determination was carried out-the force em- It had been decided that the attack should ployed, the fate which attended the attempt, be made from two points, from the east and the causes which led to the entire failure under General Hampton, with perhaps, the of a scheme, deliberately planned, long cherish-most efficient division that had as yet taken ed as one of the certain means of reducing the field during the war; and from the west, the Canadas, and undertaken with every under the immediate direction of the comaccompaniment of force, that it was in the mander-in chief, General Wilkinson. power of the American Government to im part to it. question as to the extent of his powers, he cannot but feel mortified, that an idea should have been entertained for a moment that he intended to to revert to the alternative suggested in the Se-render them in the least degree doubtful, and he cretary of State's first letter, and reject the proposal in toto. Colonel Baynes is directed to inform Brigadier General Winder, that it is not His Excellency's intention to sanction any partial exchange, except for the express purpose stated in the Secretary of State's letter, with which he thinks it highly expedient and proper to comply, but he must require from that officer a most direct and unequivocal assurance, that he is authorized to treat and ratify, without further reservation, on the trusts this avowal will remove all such impresIsions, and enable Colonel Baynes and himself, upon the adjustment of Brigadier General Winder's exchange, to proceed without delay to the arrangement. (Signed,) WM. WINDER, Brig. Gen., U. S. Army. Head Quarters, Montreal, part of his government, a negotiation on the prin- General Order, Adjutant General's Office, Brigadier General Winder will excuse this demand which has become necessary from the doubts which he has himself created, as to the nature and extent of the restriction recently placed upon him by his government. (Signed,) No. 6. July 18th, 1814. His Excellency the Commander of the Forces announces to the troops under his command, that having at the invitation of the American government, deputed Colonel Baynes, Adjutant General, and Lieutenant Colonel Brenton, Provincial Aidede-camp, to meet on Thursday last at Champlain, Colonel Lear, late Consul General of the United States at Algiers-for the purpose of reconsiderAdjt. Gen. B. N. A. ing the convention for the exchange of prisoners EDWARD BAYNES, Montreal, April 13th, 1814. Brigadier General Winder very much regrets that he should have failed in communicating to Colone! Baynes in the last interview, the extent of the powers communicated to him with requisite precision. It was the intention of Brigadier General Winder to have stated, that his powers extended without restriction, to propose and agree to an exchange of all British Prisoners of War taken from the command of Sir George Prevost, except the twenty-three men put into confinement in retaliation for the twenty-three men sent to England, to which extent he now assures Colonel Baynes his powers extend, embracing all the subjects contained in Colonel Baynes' notes of the 11th and 12th, and Brigadier General Winder's of the 11th. As it was not the intention of Brigadier General Winder that his Excellency should have the least! which had been entered into on the 15th of April last, between Colonel Baynes and Brigadier General Winder; and of removing whatever objections might be made to the due execution of it:-and the said meeting having taken place accordingly, all objections to the said convention were then, and there, completely removed; and the same was, on the 16th instant, fully and definitively ratified by Colonel Lear, on the part of the United States; (he having full power for that purpose) with a supplementary clause, by which the twenty-three British soldiers, and the fortysix American officers, the hostages mentioned in the first article of the said convention, are declared to be included in that convention, and are to be released and exchanged, in the sime manner as other prisoners of War, mentioned in the same articles, notwithstanding the exception to them therein contained;-and His Excellency is pleased hereby to direct that this General Order be considered in explanation and confirmation of the said General Orders issued on the 16th and 2nd July, 1814. EDWARD BAYNES, Adjt. Gen. N. A. CHAPTER XVI. CONTENTS. The Expedition under Gen. Wilkinson. The while the American squadron keeps an eye upon it. "Under these circumstances, will it be for the interest of the service, that the American squadron should accompany the flotilla with numbers engaged at Chrysler's Farm.-General Hampton's movements-his force.-Wilkinson retires to winter quarters.-General order. the troops, or shall it watch the British Causes of the failure of the expeditions.-Impression produced on the centre division by the disaster of the right.-Prevost's instructions. Movements of Colonel Murrry. Destruction of Newark, now Niagara.-Movements in the West.