■ tw 
 
 
 r^rEMOms 
 
 op 
 
 tl'.ianist ration of tli« Ccloniul (Jovernmen| 
 or 
 
 p»tER-CANADA, 
 
 JAMES m: >,RY 
 
 /IdiD 
 
 I SIR GEOiinj?. PREVOsr. 
 
 1807 u.vtn* TlfX TEAR 18^1?^ 
 
 OUBB£(V 
 
 
 3 * 18 . 
 
Tlie Administration of the Colonial Government 
 
 OP 
 
 LOWER^CANADA, 
 
 
 BY 
 
 SIR JAMES HENRY CRAIG, 
 
 AND 
 
 "ySIR GEORGE PREVOST; 
 
 Fuoif Tlii- 
 
 »I AK ISOi" I NTIL-^ITE Yl lK I SI 5, 
 
 Gompveliemllng tlie MiUtary and Naval operations in tlie Canadii^J 
 during the late War with the United States of America. 
 
 Bv Robert Christie. 
 
 QUEBEC, 
 
 1818. 
 
‘V. 
 
 ji 
 
 
 
 JCOTIGE. 
 
 1. r?E Administrations of Sir James TTenrt’ 
 f RAiG, and Sir George Prevost, coinj^re* 
 liend the most interesting period in the Annals 
 of this Province. The following memoirs con- 
 tain the principal events which characterise that 
 pc i R > dj, im d ^t ho ugji th ej may not be found so 
 circumstai.tial as might be desii^, it is hoped 
 they will not be unacceptable to the Public, to 
 wliose iif'ulgeuce tue AuUior- most respecaullj' 
 submits liicm. 
 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 A K^lVATi nf Sir James TTenry Crai^i^. Mcetinfr of the Provinrml Partia- 
 menf. T>iscti-‘i4in? ir the Assrnihly relating lo I’le M; r ion of .TrHp* 
 
 — Piorojration. — Elrciions ami inretirfcof the N^w PiovitJC:al Paiha* 
 menf. Further discussions on the Eleetioii of Juds^esond Jcu.>. The AcseirLIy 
 is diy.solved. Election^. Meeting of tiu* Neu I*arliamrnt. Ofl'eroftheA^ 
 seuibSv ft pay the Civil List. The ..ppuin.ment ofan Agent in England con- 
 sidered. Measures respectin^fTi Judge, ^cond dissolution , 
 
 CHAPTER IT, 
 
 ’Mea«5ures of the Administration and Irapri.Hr/nment of several persons. Th® 
 Gov* iDor's Proclainapon. Proceeding.* in he Court of King’s K«‘neh atO**#- 
 bcc. The .ludge (Dc Bonne) decline.^ hi!> l.lec jon. Prisoners at .Montreal re- 
 leased. Meeting of »he New Provinrial Pa liauicnf. The Governor’s Spe en, 
 Answer of the Assemlily. Th'> ^Jovernoi’.> reply. Bill rendering Judge • ne- 
 legihle to a seat in ihe Asseinhiv. Prorogaiioli of Pariiainem. llie Cover* 
 Uoi*b Dc'parture for England, ilis Character. 
 
 CHAPTER 111. 
 
 Arrival of .<?ir George Prevost. Major General Brock assumes the Govem- 
 ir nt ol TTpper-ranniia. The GdVrtru.i makes the tour of the Upper-Oi . - u 
 ^le.-'iingof fhe Provincial Parl'ament. Proreed ings of the .\sh:'nihL. p o. 
 rogation. Henry’s Mi!;''ioii. Miiiiia Embodied. Deelaration ot \V.ii by A me- 
 rieii. Governor as«ieinl)l s the Legislature. Army Bill \et. R of u: Lac : e. 
 <'.A|)lnreof Michiliiinackinac. li>vasioii of C| per-Caiiada. Retiey. «it the 
 Enemy. Buttle of Mageago. Capture of Ociroit. Ainusiice. its rcjcciioa 
 'Wy tlic Artierieitn Gavermaeul. 
 
