions directed him to force his way to Burlington,
leaving the forts at the mouth of the river on one side and severing
their communications with York. Having gained the head of the
lake, he was to await there the arrival of Commodore Chauncey's
squadron, when he was given discretionary authority to invest and
reduce the British forts or move directly upon Kingston, as circum-
stances might seem to direct. -
The views and expectations of the Secretary of War are described
in a letter to the President on the 30th April, in which he says:–
“Eight, or even six, thousand men landed in the bay between Point
Abino and Fort Erie and operating either on the line of the Niagara
or more directly, if a more direct route is found, against the British
post at the head of Burlington Bay, cannot be resisted with effect
without compelling the enemy so to weaken his more eastern posts as
to bring them within reach of our means at Sackett's Harbor and
Plattsburg.” - . . -
In the letter, June 10, which actually put Brown's army in motion,
he informed that officer that the Secretary of the Navy was of the
opinion that Chauncey's squadron would not be ready to co-operate
before the 15th July, but, he added: “To give, however, immediate
occupation to your troops, and to prevent their blood from
stagnating, why not take Fort Erie and its garrison, stated at three or
four hundred men 2 Land between Point Abino and Erie in the
night; assail the fort by land and water; push forward a corps to
seize the bridge at Chippawa ; and be governed by circumstances in
either stopping there or going farther. Boats may follow and feed
you. If the enemy concentrates his whole force on this line, as I
think he will, it will not exceed two thousand men.”
Not a shot had been fired while the invaders were landing. Fort
Erie was immediately invested, and although Drummond had con-
fidently anticipated that an invading army would be detained several
days before it, the commandant surrendered the same evening. A
battalion of United States rifles, accompanied by a strong body of
militia, appeared simultaneously upon Lewiston Heights, alternately
menacing Queenston and Fort Niagara.
Advancing to reconnoitre with his light troops, Pearson found the
Americans posted in force upon the heights opposite Black Rock, and
next day he was steadily pushed back by their advance, destroying the
17 - i *
bridges upon the road as he retired. These were rapidly rebuilt by
his pursuers, who encamped for the night within sight of the British
field-works at Chippawa. General Brown was apparently well in-
formed respecting the movements and numbers of his opponent, for
he estimated that Riall could not bring more than a thousand men
into the field, and his advance was conducted with the confidence en-
gendered by consciousness of an overwhelming numerical superiority.
Although the march was a continual skirmish, his advance-guard was
pushed boldly onward, and brushed the opposing light troops out of
its path with ease. Proclamations were distributed among the inhabi-
tants assuring them that “All persons demeaning themselves peaceably
and pursuing their private business should be treated as friends.”
Major-General Phineas Riall, the British commander, was an
officer of twenty years standing, yet had seen little actual warfare.
He is described as a short, stout, near-sighted man, of an impetuous
temperament, and rashly brave. Five companies of the Royals were
hurried forward by him to Chippawa, and a message despatched for
the instant recall of the 8th. That battalion had already reached
York before it was overtaken, and did not arrive at Niagara until the
morning of the 5th. Riall was accordingly compelled to await the
approach of the invaders at Chippawa, instead of assailing them upon
their march, as he had at first intended. Reconnoitering their position
on the morning of the 5th, he estimated their force in sight at 2,000
men, and the 8th having come up about noon, he determined to attack
them without further delay. Throughout the morning the British
light troops and cavalry were busy. They drove in a strong picket-
guard, capturing a wounded man and besieging the remainder in a
farm house until relieved. Parties of Scouts passed quite around the
American camp, and their reports induced the belief that the main
body of their army had not yet come up. Riall had then three skele-
ton battalions of infantry, numbering 1,300 rank and file, a troop of
the 19th Dragoons, six pieces of field artillery, 300 Indians and about
the same number of Lincoln Militia." In the meantime the Ameri-
cans in his front had been joined by Ripley's entire brigade and the
greater part of Porter's, and now numbered nearly five thousand com-
batants, with nine guns. They had encamped behind Street's Creek,
a shallow stream less than twenty yards in width at its mouth, and
everywhere easily fordable. A tract of cultivated land in their front,
divided into fields by ordinary log or brushwood fences, extended from
the river to dense woods on the left, a distance of less than half a
mile. Near the Chippawa, a thin belt of trees stretched down almost
to the water's edge, partially concealing the movements of either army
from the other. -
1. Riall to Drummond, July 6.
18
Late in the afternoon Riall provoked the attention of his adver-
sary by pushing forward a detachment of the 2nd and 3rd Lincoln,
under Lieut.-Col. Dickson, and the whole body of Indians, led by Capt.
John Norton, to occupy the woods on the flank of his position. Brown
promptly despatched a portion of Porter's brigade to drive them back. .
Finding that they offered an obstinate resistance, and were even
gaining ground, he continued to support Porter with fresh troops
until some 1,300 militia and Indians were engaged on his part. The
skirmish lasted half an hour, in the usual Indian fashion, with a great
deal of firing and very little bloodshed, when, perceiving themselves
outnumbered, the British Indians began to retire. The three light in-
fantry companies of regulars were then sent forward to their assist-
ance. Being well versed in this kind of warfare from the experience
of former campaigns, they concealed themselves in the thickets and
awaited the approach of the Americans until they arrived within a
few yards. A single heavy volley, pealing through the woods, threw
them into utter confusion. They were, at the same time, fiercely
assailed in flank by the militia and Norton's Indians, and driven
quite through the ranks of the company of regulars formed in reserve
beyond Street's Creek, and did not rally until the 25th U. S. Infantry
and a squadron of dragoons were sent to their support. Several
prisoners, among them three field-officers of the Pennsylvania regi-
ment and a Cayuga chief, were taken, and fifteen Indians and a number
of militia left dead on the field." Le Fort, himself, was mortally
wounded, and Dochstader, chief of the Oneidas, was among the killed.
Towards the close of this contest Col. Dickson of the Lincoln
militia was wounded and the command of his battalion, which
had behaved very gallantly and sustained a comparatively heavy loss,
devolved on Major David Secord, a veteran of the Revolution. Mean-
while Riall had passed the Chippawa with his entire force, and ad-
vanced three guns to engage the American artillery, which had taken
up a position to command the road in their front. Observing this,
Scott's brigade defiled across the bridge, and deploying under fire with
remarkable steadiness and precision formed beyond the creek, while
Ripley forded the stream higher up and prolonged their line of battle
to the edge of the woods. The British artillery was pushed gradually
forward until within four hundred yards of their antagonists, and
begun the action with great spirit. Three guns of Towson's battery,
replied, but one of them was speedily dismounted, and the others
seemed in a fair way of being driven out of action, when one of the
British tumbrils was struck by a shell and blew up, disabling several
men and horses besides causing great confusion and depriving them
of much of their fixed ammunition.” . -
1. White, Lossing, Stone. 2. Capt. Mackonochie to Maj.-Gen. Glasgow, Aug. 19.
19
In consequence of this unfortunate event General Riall was
obliged to bring forward his infantry prematurely to the relief of the
guns, which were then menaced from the right by a battalion of
infantry. S. Forming six companies of the Royal Scots and five com-
panies of the 100th into two columns, parallel with each other, and
placing a light field piece upon each flank and one in the interval,
he led them in person against the centre of his opponent's position.
The 8th, enfeebled by disease and wearied by its long march, was
held in reserve. Each of these battalions, their light companies
having been detached, numbered less than four hundred rank and

files Scott's brigade alone thus very materially outnumbered the
force about to attack it. -- -
By the time this formation had been completed, the whole of the
American field artillery had been brought into action, and the British
guns were almost reduced to silence. Their pieces were then shotted
with canister, and turned upon the advancing columns, while the 9th
and 11th regiments, forming the wings of their line, were wheeled
inwards and overlapped them on either flank." As soon as the British
approached within musketry range they were assailed by a fierce and
incessant fusilade. Losing heavily at every step, they moved
steadily forward until within two hundred yards of their adversaries,
when they received the command to charge. The field here was
intersected by deep furrows and covered with tall grass, which
greatly impeded their movements and rendered their footing uncer-
tain. Lieut.-Col. Gordon and the Marquis of Tweeddale fell desper-
. ately wounded at the head of their battalions. Nearly every field-
officer was struck down. The men fell in heaps under the scathing
fire of the enemy. As—they moved forward the American artillery
literally tore great gaps through their ranks, which for some time
were steadily closed up. But finally the survivors were involved in
inextricable confusion, and began to straggle to the rear when within
about eighty yards of the enemy's position. Riall exposed himself
recklessly, and yet escaped unhurt, although his clothing was pierced
with several bullets, but all his efforts to re-form the ranks in the face
of that murderous fire were unavailing. The 8th was brought up to
cover the retreat, which was accomplished in tolerable order, as the
Americans showed little inclination to follow up their advantage.
Most of the dead and many of the severely wounded were left
upon the field, and the guns were removed only by the gallant exer-
tions of some troopers of the 19th Dragoons, who attached their own
horses to the carriages, and rode off with them in the teeth of the
The easy triumph of the Americans was mainly due to the
1. Major Hindman to Gen. Brown : Lossing.
- 20
excellent practice of their artillery, although their great superiority in
numbers was no doubt an important factor in their success." Judging
from its loss, Ripley's brigade was scarcely engaged, and Porter's, as
we have seen, was beaten entirely out of action at a very early period.
Their loss was variously stated, and probably did not exceed four,
hundred of all ranks. Col. Campbell, the destroyer of Port Dover,
was mortally wounded. On the other hand, General Riall lost up-
wards of five hundred, of whom two-fifths were killed or missing.
Of nineteen officers of the 100th who went into the action, fourteen
were killed or disabled, with one hundred and ninety non-commis-
sioned officers and men. Only 146 unwounded men of this battalion
returned from the field. Lyons' company, posted on the extreme left
of the line and directly in front of the enemy's principal battery, went
into action with thirty-five officers and men, of whom only six escaped
unhurt.”
The seven companies of the Royals suffered still, more severely,
eleven officers and two hundred and seven rank and file being returned
as killed, wounded and missing. Altogether these two battalions lost
four hundred and twenty-two officers and men out of a total of only
nine hundred and fifty. Among the killed was Capt. Bailey, who had
greatly distinguished himself at the assault of Fort Niagara. On the
whole, Riall's force was reduced by more than one-third.” The loss
sustained by the Lincoln Militia indicates that they fought with equal
stubbornness. Six officers and forty men were returned as killed or
wounded out of 110 actually engaged. Captains John Rowe, formerly
a sergeant in Butler's Rangers, and George Turney, the son of a
veteran officer in the same corps, were among the slain.