-Attack on Fort Niagara. We will follow the fortunes of the commander-in-chief, first, The Expedition un squadron, effect its destruction, and prevent the sudden transport of the division of the enemy by a rapid movement by water to reinforce Kingston? "It strikes me, that, in the first case, the enemy being apprised of our intention, by our movements, which cannot be concealed, may, with the aid of their squadron, reach Kingston before our troops are embodied and der Gen. Wilkinson. assigning due deference organized for the attack; and thus the reducto his rank. The point selected for rendezvous tion of the place may be spun out to the was Grenadier Island, some eighteen miles consumption of the season, and, of course, distant from Sackett's Harbour; this point the main design must fail. had been chosen for its contiguity to the St. Lawrence, and at this place, after various casualties, the expedition, amounting to some eight thousand eight hundred men, arrived by the 24th of October. Previous to the arrival of the troops the following correspondence had passed between General Wilkinson and Commodore Chauncey : "The main body of the division of the army at this point (Niagara) has sailed to join that at Sackett's Harbour, at the head of the St. Lawrence, with the design to reduce Kingston and Prescott, and to proceed thence to Montreal. "The main body of the enemy's force is, in this vicinity, at the head of the lake and in York, leaving Kingston very weak. "In the second case, while the American squadron blocks up that of the enemy at the head of the lake, the flotilla will enjoy a free sea, and the British, by being cut off from transport by water, will be thrown back in their arriva at Kingston; long before which period the place must be taken, and our army landed on Montreal Island-no act of God intervening to thwart our intentions." Fort George, Oct. 1st, 1813. To this communication a prompt reply was made by Chauncey. U. S. Ship Pike, Off Niagara, Oct. 1st, 1813. "DEAR SIR,-The reasons you assign, in your memorandum, why the American squad"The enemy's squadron, beaten and forced ron should remain in this vicinity, in preference to the head of the lake, is not in a situation to accompanying the flotilla down the lake, to attempt the regaining of Kingston harbor, are so conclusive, and correspond so exactly with my own ideas and wishes on the subject, chief in the demonstrations, which followed, that I have no other to offer. I will barely to his abandonment of the movement against observe that my best exertions shall be used Kingston. to keep the enemy in check in this part of the lake, or effect his destruction. Yet, with my utmost exertions and greatest vigilance, he may (when favoured by a strong westerly wind) slip past me in the night, and get eighteen or twenty hours start of me down the lake, before I can discover his movement. If that should be the case, I shall lose no time in following him, with so much celerity, as to prevent his interrupting you in your operations upon Kingston." ISAAC CHAUNCEY. The Secretary at War (General Armstrong's) observations so entirely coincide with our own view of the case that we are tempted to transcribe them, adopting them fully. "That a project, giving to the fleet a false position; diverting it from the important duty of covering the descent of an entire division of the army from Fort George to Sackett's Harbor, and thereby directly exposing it to capture or destruction, should have met the high approbation and cordial welcome of the naval commanders, is a problem not easily solved." Subsequent events confirm this opinion, as Sir James Yeo, who was not the man to allow himself to be confined in port, pushed boldly into the lake, and arrived at Kingston on the 7th. The most unfortunate part of the affair for the British was, that Sir James kept the northern side of the lake, and thus left the boats carrying the division (much dispersed and wholly defenceless) without molestation. Had he been compelled, by adverse winds, to beat down the lake, the probability is great that he must have fallen in with the flotilla, and in such a case the fate of the division would have been sealed. It had been anticipated by the American commander that General De Rottenburg would have taken measures to reinforce Proctor, and provide for the defence of Malden, but instead of doing so, that general despatched nearly all his effective troops, under convoy of Sir James Yeo, to provide for Kingston. Having only eight thousand men, and the British at Kingston now numbering nearly two thousand, it was deemed advisable to substitute Montreal for the point of attack, especially as Commodore Chauncey volunteered to watch both channels, so as to ensure a quiet sail, or pull, down the river to the flotilla. Unfortunately, however, the American commodore was as little competent to execute one undertaking as the other, and no sooner was the expedition consisting of three hundred large boats, exclusive of schooners, sloops, and twelve heavy gun boats, safely under weigh, than two brigs, two schooners and several gun boats were on the "qui vive" to annoy them. The first detention was at French's Creek, directly opposite the point, at which an army, destined for Kingston, might be supposed to land, here a halt of some five or six days occurred, during which time the