 CHAPTFR IV. 
 
 ^ Various occmrences. Battle of Queenstown. Death of Geneml Brock. TTij 
 ClMr;»rter. (»ene«al Shealle assume'- the (a ininand in Upper-C;;nada. At- 
 ti ’k at Sr. Regis. Advance of the .American army ut dei 'Jeerr.-.l Ijrarbi'i n, 
 L c’ rsion of the enemy at La CuU, General Smy'ih’s attempt io invad' lip- 
 perCanrula. Meeting of the Provincial Parliament. Proceedings of the As* 
 pembly. Prorogation, 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 BatOe of Frenrhtown, and defeat of the Amerirans under Gpneral Win- 
 cliesler. The Governor vi.'.ib Upper Car'ada. Arwirk upon Oj*r*r. uu«grh, 
 f'apfure of A’^oik by theenen^v- Attack and reduction of I'on rp » > the 
 Amerirans. Expedition against Sacket’s Harbour. Buttle at Fon M ‘.gs. 
 Brilliant attack upon theenems’s (’amp at Strney Creek by Lieut. Colonel 
 Harvey. Allair at Beaver Dams. Altaek upon Black Pock by Lieut -Colo- 
 nel Bi'hjipp, and dealli of that Otpeer. Attack U|,e I/t'wer ''andiiskv . Cap- 
 ture of the Growler ami Eagle near fslt aux Vof.r R .Inctio;' of Plat *b rgh, 
 rharnplaiii and Swantor . A flair of Goose Creek. Death of Captain Mtiues^ 
 Naval occurrences on Lake Ontario. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Naval Engagement on T.ake Ert*». rvar*'a'ion of Detroit hy fhe British, 
 Buttle at the Moravian Vdiag*’ and d- fi at of Gent 'a I Pneter. The Bri»»‘b 
 raise the iuvcbUncot of Foil George, Ima^ion ot Luwcr-Cuuada by Geur al 
 
 llaiupv 
 
CoN’TEVTS;’ 
 
 ^ainpfflr), fliedrfratof tlif enrmyat Chafeaugay by TJciif.-rol Dr 9a- 
 lahrrry. 'U'jikinson’s I'-xpedition. Balflr of Chrystier’s Farm. Rrtreatof the 
 Amrriran<: to Salmon River. CJcneral Drummond assumes ilie Command in 
 Upprr-Canada. Americans evacuate Fort George. British saru rise and cap- 
 ture Fort Niagara. 
 
 CHAPTER Vir. 
 
 Meeting of the Provipcial Parliament. Parliamentary Proceedings, riiief 
 Justices Impeached. Proceedings of the British and American Governments 
 eonm ning Hostages for certain Traitors taken by the British at the Battle of 
 Oii“enMown. Indian Embassy to 0«ebrc. Attack of the Americans under 
 General Wilkinson upon the Jm Cole Mill. 
 
 CHAPTER vm. 
 
 Orrurrenres during the winter 1813, -14. Attack npon Oswego. Invasion 
 of Upper-Canada by the American forces under General Brown. Capture <»f 
 Fort I.rie — Battle of Chippawa — Battle of Lundy’s Lane. Assault upon Eort 
 Frie—( apture of Prairie du Chien— Expedition against Micbillimackinac 
 b> the Americans— Operations by Sir John C. Sherbrooke — Expedition to 
 Plattsburgh — Sortie from Fort Erie. Evacuation of Fort Erie by the Ameri- 
 can E'orcr*s. Miscellaneous occurrences — Meeting of the Provincial Purliii- 
 ment— Recall of Sir George Prevost. His d< parture from Quebec. 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 Proceedings relative to Sir George Prevost, after bis return to England, 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 ECRATA. 
 
 Page S.'i, line l4, (and elsewhere) for Rahsalaef read Rensselaer. 
 