Two days later the British general was compelled to destroy his
works and abandon his position upon the left bank of the Chippawa
in consequence of a turning movement directed against his right flank.
The redoubt at Queenston was likewise evacuated, and he leisurely
retired upon Fort George. He had already been deserted by nearly
the whole of his Indians, and by many of the militia, who were
alarmed for safety of their families.*, They were directed to collect
their cattle and re-assemble at Burlington, which most of them suc-
ceeded in doing. Already provisions had begun to fail and the gar-
risons were placed on half allowance. Parties were sent out to scour
the country and drive cattle into Fort George under the guidance of
twenty officers of the Lincoln regiments. The invading forces ad-
vanced to the summit of Queenston Heights, whence they menaced
the British position. Here they remained perfectly inactive for
several days. On the night of the 12th Major Evans advanced with
1. Wilkinson's Memoirs. 2. Ridout Letters. 3. Drummond to Prevost, July 13 4. Riall to
Drummond, July 8.
\
\
/
- w 21
Sadlier's company of the 8th, numbering only thirty-four rank and
file, to reconnoitre their outposts, in the hope of taking a few pris-
oners. His retreat was intercepted by General Swift, of the New
York Militia, with one hundred and twenty volunteers, who was also
upon a scouting expedition, and a sharp skirmish took place, in which
Evans lost six men and 'the American leader was killed.* The move-
ments of his opponent next morning led Riall to believe that an
attempt would be made upon the depot at Burlington, and having
increased the garrisons of the three forts at the mouth of the river to
1,554 effectives,” he resumed his retreat towards the head of the lake
with only 836 officers and men of all arms, while the Americans at
Queenston were firing minute-guns for their dead general.” The
same day Colonel Henry Scott advanced from Burlington with six
hundred of the 103rd, leaving the two boy-companies and some in-
valids and militia in garrison there, and joined Riall at the Twenty
Mile Creek, where the united force encamped upon the heights.
The prospect of a successful defence of the forts, if resolutely
attacked, was not assuring. Fort George possessed no means of re-
sisting an assault beyond a single bad row of pickets, and certainly
could not have repelled the force under General Brown's command had
he ventured to attack it. . The others could then be easily reduced in
succession by bombardment.”
For more than a week Brown lingered on the brow of Queen-
ston “mountain,” gazing anxiously out upon the blue waters of the
lake below, in the vain hope of catching a glimpse of Chauncey's
squadron speeding to his assistance. From time to time his columns
wound down into the plain and crept within distant cannon-shot of
the batteries of Fort George, and as often retired to their tents again
without accomplishing anything. During all this time they did not
even succeed in establishing an effective blockade of the British works.
Upon one occasion two British field-guns galloped out of Fort
George and shelled their rear-guard, and the same day five of their
cavalry videttes were surprised and carried off by militia lurking in
the woods along their line of march. The women and children in the
farm houses and fields by the wayside conspired to mislead and baffle
the detachments sent in pursuit. -
Meanwhile a levy em masse of the militia from Long Point to the
Bay of Quinte had been proclaimed, and in a few days Riall was
joined by upwards of a thousand men of different battalions, “many
of them fine serviceable fellows,” but badly armed and undisciplined.
A goodly number of these marched in from the London district.
Those who had temporarily deserted him rapidly recovered from their
1. Evans to Riall, July 13. 2. Royals, 320 ; Sth, 200; Incorporated Militia, 316 ; three 6-pounders, one
53 inch howitzer, Riall to Drummond, July 15, 3. Riall to Drummond, July 12.
“Fort George, 733; Missassauga, 404; Niagara, 647; sick, 124. * *
>,
panic, and a considerable number of stragglers was cut off by them in
the vicinity of Queenston and St. Davids, and many deserters were
brought into the British lines. On the other hand, the course of the
American militia and Indians was marked by pillage and rapine.
“The whole population is against us,” wrote Major McFarland of the
23rd U. S. Infantry. “Not a foraging party goes out but is fired on,
and frequently returns with diminished numbers. This state was to
have been anticipated. . The militia and Indians have plundered and
burnt everything.” Much to their surprise they found that the
Canadian militia were still “fervent beyond parallel in the cause of
their king and country.” Willcocks' battalion of Canadian refugees
eagerly seized the opportunity of wreaking summary vengeance upon
their loyalist enemies. Old men and boys were sent as prisoners to the
United States, and women maltreated. Their example was emulated
by Colonel Stone's command of mounted riflemen, branded as “licensed
plunderers” by General Riall. It was even confidently asserted that
a number of silver spoons were found in General Swift's pocket after
his death, which he had taken from a neighboring farm house less
than one hour before. -
Before crossing the river, Gen. Brown had intimated that he ex-
pected to be in a position to invest Forts George and Missassauga on
the 10th of July. This engagement he might have fulfilled to an
hour had the American fleet been in sight. Contrary to the advice
of his engineer officers, he deemed it necessary to wait for siege-guns,
and wrote an urgent despatch to hasten their arrival. But his letter
found Commodore Chauncey sick in bed, and that prudent commander
positively refused to allow the next senior officer to take his ships to
Sea. iº * -
The partizan warfare daily grew keener. On the 15th an Ameri-
can wagon train was attacked at Queenston, and the greater part of
it destroyed. On the following night an outpost at Fort Erie was
cut off to a man. Next day the militia surprised and took a cavalry
picket in St. Davids, Willcocks himself having a narrow escape, and
another party nearly captured Major Mallory at Beaver Dams. On
the 18th, when the main body of the American army was reconnoi-
tring Fort George, they again dashed into St. Davids and Queenston,
making more prisoners. These incidents so exasperated the invaders
that upon the 19th they burnt the entire village of St. Davids, con-
taining some thirty or forty houses, alleging, probably with truth,
that the inhabitants had participated in the attack on their wagons
and had killed an officer of dragoons. This was followed up by the
destruction of every dwelling between Queenston and Niagara Falls.
These proceedings were attended by such revolting conduct on the
part of their militia under Colonel Stone, that Major McFarland, who
\
23
- - \
\was sent to cover their retreat, declared that he would have resigned
his commission if the commanding officer had not been dismissed from
the service.
Having been joined by several companies of the Glengarry Light
Infantry from York, under the ever-active Fitzgibbon, Riall ad-
vanced the same day to Ten Mile Creek with his left wing, composed
of militia and Indians, extending as far as DeCew's Falls, and men-
acing the rear of the American position by way of Lundy's Lane.
The entire male population immediately flew to arms, and joined him,
actuated by a spirit of intense hostility towards the invaders. His
Scouts found their way into St. Davids, Queenston, and even Chippawa,
harassing the enemy's pickets, and picking up stragglers. His appre-
hensions were, however, at the same time, aroused by mysterious
negotiations on the part of his Indians with their kinsmen in the
American service, and a raid from Detroit upon the defenceless settle-
ment at Port Talbot, which was ruthlessly destroyed, compelled him to
detach the Oxford battalion of militia and some Indians in that
direction, as a precautionary measure." On the 20th, leaving about
300 men in possession of the abandoned redoubt on Queenston
Heights, Brown advanced with the remainder of his army within two
miles of Fort George, where he encamped and began to collect
materials for siege batteries. He appeared to have entertained the
hope that by his movement, the British commander might be induced
to hazard another engagement with inferior numbers to relieve the
garrison. Two days later Riall succeeded in concentrating in advance
of Twelve Mile Creek 1,700 regular troops, including the Glengarry
Light Infantry and Incorporated Militia, 700 Lincoln Militia, and an
equal number of Indians, in readiness to pounce upon the flank and
rear of his adversary should he attempt the actual investment of the
forts. Fort George was then garrisoned by 400 of the Royal Scots
and 260 of the 100th, Fort Missassauga by 290 of the 8th, a company
of negro volunteers, and a few artillerymen and artificers, making an
aggregate of 400 persons, while Fort Niagara was occupied by 550
men of the 41st, and fifty artillerymen. Nearly one-fourth of the
garrisons were, however, upon the sick list, and many others too young
to be of much service.” - -
Deserters from the American army came into the British lines
every day, and from them it was ascertained that General Brown had
been joined by considerable reinforcements since the action at Chip-
pawa, and that he brought over nearly the whole of his supplies from
Lewiston, where he had collected many boats, thus avoiding the
necessity of preserving an uninterrupted line of communications with
Fort Erie. Reconnoitring the same afternoon with thirty picked
1. Riall to Drummond, July 17 ; Ibid, July 19. 2 Riall to Drummond, July 17 ; Ibid, July 22.
24 S
men, Captain Fitzgibbon obtained an excellent view of his entire
army spread out in the plain below, from the summit of Queenston
Heights. As he watched their movements their tents were struck,
and their retiring columns filled the roads, extending from De
Puisaye's house, within gun-shot of Fort George, without a break to
the village of Queenston, a distance of more than five miles. Linger-
ing too long in his covert, he was discovered by their light troops, and
hotly pursued almost to the British outposts upon the Ten Mile
Creek." That might the American army again encamped at Queen-
ston, the British advance-guard was pushed forward to Four Mile
Creek, and communication with the garrisons re-established.
The sudden retirement of the invading forces is said to have
been caused by intelligence that the militia of the Province was rising
en masse with the intention of cutting off their retreat. The next
morning General Brown received a despatch from Sackett's Harbor,
informing him that the American squadron was still closely blockaded
there, and he immediately retired behind the Chippawa. Relinquish-
ing all hopes of co-operation on the part of the fleet, he stated that
his intentions were to disencumber his army of all unnecessary bag-
gage, and having lulled his antagonist's suspicions by his abrupt retro-
grade movement, to make a rapid march upon Burlington.” He en-
tertained no doubt of his ability to cope with the British army in the
field and to march in any direction through the country, but had based
his hopes of reducing the forts entirely on the arrival of Chauncey’s
squadron with heavy artillery. Unfortunately for the success of this
plan, Sir Gordon Drummond arrived the same day at York, bringing
with him from Kingston 400 of the second battalion of the 89th,
under that sturdy soldier, Colonel Joseph Warton Morrison, who had
won the hard-fought battle at Chrysler's farm the autumn before.