flotilla and troops were much annoyed by the teazing British vessels from the bay opposite French Creek. On the 5th November, another start was effected, and a place called Hoag's, four miles below Morrisville, and about fifty from French Creek, was reached. At this point the water procession halted preparatory to passing Fort Wellington, distant six miles farther. The general here drew up, agreeably to established custom, a proclamation, addressed to the inhabitants of the country he was about to conquer. "For its brevity, no less than its moderation," says James, "it far surpasses anything of the sort hitherto promulgated by an American General. "Proclamation of James Wilkinson, Major General and commander-in-chief of an expedition against the Canadas, to the inhabitants thereof: "The army of the United States, which I have the honor to command, invaded the province to conquer, and not to destroy; to subdue the forces of his Britannic Majesty, not to war against unoffending subjects. Those, therefore, amongst you who remain quiet at home, should victory incline to the American standard, shall be protected in their persons and property; but those who are found in arms must necessarily be treated as Having thus brought the Americans to their place of rendezvous, and seen the British reinforcements arrive, in safety, at Kingston, we will accompany the American general-in- avowed enemies. To menace is unmanly. To seduce, dishonorable-yet it is just and humane to place these alternatives before you." gagement, will be found in the respective On the 7th the powder, ammunition and all the troops, except enough to man the boats Chrysler's, Williamsburg, Upper Canada, strongly, were landed, the boats with muffled November 12th, 1813. cars, and keeping close to the Ogdensburg SIR,-I have the heartfelt gratification to side, dropping down the river while the troops report the brilliant and gallant conduct of the and ammunition proceeded by land to the Red detachment from the centre division of the Mill, fourteen miles below Ogdensburg. The army, as yesterday displayed in repulsing and expedition proceeded on the next day, slowly, after a skirmish between twelve hundred American troops, who had been ordered to land under Colonel Macomb, and a party of militia, who had assembled about Fort Matilda, for the purpose of annoying the troops in their passage down the river, which is here not more than five hundred yards wide. On the 9th of November the flotilla arrived, in the afternoon, at Williamsburg, on the Canadian side. Here the troops already on shore, amounting to some twelve hundred men, were reinforced by General Brown's brigade, with a body of dragoons from the American side. defeating a division of the enemy's force, consisting of two brigades of infantry and a regiment of cavalry, amounting to between three and four thousand men, who moved forward, about two o'clock in the afternoon, from Chrysler's point, and attacked our advance, which gradually fell back to the position selected for the detachment to occupy; the right resting on the river, and the left on a pine wood, exhibiting a front of about seven hundred yards. The ground being open, the troops were thus disposed: the flank companies of the 49th regiment, the detachment of the Canadian fencibles, with one field piece, under Lieutenant Colonel Pearson, on the right, a little advanced on the road; three From this point a detachment, numbering companies of the 89th regiment, under Captain some twenty-nine hundred or three thousand Barnes, with a gun, formed in echellon, with men, was despatched to drive the British the advance on its left supporting it. The troops trom the shore, along which they were 49th and 89th, thrown more to the rear, with to march to Barnhartz's, a distance of about a gun, formed the main body and reserve, extwenty miles. A double object was to be tending to the woods on the left, which were effected by this movement, as the boats would occupied by the voltigeurs, under Major be thereby lightened, in their long and Herriot, and the Indians under Lieutenant perilous descent of the violent rapid called Anderson. At about half past two the action the Long Sault, and would, at the same time, became general, when the enemy endeavored, be freed from any annoyance from an enemy by moving forward a brigade from his right, on shore. This body proceeded along the to turn our left, but was repulsed by the 89th, banks a few miles, when they unexpectedly found themselves brought to a stand at a place called Chrysler's farm. The impediment in their way was a body of troops who were prepared to dispute the undisturbed march of the Americans. Hitherto," says James, "the battles between the British and American troops had been chiefly bush fighting skirmishes. Now they met in an open champaign, where there was no shelter for the American riflemen, no rests for their pieces. All was conducted, as General Wilkinson says, in open space and fair combat." forming en potence with the 49th, and both corps moving forward, occasionally firing by platoons. His efforts were next directed against our right, and to repulse this movement the 49th took ground in that direction in