 Page 65 line 28 for Pyke reart Pike. 
 
 should have been after the word Sit. Datii^t in the 
 
 ipirc line of page 1311. 
 
6 
 
 MEMOIRS of llic Adiiiinistralious of Sir 
 James Henry Cr.'ig, and Sir George 
 pREVosT, in the Province of Ijower-Canadaj 
 from the Autumn of 1807, until the Spring* 
 of 1815; comprehending* th.e military and 
 naval operations in tlie Caxjda^, during the 
 late War with the United States of America. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 T WO years In which we meet with no rcmarkahle oc- 
 currence had elapsed under the i\dininistratioii of Mr. Chap, 
 ])ia?n^ when Sir James Henry (hi aig arrivinj^ at Que- 1. 
 bee in the autumn of 1807, assuiiKul the reins of Govern- 
 ment in the (Canadas. The former in constant expectation i807, 
 of a (lovernor from home, may have probably limit»*d him- 
 self in the exercise of the goveniment of the 'tolony, and 
 liis successor must therefore have found allairs in suspence 
 on his arrival. 
 
 The American Government at that time began to breathe 
 a hostile spirit towards Great- I3ritaln, but, although an ai)- 
 pcal was made to the loyalty of the People by liis Predc ct .i- 
 8or, the (jovernor was averse to embo^ly tlie .Militia, in:- 
 til an emergency should at once dt'inand and justiiy tin? 
 measure. It dot-s not appear tliat he luistrusted, 4>n mo 
 contrary, he expressed on various occasions a confidi i ce iii 
 the loyalty of the province, and the hereditary animosity of 
 the Canadian to tlie ainerican character, has a pleilge of 
 their tideliiy, which he however seemed willing to avoid 
 (from what motive it is not well understood) putting to tho 
 test. 
 
 His first measure w^as to convoke the House of Asse^itvly 
 B whicia 
 
0 
 
 Administration or 
 
 Chap, whicli met at Quebec on the 29th January, 180R. Hero 
 I. a question was agitated, which, for the two preceding ses- 
 sions having considerably engaged the attention of the 
 loOb. House, excited the public feeling, and ultimately led to the 
 troubles which afterwards embittered his administration. 
 
 A Judge of the Court of King’s Bench for Quebec, had 
 fbr the present, as well as for some former parliaments, been 
 returned as representative for the County of Quebec, and a 
 doubt having been started of the eligibility of Judges for 
 seats m the Provincial Parliament, the House divided 
 in opinion. One party maintained it to be incompatible 
 With the rank of a Judge, to canvass for votes in a county in 
 which he was in the daily habit of administering justice. 
 Ihat many of the electors overawed with the apprehension of 
 incurring the displeasure of the Judge, who in his judicial 
 capacity might pervert the ends of Justice to gi-atifyr per- 
 sonal pique, could not be presumed to befree, and unin. 
 fluenccd by such a candidate. That in England the 
 Judges were ineligible to a seat in the House of Commons, 
 and in fine, that the artifices and intrigues incidental to 
 popular elections, were unbecoming in a Judge and a meri 
 prostitution of the judicial dignity? These and similarar- 
 guments were industriously propa^ted, and gained giound 
 rapidly in the public opinion. The opposite iiarty con- 
 tended that no such disqualification existed in virtue of the 
 constitutional act* by which alone the Colonial Legislature 
 was to be guided, and that to create such, would be an in- 
 trenchment upon the riglits and privileges of the ImperiaJ 
 Parhament of Great-Britain, which, it would not fail to re- 
 sent. I hat it would be absurd as well as dangerous to admit 
 the right in a constituted body, to ameni or modify in 
 the sma lest degree the act of the constituting power, upon 
 which the very existence of the former depended, and tliLe* 
 fore, that the Provincial Legislature was incuinperent to 
 disqualify any description of His Majesty’s subfects from 
 being eligible to a seat in the House of Assembly Tim 
 former opinion prevailed in the Lower House, but wasdis^ 
 countenanced la the Legislative Council. 
 