The two flank companies of the 104th, completed by volunteers to the
number of sixty rank and file each, had already been sent forward to
strengthen Riall, under the command of their fiery-hearted Lieutenant-
Colonel, his nephew, William Drummond of Keltie. Further rein-
forcements, consisting of the Regiment De Watteville and detach-
ments of other corps, were likewise on the way from Kingston, leav-
ing that important post almost without a garrison.
*, - - g &
One of Drummond's first acts was to order the discharge of all
the very young, as well as the old and weakly militiamen, with the,
double object of relieving the strain upon his supply of provisions
and setting them at liberty to gather their hay. Learning that the
Americans had established their base of supplies at Lewiston, he im-
mediately embarked the 89th in the two armed vessels, Star and
Charwell, leaving York garrisoned by only a few invalids, with instruc-
1. Riall to Drummond, July 22. 2. Brown to Armstrong, Aug. 7.
y y - * x en
25
*.
tions to proceed directly to the mouth of the Niagara. Upon its
arrival, Lieut.-Col. Tucker was instructed to draft two-thirds of the
garrisons from the different forts, making, with the 89th and flank
companies of the 104th, a body of about 1,500 men, and at day-break
on the 25th to assail the batteries the Americans were said to have
begun near Youngstown, while General Riall was directed at the same
time to advance towards St. Davids for the purpose of distracting the
attention of their force in Canada and preventing them from sending
reinforcements across the river. A bold and successful stroke
at their depot of supplies, he argued, would seriously jeopardize the
position of the invaders, while he explicitly stated that he did not
wish to risk an engagement upon the left bank of the river until the
remainder of his reinforcements came up, when he confidently ex-
pected to finish the campaign at a blow."
Riall, too, admonished by the check he had received at Chippawa,
pronounced strongly against meeting the enemy again in the field
until the reinforcements already on the march, consisting of three
strong battalions of regular troops, had arrived, which he hoped
would “create such a force as to render the enemy's discomfiture and
annihilation complete.” But the merest accident compelled them to
fight at a disadvantage in defiance of their convictions.
Late on the afternoon of the 24th, Drummond himself went on
board the schooner Netley, and set sail for Niagara with the intention
of assuming the command of the forces in the field. He was then in
his forty-third year, an active, brave, resolute, and skilful soldier, who
had seen war in Egypt, Holland, and the West Indies, during a
quarter of a century of military life. He had been selected for a
command in Canada by the Duke of York on account of his “zeal,
intelligence and local knowledge.” The same authority designated
General Riall as “an active and intelligent young man.” They were
- N. - . • * * 5
nobly supported by many brave and skilful officers. Colonel Scott
had served under Abercromby in Egypt and under Wellington in
India. Harvey, Morrison, and Pearson had repeatedly distinguished
themselves in the preceding campaign. Few men in that fighting age
could lead a charge better than Drummond of Keltie.
When he arrived in the mouth of the river at daybreak next
morning, he learned that the situation had materially changed.
General Brown had retired to Chippawa, and, Riall had taken advan-
tage of this fact to push forward his brigade of light troops the night
before, to seize the important strategic position near Niagara Falls
commanding the junction of Lundy's Lane with the Portage Road,
with the intention of supporting it that morning with the whole of
Jhis division. At nightfall on the 24th, the disposition of the British
1. Harvey to Tucker, July 23, 2. Riall to Drummond, July 12. \
\
26
forces was the following:—The First Brigade, Colonel Hercules Scott
commanding, composed of a detachment of the 19th Light Dragoons,
half a battalion of the 8th, and seven companies of the 103rd, with
two 6-pound field-guns, lay at Twelve Mile Creek; the Second
Brigade, Lieut.-Colonel Tucker, consisting of half a battalion of the
Royal Scots, half a battalion of the 8th, the second battalion of the
41st, and a wing of the 100th, with a detachment of the Royal Artil-
lery in charge of two 24-pound and two 6-pound field-pieces, occupied
the forts at the mouth of the river, and had just been joined by
Colonel Morrison with his detachment of the 89th ; the Third, or
Light Brigade, Lieut.-Col. Pearson, was made up of a troop of the
19th, Major Lisle, the light companies of the 8th and 103rd, the
Glengarry Light Infantry, and the Incorporated Militia, encamped at
Four Mile Creek; the Fourth Brigade, Lieut.-Col. Parry, consisting
of three battalions of embodied militia, and a body of Indians, formed
the right wing of the British line, stretching along the Twelve Mile
Creek as far as DeCew’s Falls, while the flank and four battalion-
companies of the Royal Scots, and four battalions of embodied militia,
with three 6-pounders and a howitzer, were held in reserve under
Lieut.-Col. John Gordon. This seems a formidable force on paper,
but the Royals, 8th and 100th, were mere skeleton battalions. The
latter could muster but one captain, three subalterns and 250 effective
men, while the others were very little stronger. The militia regi-
ments were weak in numbers, and miserably armed and equipped.
Altogether there were about 4,000 men scattered over thirty miles of
country, but capable of being concentrated at a few hours' notice to
resist the advance of the enemy.
On the evening of the 23rd the whole of General Brown's army
Once more encamped in the plain between Street's Creek and the
Chippawa, but a battalion of riflemen and a regiment of militia were
still posted on Lewiston Heights, having their pickets advanced as
far as Youngstown. Their principal magazine of supplies had, how-
ever, been removed to Schlosser, *
At midnight Colonel Pearson received orders to advance with his
brigade, numbering about 800 of all ranks, and by seven o'clock on
the morning of the 25th he had taken possession of the high ground
at Lundy's Lane without encountering the slightest opposition. In
the course of its march this detachment was animated by the spectacle
of two stout-hearted countrywomen bringing in an American soldier
whom they had disarmed and made prisoner."
Instructions had been issued to Colonel Scott to move upon the
same point from Twelve Mile Creek at three in the morning, but
these orders were subsequently countermanded, and his brigade
1. Narrative of Col. Jas. McQueen.
*
27
“remained in their quarters until afternoon. In the course of the
morning Riall rode forward, accompanied only by Lieut.-Col. Drum-
mond and a small escort, and joined Pearson."
These movements induced an immediate change in Drummond's
plan of operations. Colonel Morrison, with the 89th, a detachment
of the Royals, Lieut. Hemphill, and another of the 8th, Captain
Campbell, two 24-pound brass field-pieces, Lieut. Tomkins and a party
of rocketeers under Sergeant Austin, was directed to march by way
of Queenston to the support of General Riall at Lundy's Lane, while
Lieut.-Col. Tucker, with 500 men of the Royals and 41st, and some
Indians, advanced along the other bank upon Lewiston, accompanied
upon the river by a number of boats, manned by seamen under Cap-
tain Alexander Dobbs. Tucker's column arrived at Lewiston about
noon, and drove out the garrison after a trifling skirmish, capturing
a hundred tents and a small quantity of other stores. The light
company of the 41st and the detachment of the Royals were then
brought over to Queenston and added to Morrison's column, increas-
ing it to about 800 officers and men.
After a brief halt the march was resumed, and towards six
o'clock a dragoon rode up in haste to meet General Drummond, who
was near the rear of the column and still several miles from his
destination, bearing a message from Riall, which stated that the
enemy was advancing in great force against his position. Upon
receiving this alarming intelligence the general rode rapidly forward,
and on reaching Lundy's Lane, to his intense surprise and disappoint-
ment, instead of finding the ground occupied by General Riall's entire
division, as he expected, he discovered the light brigade alone retiring
in the face of the enemy, the head of whose columns was already
within a few hundred yards of the crest of the hill, and the woods on
either side of the road swarming with their riflemen. The narrow
road in the rear leading to Queenston was choked by Morrison's ad-
Vancing column, which had just come into view, and retreat was in a
manner impossible without hazarding disaster. Drummond's resolu-
tion was promptly taken. He at once countermanded the movement,
and ordered up Lieut. Tomkins with his twenty-four pounders, to
hold-the Americans in check until the remainder of the troops could
come up and form,
Shortly after his arrival at Lundy's Lane, Pearson had despatched
Captain W. H. Merritt with a few Provincial dragroons to reconnoitre,
and the entire American army was discovered quietly encamped be-
yond the Chippawa. When General Riall came up, he sent off an
orderly with a message, directing the advance of Colonel Scott's
brigade and a portion of the reserve, leaving the main body of the
1. Letters of Veritas.
. . . 28.
militia and Indians still encamped near the Twelve Mile Creek. '
In the course of the afternoon General Brown learned that the
British had advanced in considerable force along the right bank of
the river, and had taken possession of Lewiston, and were then sup-
posed to be advancing upon Schlosser. He had sent most of his bag-
gage away, reserving only one tent to every ten men, and obtained a
good supply of provisions from beyond the Niagara. His men had
been refreshed by two days' rest, the British force was divided, and
he believed the favorable moment for executing his movement towards
Burlington had arrived. The force that had appeared at Lundy's
Lane was reported by his scouts to consist entirely of light troops and
militia, sent forward, it was conjectured, for the purpose of watching
his movements and picking up stragglers. His entire division was im-
mediately placed under arms, and at four o'clock General Scott, with
his own brigade, accompanied by Towson's company of artillery with
three guns, and the whole body of cavalry and mounted riflemen, was
directed to march upon Queenston, and if he encountered the enemy
in force to report the fact at once, when he would be supported by the
entire division. - -
Near Table Rock there stood a small tavern kept by a Mrs.
Wilson, which had escaped the general devastation of the frontier.
As the head of Scott's column approached this house, several British
officers were observed to come out and mount their horses. Some of
them instantly galloped off and disappeared behind the belt of woods .
beyond, but one elderly man halted in the middle of the road, and
coolly surveyed their movements until they had come within short
musket-shot, when he saluted a party of American officers riding in
front, and rode rapidly after his companions. They found the land-
lady nervous, but communicative. She expressed her regret that they
had not advanced with greater speed, as they might have easily
captured the whole of her late guests, and estimated General Riall's
force, which she described very circumstantially, at double its actual
strength. The sound of many bugles was heard in and beyond the
woods, and Scott at once despatched a staff-officer to demand instant
reinforcements." The remainder of the American army being already
under arms, it was immediately put in motion.”