echellon, followed by the 89th; when within half musket shot the line was formed, under a heavy but irregular fire from the enemy. The 49th was then directed to charge the gun posted opposite to ours; but it became necessary, when within a short distance of it, to check the forward movement, in consequence of a charge from their cavalry on the right, lest they should wheel about, and fall upon The best account we can give of the en- their rear; but they were received in so gallant a manner by the companies of the 89th, under Captain Barnes, and the welldirected fire of the artillery, that they quickly retreated, and by an immediate charge from those companies one gun was gained. The enemy immediately concentrated their force to check our advance, but such was the steady countenance, and well-directed fire of the troops and artillery, that at about half-past four they gave way at all points from an exceeding strong position, endeavoring by their light infantry to cover their retreat, who were soon driven away by a judicious movement made by Lieutenant Colonel Pearson. The detachment for the night occupied the ground from which the enemy had been driven, and are now moving in pursuit. I regret to find our loss in killed and wounded has been so considerable; but trust a most essential service has been rendered to the country, as the whole of the eremy's infantry, after the action, precipitately retired to their own shores. It is now my grateful duty to point out to your honor the benefit the service has received from the ability, judgment, and active exertions of Lieutenant Colonel Harvey, give an account of the ordnance stores taken, Lieut. Col. 89th, commandirg corps of observation. Total of killed and wounded-one captain, two drummers, nineteen rank and file, killed; one captain, nine subalterns, six serjeants, one hundred and thirty-one rank and file, wounded; twelve rank and file, missing. Col. Morrison does not mention the number The numbers engaged of troops under his comat Chrysler's Farm. mand at Chrysler's farm, but James places them at "eight hundred rank and file, besides Lieutenant Anderson and about thirty Indians, who had accompanied the detachment from Kingston." This number General Wilkinson has con tinued to swell in his official letters* from six *From major-general Wilkinson to the American secretary at war. HEAD-QUARTERS, FRENCH MILLS, Adjoining the Province of Lower Canada, 16th November, 1813. which accompanies this letter, for the particulars SIR,-I beg leave to refer you to the journal of the movements of the corps under my command, down to the St. Lawrence, and will endeavour to exert my unfeeble mind to detail to you the more striking and important incidents which have ensued since my departure from Grenadier Island, at the foot of Lake Ontario, on the 3rd instant. the deputy-adjutant general, for sparing whom to accompany the detachment, I must again publicly express my acknowledgments. To the cordial co-operation and exertions of Lieutenant Colonel Pearson, commanding the detachment from Prescott, Lieutenant Colonel Plenderleath, of the 49th, Major Clifford, of the 89th, Major Herriott, of the voltigeurs, from Kingston, being on my rear, and in concert The corps of the enemy which followed me and Captain Jackson of the royal artillery, with a heavy galley and a few gun-boats, seemed combined with the gallantry of the troops, our determined to retard my progress. I was tempted to halt, turn about, and put an end to great success may be attributed. Every man his teasing: but alas! I was confined to my bed. did his duty, and I believe I cannot more Major- general Lewis was too ill for any active strongly speak their merits than in mention-exertions; and above all, I did not dare to suffer ing, that our small force did not exceed eight hundred rank and file. To Captains Davis and Skinner, of the quarter-master-general's department, I am under the greatest obligations for the assistance I have received from them; their zeal and activity has been unremitting. Lieutenant Hagerman, of the militia, has also, for his services, deserved my public acknowledgements, as has also Lieutenant Anderson, of the Indian department, As the prisoners are hourly bringing in, I am unable to furnish your honor with a correct return of them, but upwards of one hundred are in our possession; neither can I myself to be diverted a single day from the prosecution of the views of government. I had written major-general Hampton on the 6th inst, by adjutant-general colonel King, and had or Lawrence, which I expected would take place dered him to form a junction with me on the St. on the 9th or 10th. It would have been unpar donable, had I lost sight of this object an instant. I deemed it of vital importance to the issue of the campaign. The enemy deserves credit for their zeal and intelligence, which the active universal hostility them to employ to the greatest advantage. of the male inhabitants of the country enabled Thus, while menaced by a respectable force in the rear, the coast was lined with mus river, which obliged me to march a detachment, ketry in front, and at every critical part of the and this impeded my progress. |