 Another question somewhat similar to this was amtateJ 
 during the present Session. A Jew of reputaWe c W 
 avirig been elected and returned for the Town of 
 
 Three- 
 
 the Caoadas ^1, vrhich fare m 
 
Sir James Henry Craw. 
 
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 Three-Rivers, it was contended that his religious persua- Chap. 
 sioa created an inabiliw to sit and vote as a member of the I. 
 House of Assembly. The leading membei-s exerted them- 
 selves in support of the competence of the House to exclude IbOiJ. 
 him by resolution, or at least of the undeniable right of the 
 Legislature to supply by enactment, such provisions in 
 matters allecting tlieir priveleges as might have been impro* 
 videiuly omitted in the constitutional act. After some 
 animated debate, rather relating to the mode of expelling 
 or disqualifying the Member tor I hree- Rivers, than to the 
 propriety of the measure, the party for expelling him by 
 resolution prevailed, and it was resolved that being of 
 the Jewish j)ersiiasion he could not take a seat, nor sit, 
 nor vote in the House of AssembUy’ The llouse grant- 
 ed a sum for repairing the ancient Castle ot St. Lewis (the 
 residence of the (iovernor) and the business of the Session 
 being brought to a close, the Governor wdth some encomi- 
 ums pn the diligence and liberality of the Assembly, pro- 
 rogued the Session, which terminated the fourth Provincial 
 l\irliament. 
 
 Thihapplly for the tranquillity of this administration a 
 |>ni ty spirit had gained ground, and was irritated by the o- 
 ilious and reiterated reilections of aneminent journalist in 
 the metropolis of the colony, upon the manneis and cus- 
 toms of the Canadian }M)pulation, as well as upon their re- 
 limous and yiolitkal ojiinions. His sentiments in the minds 
 oP those who were, or ratht'r, who conceived themselves 
 essentially injured by them, were considered as ot a party 
 Auti‘Cmiadum^ nay, even of the Government itself. A few 
 individuals indignant at the alfront, incurred the cxpence of 
 procuring a press, with a view of counteracting the inlluence 
 which the labours of the Editor might produce, to the po- 
 litical detriment of the Province. J'rom this Press a w^eek- 
 ly ])ai)ei- called Le issued in the french language,^ 
 
 which soon acquired popularity with the denomination ot 
 an opposition ]>aper. A newspaper strife far trom harmo- 
 nising ])arties, by' reciprocally enquiring into the causes of 
 their misunderstanding, inllarned the growing evil, ami the 
 odious sense applied to the terms i onuiVun and Auti^Cunu- 
 dim, ( hoj/cv and l)t mocral^ distinctive ol parties, gave 
 uneasiness to all who earnestly cultivated a good under- 
 stautiing with their fellow* citizens. V rom the novel and hardy 
 spirit of this publication, many who were connected with 
 the administration of the ('oloiiiai Government, or depen- 
 
 R 3 dant 
 

 Cii 
 
 IfcC8. 
 
 1800. 
 
 s 
 
 AP. 
 
 Administration' op 
 
 dant upon it, afTected to susnpct a conspiracy on foot, an^* 
 th.ft secret funds were furnished fi’om abroad tor the pur- 
 pose of alienating the minils ol' the people from their a!le* 
 f'iance. and to revolutioniy-e the Province. Some ancient 
 and res})ectable citizens known to have contributed toward* 
 the purchase of the press, were dismissed from tlieir rank 
 in the sedentary militia: among them Mr. Panet, the 
 Speaker of the House of .V.sscmbly, a gentleman of the 
 most unimpeachable integrity. This measure although of 
 little iinportance in itself, created from its harshness, an in- 
 terest in the public, which strengthened the }>arty already 
 Ibnned in ojrposilion to the measures ofihe admiuistratioiu 
 
 In .Tune, the elections for the ensuing Parliament took 
 place, aiid were conducted in most counties with nnani- 
 imty. The late Speaker presented himself for the Up- 
 per fown of Quebec, but the resident Military, and de- 
 pendants on the several M ilitary Departments in Quebec, en- 
 titled to vote, influenced by the example of their chiefs, 
 till necl the scale against him. He was however elected in 
 the mean tune for another County. 
 