The exact strength of Brown's division at that date is difficult to
to ascertain. He admitted the loss of 320 officers and men in the
action at Chippawa, but it has been stated to have been considerably
greater by a friendly writer.” Forty or fifty more had been killed or
taken in skirmishes since ; a small garrison had been left at Fort Erie,
and a detachment sent to Schlosser. He had been three weeks in
1. Douglass Reminiscences. 2. Brown to Armstrong, Aug. 7. 3. Paris M. Davis puts it at 60 killed,
316 wounded, 19 missing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

29
Canada, and his force must naturally have been reduced by the disease
and fatigue incident to a campaign in the field. His regular regi-
ments had been considerably diminished by desertion, no less than
six deserters having come into the British lines in a single day, while
his militia had probably suffered in a still greater degree from the
same cause. He distinctly stated that the whole of his Indians had
left him. On the other hand, a well-informed writer asserts that a
number of them were still serving with his army as Scouts.”
On the other hand, too, he had received considerable reinforce-
ments. As soon as it was known that he had passed the Niagara,
troops were put in motion from Detroit, Ohio, and Sackett's Harbor,
to support him. A letter in the Baltimore Patriot, dated July 12th,
relates that upon the day after the action at Chippawa he was joined
by about one thousand men from Buffalo, regulars, volunteers and
Indians, among them Captain Stone's mounted riflemen, 160 strong.
On July 16th, deserters who arrived in the British camp reported
that 700 men had just crossed over from Lewiston.” . This reinforce-
ment was composed of detachments of the 11th, 22d and 23d regi-
ments. 4 Rumors of disaster having become current before intelli-
gence of the battle had been actually received, the editor of Niles'
Register, published in Baltimore, took occasion to observe in the issue
of July 30th : “General Brown has received some handsome reinforce-
ments from Buffalo, and there is no reason to believe he cannot main-
tain his ground for some time.” The most authoritative evidence on
the subject, however, is to be found in a pamphlet published by Gen-
eral Ripley in 1815, vindicating his conduct, which has now become
very rare. It contains an official return showing the effective strength
of the two brigades of infantry upon the 23d July to have been 136
officers and 2,620 non-commissioned officers and privates.” Upon the
24th we are informed that 100 of the 22d Infantry under Lieut.
Guy, and 220 of the 1st under Colonel Nicholas, who were not
included in this return, arrived from Fort Erie. Then he supplies a
second return, showing the effective strength of Porter's brigade upon
the 30th July, five days after the action, to have been 61 officers and
538 rank and file, and that of the artillery on the same date, 12 offi-
cers and 260 rank and file." The loss of these corps in the action,
according to the official published return, was 112 of all ranks, but
this certainly does not include loss from desertion and straggling,
which, in a militia force especially, is commonly very great after a
reverse. This, however, gives a grand total of 4,059 officers and men.
The general staff, dragoons, mounted infantry, and a detachment of
1. Brown to Armstrong. July 23, 2. Clark, Onondaga, p 320. 3. Riall to Drummond, July 17.
4 Interesting account by a musician. 5. 1st Brigade, 84 officers, 1422 N. C. Q, and privates; 2d Brigade,
52 officers: 1190 N. C. O. and privates.—Return signed by S. Griffith, A. A. G. 6. J. L. Thomson states
the strength of the artillery engaged at 367. -
30 - . . . . . .
engineers, still remain to be accounted for, but of these no returns
are available. Making due allowance for these and the probable
understatement of the loss of the militia brigade, it is safe to say,
that Brown had under arms on the evening of the 25th of July at .
least 4,500 of all ranks, of whom upwards of 3,500 were regulars.
A certain proportion probably were detailed for camp service, but
after making a reasonable deduction for this, he still must have been
able to bring more than 4,000 men into action, with nine pieces of
field artillery, three of which were 18-pounders, and one a 54-inch
howitzer. In facta letter dated at Buffalo next day, giving a very accu-
rate account of the battle, states his force engaged at precisely that
number." In artillery he possessed a decided preponderance from the
beginning of the action, an advantage which was only partially coun-
terbalanced by the excellence of the position occupied by the British
guns.” - -
e Leaving the Queenston road at nearly a right angle, Lundy's
Lane followed a course almost due west for about half a mile, thence,
1. Poulson's American.
* Mr. Adams, in many respects one of the fairest and most painstaking of American historians,
attempts to show that Gen. Brown had but 2,644 effective men at Chippawa on the 25th July. He ac-
complishes this by leaving out of account all the officers, the whole of the Ist regiment, the dragoons, and .
mounted infantry, detachments of the 17th, 19th, 22nd, and rifles, and all details for duty of any kind.
which would prevent a man from being actually on the parade-ground at roll-call. He also reckons, the
strength of the artillery and Porter's brigade as it stood in the return of the 30th July. The American
returns cited are misleading in this way, that “present for duty " actually means “present under arms,”
omitting all guards, pickets, escorts, working parties — frequently one third of the strength - and the
“aggregate present and absent. ” includes sick men, those on command, etc. However, the following re-
turn, exhumed by him, is not without value:
Strength of 1st Brigade, Fort Erie, 31st July, 1814.
Present for Duty. Aggregate
2– A. ~ Present and
- N. C. O. and men. Officers. Absent.
9th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 8 - 569
11th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v. 293 .11 624
22nd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21S - 10 408
25th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255 7 - 676
General Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ 4 4
--- * tº — . .
905 30 + 2281
** 2nd Brigade. -
lst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141 6 220
21st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 441 20 S49
23rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292 12 w 713
General Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - - 4 . 4
874 42 r 1786
Monthly return of troops under Gen. Brown, Fort Erie, 31st July, 1814,
Bombardiers, etc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 2 69 &
Light Dragoons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 l 64
Artillery Corps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - - - 241 - 12 * 364
First Brigade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 905 40 , 2281 , ,
Second Brigade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 874. 42 1786
2125 97. * 4564
It is quite preposterous to suppose that Gen. Brown would have affirmed his ability to march in any.
direction over the country and to conquer Upper Canada withifi two months if he had only 2,000 men at
his command. His despatches before Lundy’s Lane all bear the stamp of conscious numerical superiority
— those of Drummond and Riall indicate a knowledge of their inferiority. It will be observed that
Porter's brigade is entirely onlitted from the foregoing return, although what remained of it was unques-
tionably present at Fort Erie on that date. &
f :
$ , 31
t / , , ,
trending gradually northward, crossed the Twelve Mile Creek at
DeCew's Falls. About a hundred yards west of the junction of the
roads, on the south side of Lundy's Lane, stood a Presbyterian church,
a low frame building, painted red. It occupied the highest point of
the rise, which slopes gently southward and westward, but dips more
abruptly to the east and north. On the right of the church lay a
small enclosure, in which a few weatherbeaten wooden slabs and rude
brown headstones, with sometimes a brief inscription roughly carved
upon them by the village blacksmith's chisel, but more often nameless,
marked the graves of the fathers of the settlement. Hither, too,
brave young Cecil Bisshop was borne by mourning comrades upon
their return from that daring raid in which he met his death, and
here he still reposes. Southward, a thriving young orchard covered
the slope below the graveyard, extending quite to the edge of the
Portage Road and encircling a small dwelling and farmyard. Mea-
dows and cultivated fields lay beyond, bounded by thick woods less
than half a mile away on both sides of the road, stretching down to
the river near Table Rock, and skirting the brink of the chasm for a
long distance.
Dreading an ambush, Scott carefully reconnoitred these woods
with his cavalry, and his delay enabled the British light troops to
regain the position they had just abandoned. Then, as now, Lundy's
Lane was bordered by many apple, cherry and peach trees, thrusting
their projecting boughs over the highway. In these orchards.the Glen-
garry Light Infantry took up their ground, forming the right wing of
the British line of battle. Tomkins' two field guns with the rocket
party were planted among the graves on the very summit of the
knoll beside the church, so as to sweep the road. The detachment of
the 8th and the Incorporated Militia were posted lower down, behind
the fences and in the fields on the left of the main road extending
towards the river, but leaving an interval of more than two hundred
yards unoccupied next the bank, which was thickly overgrown with
scrub-pine and brushwood. The extremities of both wings were
inclined slightly forward. The remainder of Morrison's column was
formed in rear of the guns, under shelter of the ridge, as fast as it
came up, and the troop of the 19th Dragoons was posted on the high
road some distance further away." Small parties of the 1st and 2nd
Lincoln Militia continued to arrive from the various outposts occupied
by them during the day, and joined the light troops in the woods on
the flanks. No better ground for receiving an attack could be found
for many a mile. The entire number of all ranks in the field when
this formation was accomplished was 1,637, of whom about one-half
were Provincial troops.” Soon after the battle began, the light
1. Drummond to Prevost, July 27: Lossing, 2. Auchinleck.
.*
company of the Royals arrived from Twenty Mile Creek and a courier
was sent off to countermand the march of the remainder of Colonel
Scott's column, which it was learned had taken the road, from the
Beechwoods to Queenston, and pilot it to the field. . . .
It has become the fashion among American writers to describe
Drummond's force as being largely composed of Wellington's
veterans. With the exception of Colonel Scott, and possibly a few
other officers, who may have exchanged from other regiments, it is safe
to say that not a man in the entire division had ever served under
that illustrious commander, and very few of them had seen active ſ
Service of any kind outside of Canada. . *
As the Americans emerged from the woods, the 9th, 11th, and
22nd regiments deployed in the fields on the left and the 25th on the
right of the road, while their field-guns came to the front and unlim-
bered upon the highway. The brigade of infantry numbered 1,506 of
all ranks, and the artillery, dragoons, and other mounted corps, con-
sisting of two troops of U. S. dragoons and the New York commands
of Boughton and Stone, probably mustered 300 more, making a total
force of 1,800 fighting men." -
Retiring leisurely before the advancing enemy, the British
skirmishers frequently halted and formed as if with the intention of
making a stand, then dispersed again as soon as their position was
seriously threatened. Much valuable time was gained by these
manoeuvres, which were continued until the vanguard of the Ameri-
can army had approached within half musket-shot of their fighting
line, when they finally ran in.” / .
The sum was about half an hour high, or, in other words, it was
between six and seven o'clock in the afternoon, when Scott began the
engagement by a general attack of light troops along the entire front
of the British position. On the right, the Glengarries easily main-
tained their ground, but a section of the Royal Scots which had just
come up, startled by the sudden apparition among the trees in their
front of a body of men in green uniforms, resembling those of the
American riflemen they had encountered that amorning at Lewiston,
hastily fired a volley upon them, which injured several and produced
some confusion.” *
Having felt the force opposed to him in this manner for a few
minutes, and satisfied himself that it was determined to fight where it
stood, General Scott formed the 11th and 22nd United States Infantry
for a direct frontal attack, and detailed the 9th and 25th to turn both
flanks simultaneously. . -
The centre attack was not pushed with vigor, and was easily

1. Ripley, C. K. Gardner. Dict. U. S. Army. 2. Letter in Northern Sentinel, 19th August, 1814.
3. United Service Journal, 1845. - * -
*~~
33
repelled by the artillery fire alone. But upon the left of the line, the
Americans soon obtained a decided advantage. Observing the belt of
unoccupied ground next to the river, Scott ordered Colonel T. S. Jesup,
with the 25th U. S. Infantry, to make a wide circuit through the
undergrowth in that direction, and, by turning Drummond's flank,
attempt to gain possession of the Queenston road in the rear. Favored
by the approach of night and concealed from view by thickets, that
regiment made its way unperceived into the interval, and suddenly
attacking the battalion of Incorporated Militia in flank at the moment
it was attempting to take #." further to the left, threw it into
confusion, and took four officers and near a hundred meneprisoners.
Following up his advantage, Jesup advanced rapidly as far as the
road, which he occupied in force, and the troop of the 19th, finding a
strong body of infantry firing upon them from the enclosures on
their flank, retired as far as Muddy Run." Nor was this the full
measure of his success. First, Captain Loring, A.D.C. to General
Drummond, riding to the rear to bring up the cavalry, was captured,then
General Riall, himself, bleeding from a wound, which subsequently
caused the amputation of his arm, fell into his power in the same
manner. The prisoners were promptly hurried from the field, and
when their rank was announced to the remainder of the brigade it
became the signal for loud and prolonged cheering along the entire
line, caught up and repeated by Ripley's and Porter's advancing
columns.
Scarcely had these sounds died away, when a shell from the
British battery struck one of Towson's ammunition wagons, which
instantly blew up with a great explosion. This incident was hailed in
turn by exulting shouts from the successful gunners, who redoubled
their efforts in consequence, and the American pieces were speedily
overpowered by their fire, and almost, if not quite, silenced. The
remnant of the Incorporated Militia quickly recovered from its con-
fusion, and re-formed in rear of the 89th, fronting the Queenston road,
and covering the flank and rear of the troops in Lundy's Lane.”
Their musketry soon compelled Jesup to relinquish the position he
had secured, and communication with the rear was re-opened.” Lieut.-
Col. Robinson being dangerously wounded, the command of this corp
devolved on Major James Kerby.
A general advance of the 9th, 11th and 22nd Infantry, converg-
ing upon the British guns, forced the 89th and the detachments of the
8th and Royal Scots to advance to their support, and was not repelled
without a sharp struggle, in which both parties suffered heavily.
Lieut. Hemphill, leading the Royals, after Capt. Brereton was
disabled, was killed, and the command of his party, the remnant of
1. Merritt ; Reminiscence of L. Palmer, Mss. 2. Drummond to Prevost, July 27. 3. Lossing.
34
three companies, devolved on another young subaltern, Lieut. Fraser.
Colonel Morrison was so severely wounded that he was carried from
the field, and Major Clifford assumed command of the 89th, while
Captain. Campbell, commanding the 8th, had his horse killed beneath
him. Their assailants finally retired, leaving the slope strewed with
their dead and wounded, and were rallied with difficulty under cover
of their artillery. The 22nd in particular broke in great confusion,
running across the front of the 11th when in the act of wheeling, and
carrying away several platoons of that regiment in its flight. Their
officers failed to check the fugitives until they had gained the shelter
of the woods, and only a part of them could then be induced to return
to the scene of action."
In the course of this contest the Americans had been reinforced,
in the first instance by Lieut. Riddle with 100 men, then by Ripley's
brigade, and finally by General Brown with the entire reserve. -
Biddle's and Ritchie's companies of artillery, with six guns, ad-
vanced to Towson's assistance, and the artillery duel was resumed with
redoubled energy. Notwithstanding the disparity in numbers, the
British guns still maintained a decided superiority. Captains Biddle
and Ritchie were both wounded, the latter mortally, and Towson is
said to have lost twenty-seven out of thirty-six men serving his
three guns.”
Colonel McRee, an engineer officer, who was acting as General
Brown's chief of staff, finally assured the American commander that
he need not hope for ultimate success unless the hill was taken and
the guns silenced.” By this time the entire available force of his
division had arrived. Scott's command was much exhausted and
diminished in numbers. Accordingly, Ripley's brigade, consisting of
the 1st, 21st, and 23rd Infantry, besides detachments of the 2nd Rifles,
17th and 19th Infantry, was formed for the main attack, having
Porter's brigade, composed of Dobbin's and Swift's New York
regiments, Fenton's Pennsylvania battalion, and Willcocks' Canadian
Volunteers, upon their left, while the 25th U.S.I. still maintained its
position in the thickets on the right.* The numbers at his disposal,
if properly handled, were amply sufficient to crush the very inferior
force opposed to them before relief could arrive. ~
For a few minutes firing almost ceased, and this interval was
employed by the American artillerymen in bringing forward fresh
supplies of ammunition, and perfecting their arrangement for a
general advance. Owing to the growing darkness, artillery fire had
ceased to be very effective, for although the moon had risen its light
was rendered faint and uncertain by drifting clouds of smoke and
T. Major McNeil's Evidence. 2. Peterson, Heroes of U. S. 3. Lossing. 4. Brown to Armstrong,
Aug. 7.
35
dust, and the position of either line of battle was only indicated at
irregular intervals by the flash of its guns."
The action had now continued for nearly three hours; the British
force had been reduced by casualties to less than twelve hundred
officers and men, and its situation seemed perilous in the extreme.
Their ammunition was nearly exhausted and the militia were
deprived of their remaining stock of cartridges, which were distributed
among the regulars. It could no longer be a matter of doubt that
they had to contend with the entire American army. But relief,
though long delayed, was now close at hand. After the original order
of march had been countermanded, the troops encamped at Twelve
Mile Creek remained quietly in their quarters until afternoon. Then
the order was received from General Riall directing a portion of the
force to advance immediately to his support, by way of DeCew's Falls
and Lundy's Lane. This meant a march of fourteen miles under a
burning sun. Colonel Scott instantly obeyed, taking with him seven
companies of his own regiment (the 103rd), seven companies of the
Royal Scots, Lieut.-Col. John Gordon, five companies of the 8th, Major
Evans, the flank companies of the 104th, Capt. R. Leonard, and a few
picked men selected from some of the Militia battalions* in camp,
under Lieut.-Col. Hamilton, yet, owing to the weak state of the com-
panies, his entire column did not muster more than 1,200 of all ranks.”
This force was accompanied by three 6-pounders and a 5-inch
howitzer, under Captain Mackonochie. The advance-guard was
already within three miles of the field of battle when they were met
by an Orderly bearing a second despatch from General Riall, announc-
ing that he was about to retire upon Queenston, and directing them to
retreat at Once and join him at that place. They had retraced their
'steps for nearly four miles when the roar of cannon burst upon their
ears and they were overtaken by a second messenger, summoning
them to the scene of conflict. It was accordingly nine o'clock before
the head of this column, weary and footsore with a march of more
than twenty miles almost without a halt, came in view on the extreme
right.”
The action was recommenced by a brisk attack on the left of the
British position by the 25th United States Infantry, from the shelter
of the copsewood near the Queenston road. -
The American artillery opened fire with renewed vigor to cover
the advance of their infantry, and Porter's riflemen were detached,
creeping stealthily forward on the right, in the hope of turning the
flank also. Drummond promptly foiled this movement by directing
the headquarter wing of the Royals and the flank companies of the
1. Peterson. 2. Drummond to Prevost July 27. 3. Letters of Veritas.
“The Lincoln, Norfolk, Oxford, Middlesex and York regiments, and Essex and Kent Rangers.
2.
36
104th to prolong his fighting line in that direction while he formed
the remainder of Colonel Scott's column into a second line in rear of
Lundy's Lane." These dispositions had not yet been entirely com-
pleted when a large body of infantry was again observed advancing
upon the artillery. The troops destined for the assault of the battery,
composed of the 1st U.S. Infantry, Colonel R. C. Nicholas, detach-
ments of the 17th, 19th and 2nd Rifles and the whole of the 21st,
under command of Colonel James Miller, had quietly been formed in
the hollow, where their movements were concealed by the darkness,
and now advanced silently in line, two deep, followed by the 23rd,
Major D. McFarland, in close column of companies, under cover of the
discharge of all their artillery, which concentrated its fire upon the
British guns. These battalions mustered upward of 1,400 bayonets.”
The position occupied by the 1st U.S. Infantry, forming the centre of
their line, compelled that regiment, fresh from a tour of uneventful
garrison duty in the distant frontier posts on the banks of the
Mississippi, to climb the slope in the face of the point-blank fire of
the British guns, while Miller's and McFarland's commands moved
obliquely upon the battery from either flank. Scarcely had it begun
to feel the effects of the artillery fire when this regiment gave way,
and before it could be rallied by its officers, had retired a considerable
distance in much disorder.” The 23rd advanced with admirable firm-
ness and lost heavily. Its commander was killed and the line began
to waver, but order was soon restored by the efforts of General Ripley,
who directed its movements in person after the fall of Major McFar-
land." Miller's approach on the opposite flank was screened from the
view of the gunners by the church and an almost continuous line of
thickets fringing both sides of a shallow ravine.” Within twenty
yards of the guns a stout log-fence, skirted with shrubbery and small
trees, crossed their path and furnished convenient cover. Up to this
point their advance had been unobserved by the artillerymen, whose
attention was rivetted upon the batteries below. Halting there for a
moment, they fired a single effective volley, and, rushing forward,
gained the summit, but with heavy loss." Lieut. Cilley, who led the
charge, cut down an artilleryman as he entered the battery and the
next moment fell desperately wounded by his side. A few gunners
still clung desperately to their pieces and were bayonetted while
striving to reload, and the battery, which had been worked so effect-
ively against them, was in their possession. Both the 24-pounders
and one of Captain Mackonochie's 6-pounders, which had since been
brought up to their assistance, were taken. Lieut. Tomkins and a few
of his men were also captured and temporarily confined in the church,
whence most of them soon succeeded in making their escape."
1. Drummond to Prevost, July 27, 2. Ripley, official return. 3. Brown to Armstrong 4 Ibid.
5. Jacobs' Life of P. Gass. 6. Lieut. Bigelow was killed and Capt. Burbank, Lieuts. Cilley and Fisk
and Ensigns Jones, Thomas and Camp were wounded in taking the guns — J. L. Thompson 7. Lossing,
Drummond, Browne, England's Artillerymen ; Letter in Alexandria Herald.
37
Nearly at the same instant Ripley came up with the 23rd, and
the 1st, having re-formed, advanced to their support. , Ripley's entire
brigade was thus massed on a very narrow front, on the south side of
Lundy's Lane, between the church and the Queenston road. , Scott's
brigade, with the exception of the 25th Infantry, was rapidly brought
forward and took post on their left, while Porter's volunteers distantly
engaged the flank companies of the 104th, and the wing of the Royals.”
Miller's movement had been at once so rapid, unexpected and
successful, that the British guns were in his possession before the
infantry in rear had time to advance for their protection. These
detachments then hastily advanced to recover them, but after a very
severe contest were repelled with heavy loss. At short range the
cartridges of the Americans, containing in addition to the ordinary
bullets three large buck-shot, were particularly effective. Lieutenant
Fraser, on whom the command of the Royals in this part of the field
had devolved, was wounded, and the survivors of his detachment
rallied around the colors of the 89th. The 103rd being ordered to
advance, marched in the darkness directly into the centre of the
enemy's new position, and were first made aware of its mistake by a
crushing volley, which threw them into great disorder.” While this
struggle was in progress for the possession of the hill, the American
artillery limbered up and advanced to take up a new position upon
the summit. In the attempt they met with sudden and unforseen
disaster. While their howitzer was ascending the slope at a gallop, a
volley of musketry brought nearly all the drivers at once to the
ground, and the horses, missing their riders and left without guidance,
plunged frantically forward into the opposing ranks, where they were
soon secured.” Several of their caissons were blown up at different
times by congreve rockets, and some of their pieces silenced for want
of ammunition. Many horses were also killed or disabled while
manoeuvring.
The remainder of the British artillery was at the same time
brought forward until the muzzles of the guns were only a few yards
asunder, and the battle thenceforward became a confused, ferocious,
and Sanguinary struggle, waged frequently at the bayonet's point, or
with clubbed muskets, the British striving desperately to regain the
ground they had lost, and their opponents to thrust them down into
the hollow beyond, and drive them from the field. Regiments, com-
panies, and sections were broken up and mingled together. They re-
tired, rallied, and were led to the charge again. For two hours the
contending lines were scarcely ever more than twenty yards apart,
and by the light of each successive volley of musketry they could
1 Miller's letter to his wife, July 28 -- J. L. Thompson, Hist. Late War. 2. James, Mil. Occ. 3. Let-
ter of E. L. Allen, 21st U.S.I., in Pittsfield (Mass.) Sun.
*
38
plainly distinguish the faces of their antagonists, and even the buttons
on their coats. From time to time even the voices of the officers
could be distinctly heard in the opposing lines. General Drummond
shouted to his men, “Stick to them, my fine fellows.” An American
officer responded by giving an order to “Level low and fire at their
flashes,” in stentorian tones." It is scarcely possible to present a con-
secutive narrative of the closing hours of the strife. For upwards of
an hour the combatants faced each other at a distance of not more
than sixty or seventy feet, loading and firing with as much delibera-
tion, one of them wrote, “as if it had been a sham battle.” From
time to time there was a sudden rush forward, and the lines swayed
slowly backwards and forwards over the ground, which was now
thickly strewn with the bodies of their fallen comrades. It is asserted
by the Americans that they three times repelled the attempts of their
adversaries to regain their lost position.” In one of these, we learn
that the 103rd, being largely a boy-regiment and this its first experi-
ence of battle, again gave way, and was only rallied by the strenuous
exertions of Major Smelt and other officers.” In another, the assail-
ants forced their way into Major's Hindman's battery and compelled
him to spike two of his guns.” In the short interval between these
attacks, Generals Brown and Scott consulted together, and, in conse-
quence, Scott's brigade was moved into a narrow road or lane a short
distance south of Lundy's Lane, where it deployed and took post in
line immediately in front of their artillery, which was now rendered
nearly useless by the very proximity of the contending forces. Upon
the repulse of the second attack, Scott formed his regiments into close
column, left in front, and hoping to profit by the disorder in the British
ranks, led them to the charge in turn. The 89th, kneeling to receive
them in a field of grain, reserved its fire, by Drummond's com-
mand, until its assailants were within twenty paces, when a volley
was delivered with such fatal effect that they recoiled in confusion to
the rear, vigorously pursued at the point of the bayonet.” Their place
in the line was at once occupied by a portion of General Porter's bri-
gade, and Colonel Leavenworth rallied and reformed the broken pla-
toons upon the left of their former position. Having changed front,
they were again led forward by their indomitable commander, who
had already had two horses killed under him, in an effort to force
back the British right. Again repelled with heavy loss, they were
again rallied, this time on the extreme left of the line." General Scott
was himself wounded by a musket ball, which fractured his shoulder,
and, having likewise received a painful contusion in the side, was re-
moved from the field. His regimental commanders, Colonels Brady,
1. McLeod's view of settlement of Upper Canada. 2. Lossing, J. L. Thomson, etc 3 Drummond.
4. E. L. Allen. 5. “The effect of that single fire on the enemy's ranks was awful in the extreme.” David
Thompson, Hist. of the Late War, p. 233-4. 6. J. L. Thomson.
39
Jesup and McNeil, and his Brigade-Major, Smith, had also been dis-
abled. The 11th and the 22nd United States Infantry went entirely
to pieces, and the 9th alone preserved its formation, kept together by
the exertions of Leavenworth, its colonel, who was likewise wounded."
The entire brigade had shrunk to the dimensions of one weak bat-
talion, stumbling blindly about the field.*. More than half the officers
of these regiments had been killed or badly hurt, and it was subse-
quently related by deserters that on one occasion, being hard pressed,
the survivors actually threw down their arms and attempted to sur-
render in a body, but finding that the British still continued their fire,
resumed their weapons in despair.” Be this as it may, the list of
killed and wounded bore eloquent testimony to the courage and deter-
mination with which they had maintained the contest. Before the
close of the action the number of effective men remaining in the field
of the four regiments composing General Scott's brigade was actually
reduced to 150 or 200, exclusive of officers.” -
About the same time General Brown received a flesh wound in
the thigh, and finding that Scott had already retired from the field,
made over the chief command to General Ripley. The two remain-
ing brigades had suffered less, but their losses had been severe, and
most of the regiments were much shaken. The new commander, with
the entire approval of his chief, determined to retire beyond the Chip-
pawa.” With this intention, all the guns that could be horsed were
withdrawn, and some of the wounded removed. -
While Ripley was preparing to retreat, Drummond was resolutely
reforming his shattered battalions for a final and supreme effort to
retrieve the fortunes of the fight. Bleeding profusely from a wound
in the neck, which narrowly missed being fatal, he paid so little
attention to it that he did not even dismount to have it dressed.
Twenty minutes later his horse was shot dead beneath him.” Colonel
Pearson, Lieut.-Colonel Robinson, and many officers of inferior rank
1. Lossing. 2. Drummond to Prevost, August 8. 3. Col. Leavenworth's evidence. 4. Brown to Arm-
strong, August 7. Ripley, Major Hindman's evidence. 5. James. Ridout Letters. Thos. Ridout to his
son, 14th Aug., 1814: “The coolness of Gen. Drummond on that memorable night, in the performance of
all his duties, was beyond all, praise. His wound in the neck was very severe and has been very trouble-
some.”
*The aimless wanderings of this brigade are circumstantially described in “A brief review of the
settlement of Upper Canada by the U. E. Loyalists and Scotch Highlanders in 1783, by D. McLeod, Major-
General. Patriot Army ; Cleveland, 1841”:—“The commanding officer of the 89th was ordered to charge
this column of Americans, which was promptly executed by driving them down the slope of the hill ; but
they instantly rallied at the base and in their turn charged the Royals and drove them some distance to
the rear. The 89th coming up at this time in their rear mistook them for the Royals and were letting
them pass on as such, but while they were reclining to the left they had to advance in front of the Grena-
diers of the 104th and 103rd regiments, who were in the act of firing at them, when a British field officer
rode up and ordered them not to fire as it was the 89th. The Americans took the hint and called out ‘the
89th,’ The word “recover arms’ was given, and as they were advancing towards their own lines they
came in contact with a strong detachment of the 49th (41st 2) and Royals, who by some accident were
far in advance of their own lines. A dreadful scene ensued. It was for some minutes the reign of
carnage, shoulder to shoulder, foot to foot ; the combatants fought with more than mortal energy. * * *
The Glengarries marched to the assistance of their friends, but from the darkness of the night mistook
the 49th and Royals for the Americans, which enabled the latter to retire unmolested.”
40
had been disabled. Nearly one-third of the rank and file had already
been numbered with the dead, or were suffering from wounds. With
indomitable resolution the scattered detachments were rallied and
the line reformed for another attack. Finally, when it was almost
midnight, the thinned and wearied ranks were again closed and
urged up the hillside. Headed by the light company of the 41st,
led by Captain Glew, they pressed steadily up the slope, and at
length stood triumphantly upon the summit." Their opponents were
surprised in the act of retiring, and their rearguard was easily over-
thrown and dispersed. The two 24-pounders they had lost were re-
covered, but the 6-pounder had been already removed. An American
field-piece of the same calibre was, however, taken, the whole of the
detachment serving it with but two exceptions having fallen in its
defence.” The officer commanding the party at the guns put spurs to .
his horse and escaped, but most of his men were taken prisoners be-
side them. Several tumbrils and horses were also captured, and the
ridge was profusely strewn with the bodies of those seriously injured,
Desultory firing continued in various quarters of the field for a few
minutes longer, under cover of which General Ripley withdrew from
the field all of his troops that still held together. \
Almost all American writers, following the cue furnished by
General Brown's official letter, convey the impression that their forces
retired voluntarily, and were not expelled from the position they had
won, and none of them admit the loss of any artillery. The state-
ments on these points contained in Sir Gordon Drummond's official
letter are, however, fully substantiated by affidavits published in
General Ripley's pamphlet already referred to, as well as by several
letters from officers and men in the American army, which appeared
in different contemporary newspapers. Major Hindman, commandant
of their artillery, testified, for instance, that “General Brown said to
him:-‘Collect your artillery as well as you can, and retire im-
mediately; we will all march to camp together.’ He then remarked
that nearly all his officers had been killed or wounded, and that he
himself was wounded, and he thought it best to retire. I found the
enemy in possession of the guns and wagons. Some of the horses
and men were captured. I then left the field. Lieut. Fontaine in-
formed me that the enemy charged his party at the guns, and made
them all prisoners, but that he dashed through their ranks and
escaped.”
Equally conclusive is the evidence respecting the demoralized con-
dition of the American army, derived from the same sources. We are
informed that but two platoons of Scott's brigade could be
collected under Leavenworth, and several officers affirmed that not
1. Gourlay. 2. E. L. Allen. 3. Ripley, Facts relative to the Campaign on the Niagara.
41
more than 500 men in all returned to camp in a body, the remainder
having dispersed."
The battlefield remained in the undisturbed possession of the
British during the remainder of the night, but they were in no con-
dition to pursue their disorganized enemies. Pearson's brigade had
marched fourteen miles, and had been deprived of sleep the night be-
fore; Morrison's detachment had accomplished the same distance; and
the remainder not less than twenty-one miles in the heat of a July
day. Almost one-third of their entire number had been killed or
wounded, or were missing. The survivors were utterly exhausted,
and threw themselves down to rest among the dead and dying upon
the bloodstained hill they had finally re-conquered.
Thus ended the most stubbornly-contested and sanguinary
engagement ever fought in the Province of Ontario, after having con-
tinued five hours and twenty-three minutes.” By American writers
it is frequently styled the battle of Bridgewater or Niagara Falls; in
British official records, it is known by the name of Niagara, and, in
commemoration of the fact, the Royal Scots, 8th, 41st and 89th, bear
that word emblazoned on their colors, but among Canadians it usually
receives the more homely appellation of Lundy's Lane.”
The loss on both sides was extremely severe in proportion to the
number of combatants engaged, and, according to the Official reports,
nearly equal. The British return showed an aggregate of five officers
and seventy-six men killed, thirty officers and 532 men wounded,
fourteen officers and 219 men missing and prisoners; that of their oppon-
ents, eleven officers and 160 men killed, three generals(Brown, Scott and
Porter), fifty other officers and 520 men wounded, eight officers and 109
men missing. But there are several cogent reasons for suspecting the
truthfulness of the latter return. James asserts that 210 of their
dead were counted on the field by British fatigue parties, and that
indications of a number of new-made graves were afterwards discovered
near their camp. Drummond stated in his official letter that several
hundred prisoners had fallen into his hands, and it would be indeed
remarkable that a force in the admitted state of disorganization to
which the American army was reduced should have lost no more than
the number returned as missing, especially when a considerable pro-
portion of that force consisted of militia acknowledged to be
unusually prone to desert and disperse in the event of a reverse, while
their opponents, who held the field, lost more than double that number.
An officer writing from Buffalo, two days after the battle, to his
father, a Senator in Congress, stated that their first brigade (Scott's)
1. Ripley, Facts relative to the Campaign on the Niagara ; Wilson, American Military and Naval Heroes.
2. Letter dated Fort Erie, July 28, in Alexandria Herald. 3. On St. George's day, April 23rd, 1822, colors
were presented by Sir Peregrine Maitland, Lieut.-Governor of Upper Canada, to the York Militia as
representatives of the Incorporated Militia, in recognition of their services during the war, inscribed with
the word “Niagara,” by direction of King George IV.
42
was almost annihilated, yet the official return only admitted a loss of
a little more than five hundred men, or about one-third of its effect-
ive force.” Major Foster testified that but fifteen or twenty of the
11th escaped unhurt.” Major Hindman relates that of Tappan's
Company of the 23rd, U. S. I., numbering forty-five rank and file
when it went into action, only nine answered to their names at roll-
call next morning, and estimated that not more than 1,500 men of
the entire division could then be mustered.” I have already referred
to the loss of Towson's artillery. At one of Captain Ritchie's guns
every man is said to have been disabled, at another all but two, and
yet the entire loss of the whole of the artillery was returned at forty-
six of all ranks.” Detachments of the 2nd Rifles and 17th and 19th
Infantry are known to have been engaged; one officer belonging to
the former and two of the latter corps were certainly wounded, but
no statement whatever of their loss is to be found in the official re-
port. Finally, Major Herkimer and thirteen other officers of the
volunteer brigade, in an open letter published in several newspapers,
flatly accused General Brown of falsifying the returns and of under-
stating the loss of their regiments.”
Mr. Hildreth states that the American army was reduced by their
losses to sixteen hundred effective men. If this were true it would
indicate a loss from casualties and desertion of more than two thou-
sand.” A very correct and circumstantial account of the action by an
eye-witness, published in Powlsom's American, estimated their loss in
killed and wounded at twelve hundred. Another letter, dated at Fort
Erie, August 1st, remarks: “Many of our men secreted themselves
in the woods, and were not collected till within a few days.” As they
were not vigorously pursued it is probable that most of these strag-
glers rejoined their regiments.
On the part of the British, the battalions which bore the brunt
of the action were the Royal Scots and the 89th, and their losses
were correspondingly severe. Of about 500 men of the former regi-
ment who went into action, 172 were reported killed, wounded, or
missing, while the 89th lost not less than 254 out of an aggregate of
400 of all ranks. Of the provincial corps the Incorporated Militia
suffered most, losing 142 officers and men, of whom not less than 92
were missing, out of about 300 engaged; the Glengarry Light Infantry .
lost 57; the 104th flank companies, 6; the Lincoln Militia, 13; the
1. Lieut. J. B. Varnum. 2. Ripley. In a letter in the Northern Sentimel, dated 19th August, 1814,
an officer of the 11th stated that his company numbered 50 on the morning of the 25th, but only 13 were
present at roll call next day, and but one man of his own platoon. Col. Miller, in a letter to his wife of the
28th July, (printed in the report of the Adjutant General of New Hampshire, for 1868) states the loss of his
regiment (the 21st) at 126 of all ranks, yet in the official return it was stated to be only 104. 3. E. L. Allen.
4 Hist. U. S. 5. Official return (Can. Arch.)
* “The company (Stone's) entered the service 162 strong, and when mustered out numbered only 48
men. The others had either been killed in battle, died of wounds or camp disease, or been taken prisoners.
But very few had deserted.”—Doty History of Livingstone County, N. Y., p. 322.
* . * 43
Second York, 9; the Provincial Dragoons, 3.f Many of the wounded,
being slightly injured by buckshot, were soon able to do duty again,
and a number of the missing rejoined their regiments in a few days.”
Next morning General Ripley again crossed the Chippawa with
as large a force as he could muster, with the intention, as he stated,
of burying the dead and recovering the wounded, whom he had left
behind. Most of his officers agreed in regarding this as an act of the
most consummate folly. But, finding the field occupied in force by
his antagonist, he immediately retired, destroying the bridge behind
him, and prepared for instant retreat.” The wounded and prisoners
were then sent across the Niagara, a quantity of camp equipage and
other stores were destroyed or thrown into the river, Bridgewater
Mills and Clark's warehouse at Chippawa were burned, and a retro-
grade movement was effected with such celerity that, although they
did not commence their march until noon, the entire force arrived on
the heights opposite Black Rock at midnight in such a state of ex-
haustion that they lay down to sleep without pitching tents or light-
ing fires. This would certainly be extraordinary conduct on the part
of a victorious army. In fact it is almost certain that their com-
mander had determined to re-cross the river next day, but finding
that he was not pursued in force, he encamped under the guns of Fort
Erie, and set every available man at work with axe and spade to
entrench his position.
As soon as Ripley's intention to retreat became apparent, the
British light troops were sent in pursuit, and succeeded in making a
few prisoners, but feeling himself too weak in numbers to attempt the
investment of their fortified camp at Fort Erie, Sir Gordon Drum-
mond dismissed the militia, who had come forward so cheerfully, and
remained with the bulk of his force near Lundy's Lane until the
arrival of reinforcements enabled him to prosecute his advantage
further.3 g
1. Cannon, History Records British Army. 2. Letter of E. L. Allen; Musician's account. 3. G. O.,
July 26; Drummond to Prevost, July 31.
# In his official letter Sir Gordon Drummond said: “The zeal, loyalty and bravery with which the
militia of this part of the Province have come forward to co-operate with His Majesty's troops in the ex-
pulsion of the enemy, and their conspicuous gallantry in this and the action of the 4th, claim my warmest
thanks.” -
APPENDIX NO. 1.
STATE OF THE DEFENCES OF THE NIAGARA FRONTIER IN THE BEGIN-
NING OF JULY, 1814—GEN. DRUMMOND'S SCHEME *
OF OPERATIONS.
Extract from report of Capt. Martin, R.E., to Sir George Prevost, -
Montreal, 3rd July, 1814 – -
Fort Erie—In a tolerable state of defence, strongly enclosed in
rear with palisades. A small blockhouse commenced, to flank the
picketing. Three guns mounted—two twelves and one nine-pounder.
Chippawa—A line of intrenchments thrown up by the King's
regiment on the left bank of the river; a redoubt commenced, to .
flank them.
Queenston—A redoubt completed for 250 men.
Fort Niagara—The land-front nearly completed and well
excavated along the curtain ; a splinter-proof, 140 feet in length,
nearly completed with palisading.
Fort Missassauga—The new work in a forward state; the
picketing and two furnaces completed; a brick tower commenced.
Fort George—For want of men the works do not advance
rapidly.
Abstract of answers to questions submitted to officers of engineers,
date about 12th July:- º *
Fort George is in a very bad state in reference to defence, and
can make little or no resistance against an army computed at between
5,000 and 6,000 men, with a due proportion of heavy artillery, and the
only thing to prevent it from being taken by assault is a bad row of
picketing. If Fort George falls into the enemy's hands he will be
enabled to carry on a regular attack against Fort Niagara. On his own
side of the river, which he would otherwise find difficult to do.
Forts George and Niagara having fallen, Fort Missassauga will be
very much weakened, as all the supplies without that fort will be cut
off entirely. There is no secure cover for the garrison of Fort
Missassauga, and it would soon fall if attacked by land, Fort Niagara
being the protection of our supplies outside it. Fort Missassauga
would not be easily taken by assault, but is incapable of holding out .
against a bombardment.
GEN, DRUMMOND'S SCHEME OF DEFENCE.
Maj.-Gen. Riall to Lieut.-Gen. Drummond, Fort George, 10th
March, 1814—Abstract:- -
Desires instructions in case of an attack, as both flanks are
assailable. Fears that the Americans will land at Long Point, and by
45
advancing along the western road, get into his rear. There is a very
small disposable force on this frontier, not adequate for its defence in
front and to meet the probable movement in flank, and unless he re-
ceives a good reinforcement his position will be extremely critical.
Lieut.-Gen. Drummond to Maj.-Gen. Riall, Kingston, March 23:—
Thinks it highly probable that in connection with the siege of
Fort Niagara the Americans will invade the district by the western
road, and may land a force at Long Point or Point Abino. In such
case he would be obliged to concentrate his whole force at Burlington
or Ancaster, leaving the garrisons of Forts Niagara and George to
themselves. He anticipates that General Harrison will be in com-
mand, and in case he (Riall) obtains previous information, in spite of
his known caution, hopes that Harrison may give him an opportunity
to defeat and destroy a considerable part of his force. Wishes him
to understand that the abandonment of an advanced position is only
advised in case of an advance in force from the west for purposes of
concentration. º
In case of small parties advancing from the westward, he is to
send small parties from Burlington to take a position at Burford or
Ancaster, and dispute the passage of the Grand River, on which the
detachments from Long Point and Oxford may fall back.
The natural disposition of the forces would be to keep them con-
centrated in a central position in readiness to act on either flank, but
the experience of the last two years shows that such force may be
distributed along the frontier without any great risk, and all posts
from Fort George to Erie should be occupied. That at Fort Erie
should consist of a strong company of infantry and a party of artillery
sufficient to man the 24-pounder in the southern demi-bastion, and
may give employment to an invading force for a few days, or act in
their rear. Chippawa to be strongly occupied, and a detachment
posted between Chippawa and Fort Erie, say at Frenchman's Creek,
and a rapid movement made to support the detachment on the right
in case of a landing being made above Chippawa. Fort Niagara to
be strongly occupied by 500 or 600 men, who may occupy ten times,
their number. I will reinforce your division by the 103rd, upwards
of 700 strong, as soon as navigation opens. The occupation of Fort
George is essential to the defence of Fort Niagara, and the construc-
tion of a battery of a few heavy guns so mounted as to bear on the
esplanade of Fort Niagara.
In case of a concentration at Burlington a small detachment to
be left in Fort George, which would in turn be protected by Fort
Niagara, which commands it. A battery at Missassauga Point (the
flagstaff) is highly necessary, and an enclosure at Queenston, if time
permits.
APPENDIX No. 2.
OFFICIAL RETURN OF THE LOSS OF BRITISH TROOPS IN ACTION OF JULY
25TH, 1814.
Staff—1 killed, 5 wounded, 1 missing.
19th Dragoons—2 rank and file wounded, I rank and file missing.
Provincial Light Dragoons—2 rank and file wounded, 1 captain
missing. *
Royal Engineers—l subaltern missing.
Royal Artillery–4 rank and file killed; 1 captain, 12 rank and
file wounded, 7 privates missing.
Royal Marine Artillery—3 rank and file wounded, 2 rank and file
missing.
1st Royal Scots—l subaltern, 15 privates killed; 3 officers, 112
N.C.O. and privates wounded; 2 officers, 39 N.C.O. and men missing.
8th Kings—12 N.C.O. and men killed; 3 officers, 57 N.C.O. and
men wounded; 1 officer, 12 N.C.O. and men missing. - g
41st–3 privates killed, 34 N.C.O. and men wounded.
89th–2 officers, 27 N.C.O. and men killed ; 11 officers, 177 N.C.
O. and men wounded; 37 N.C.O. and men missing. \
103rd–6 privates killed; 1 officer, 46 N.C.O. and men wounded;
3 officers, 4 N.C.O. and men missing.
104th–1 private killed, 5 privates missing.
Glengarry Light Infantry—4 privates killed; 1 officer, 30 N.C.O.
and men wounded ; 1 officer, 21 N.C.O. and men missing.
Incorporated Militia—l officer, 6 men killed; 4 officers, 39 N.C.
O. and men wounded ; 75 N.C.O. and men missing; 3 officers, 14 men
prisoners. -
1st Lincoln Militia—I private killed.
2nd Lincoln Militia—I private wounded.
4th Lincoln Militia—2 officers, 3 men wounded; 2 officers missing.
5th Lincoln Militia—1 officer, 3 men wounded.
2nd York—3 officers, 6 men wounded.
OFFICIAL RETURN OF LOSS OF UNITED STATES TROOPS.
General Staff—2 wounded. - -
Light Dragoons—1 corporal killed, 2 privates wounded.
Artillery—1 officer, 9 N.C.O. and men killed; 3 officers, 32 N.C.
O. and men wounded; 1 private missing. -
47
1st Brigade. r
Staff— 3 officers wounded.
9th Infantry—3 officers, 13 N.C.O. and men killed; 8 officers, 81
N.C.O. and men wounded; 1 officer, 14 N.C.O. and men missing.
11th Infantry—1 officer, 27 N.C.O. and men killed; 7 officers, 95
N.C.O. and men wounded; 1 officer, 2 privates missing.
22nd Infantry–36 N.C.O. and men killed; 7 officers, 83 N.C.O.
and men wounded; 3 officers, 14 N.C.O. and men missing. -
25th Infantry–2 officers, 26 men killed; 4 officers, 62 N.C.O. and
men wounded; 15 N.C.O. and men missing.
2nd Brigade.
1st Infantry—11 men killed; 2 officers, 18 men wounded; 2 N.C.O.
and men missing. -
21st Infantry–1 officer, 14 N.C.O. and privates killed; 6 officers,
64 N.C.O. and men wounded; 19 privates missing.
23rd Infantry—1 officer, 9 N.C.O. and men killed; 7 officers 45
N.C.O. and men wounded ; 27 N.C.O. and men missing.
Porter's Brigade.
Staff—1 officer wounded, 1 officer missing.
Canadian Volunteers—1 private killed, 2 privates wounded, 8.
privates missing.
Pennsylvania Volunteers—1 officer, 10 N.C.O. and men killed ; 3
officers, 21 men wounded; 1 officer missing.
New York Volunteers—1 officer, 3 N.C.O. and men killed; 2
officers, 12 N.C.O. and men wounded; 1 officer missing. -
APPENDIX NO. 3.
BRITISH OFFICERS RILLED.
Captain Spooner, 89th.
Lieut. Moorsom, 104th, D.A.A.G.
Lieut. Hemphill, 1st Royal Scots.
Lieut. Lathom, 89th.
Ensign Campbell, Incorporated Militia.
Wowºwded.
Lieut.-Gen. Drummond; Major-Gen. Riall; Lieut.-Cols. Morrison
and Pearson; Capts. McLauchlan and Brereton : Lieuts. LeBréton,
Haswell, Fraser, Noel, Sandeman, Steel, Pierce, Taylor, Lloyd, Miles,
Redmond, Hooper, Langhorne and Kerr, of the regulars.
Lieut.-Col. Robinson ; Majors Hatt and Simmons; Capts. Fraser,
Washburn, McDonald, H. Nelles and Rockman; Lieuts. Dougall, Rut-
tan, Hamilton, Thompson, Orrfield and Smith; Ensigns McDonald and
Kennedy, of the militia.
AMERICAN OFFICERS KILLED."
Major McFarland; Capts. Goodrich, Hooper, Hull, Kinney, Ritchie
and Spencer: Lieuts. Armstrong, Bigelow, Burghardt, Davidson, Kehr,
Poe, Sturgis and Turner; Ensign Hunter.
Wowºnded.
Major-General Brown; Brig.-Generals Porter and Scott; Colonel
Brady: Lieut.-Cols. Dobbins, Jesup, Leavenworth and McNeil; Major
Wood ; Capts. Biddle, Bissel, Bliss, Burbank, Foster, Foulk, McMillan,
Odell, Pentland, Smith and Worth : Lieuts. Abeel, Beans, Bedford,
Blake, Brown, Camp, Campbell, Cilley, Cooper, Culbertson, Cushman,
Dick, Dieterich, Ferguson, Fisher, Fisk, Fowle, Gifford, Haile, Ingersoll,
Jacobs, Lamb, McChain, Maclay, O'Fling, Schmuck, Shaylor, Stephen-
son, Tappan, Thompson, Vasquez, Webster and Whiting; Ensigns
Jacobs, Jones and Thomas.
1. Gardner Dict, U. S. Army.
,-
EXPLANATION OF SKETCH OF ACTION
\ OF THE 25th JULY, 1814, ,
Enclosed in Sir George Prevost's despatch, No. 183, to Lord Bathurst,
dated at Montreal, 5th August, 1814:
FIRST POSITION.
a——Incorporated militia, commanded by Lieut. Col. Robinson.
b—Detachment of the King's, commanded by Capt. Campbell.
c—Two troops of the 19th Dragoons, which retired to
d—on a and b being ordered to retire.
e—89th, which arrived on the ground as the action commenced, with its left thrown back.
f—A detachment of the Royal Scots, commanded by Capt. Brereton, which was moved
in the first instance to
h—and afterwards to
70. —
g—Glengarry regiment, which, after skirmishing with the enemy's advance, took its
station on the right of the line, and finding the enemy were advancing directly
in front, were ordered to
k—from whence, in junction with the embodied Militia and a few Indians, when the
enemy were driven back, the Glengarry regiment advanced to
h—from which it retired to its final position at
O. —
j—Embodied militia under Lieut. Col. Parry, who advanced to
m—after assisting to drive the enemy (who had advanced through the wood) directly
in front of our position. They then retired to
}ck. *
SECOND POSITION.
aa—Light company of the 41st, which arrived early in the action.
bb—89th regiment, which has changed its position on the Incorporated Militia and
detachment of the King's regiment being ordered to retire from a, b, K, n.
cc.—Incorporated Militia and detachment of the King's regiment, which had retired
from a, b, and 7, to a.
sold—Left wing of the 103rd regiment, which, with the troops under Col. Scott, arrived
as the troops were changing from the lst to 2nd position.
ee—Right wing of 103rd regiment.
ff—Royal Scots regiment.
gg—Grenadiers of the 103rd regiment, and flank companies of the 104th, which after-
wards advanced to
hh..—
ii-King's regiment.
kk—Indians and embodied Militia, who had retired from m.
A–American artillery. *
AA—American columns advancing to the attack.
B—British field pieces.
C—The church,