 Material improvements to the fortifications of Quebec 
 were commenced this summer ; and the foundations of four 
 towers extending across the commanding ground in front of 
 * c n' • the city were laid. The extraordinary state 
 
 ot affairs in P^uroiie, combined with the American Embar- 
 go, turned an unusual tide of commerce into the Canada.s, 
 and their resources and utility to the mother country were 
 exemplified, for beyond the expectations of the most san- 
 guine and intelligent speculator. 
 
 ■ On the KHh of April the House of Assembly met pur- 
 suant to the Governor’s Proclamation, and the people Lie 
 
 a report having gone abroad 
 ij t f xtrellency would not concur with the House, 
 should their choice be in favor of tl.e Speaker of the late 
 House of Assembly, whom ho had some time before dis- 
 missed from the Militia. This gentleman was however al- 
 
 rovUrirStror” 
 
 In his speech at the opening of Parliament, the Gover- 
 
 AmJ S'T S -“‘«P-tnre of artLs 
 Ameiica, the revolution m Spaii^ and the generous assis- 
 
 lauc^ 
 
 . 
 
9 
 
 Sir James Henry Craig. 
 
 
 ♦aneeaflordel that country by Great Bn tain ; the emigra- 
 tion of the Hoyal Family ol Portugal to the new world; the 
 Yictoi*y of the British at V^iiniera, by which Portugal had 
 )}eeii rescued from the J^^rench ; and concluded by caution- 
 ijig the mein. iers of the legislature against jealousies among 
 themselves, or of the government, which could have no 
 othf^r object in view than the general weltare. “ I regret 
 gentlemeir’ said he ‘‘ that 1 have been compelled by cir- 
 “ cumstancc's, to aill you together at a season of the year 
 which lam wel la ware, must behighly inconvenient to many 
 of you ; this consideration dwelt so strongly upon my Uiind 
 ‘‘that not stx'ing any particular object of public se;\iLe 
 “ that indispensibly recpiired your immediate attention, I 
 “ luivl it in contemplation to deler your meeting till a penod 
 “ of less prejudicial consequence to your private accoinmo- 
 dation, but, on referring to the Act of the British Parlia'- 
 “ ment on which the Constitution of this Province is Ibund- 
 “ ed, I felt reason of hesitation, at least as to the grounds 
 ‘‘ on which I suppossed myself able todoso ; 1 have therelbre 
 ^ been induced to rely on your clieerful acquiescence in 
 “ the inconvenience umler which you may labour, latlier 
 than give rise to a possible* doubt as to my intention of 
 “ infringing on a right so valuable to you as that of your 
 “ annual Assembly. And this 1 have done under the clr- 
 “ cumstance of being prechideil from giving quite that no- 
 “ tice wdiich has been in some degree sanctioned by custom, 
 “ and which aliho’, not called ibr by any exjn-ess law. i 
 “ nevertheless, a precaution for the preservation of ihat 
 “ mutual confidence which is so desirable, by guarding a- 
 “ gainst die possibility of any suspicion, as to the inteniioa 
 or circumstances under w hich you may be assembled.’' 
 
 Ch A^# 
 
 iboy. 
 
 The House, after an address in answer to His Exccllen- 
 P* cy’s Speech into w liicli it was endeavoured to introduce 
 ^ an indirect reproof for the liints which had iailen from him, 
 a resumed with warmth, the question concerning tlie Judge 
 and the Jew.* The more determined members were for e'x- 
 t pelling them by resolution, but a motion lor the expulsion 
 of the.ludgein this mode, was negatived by a conhideiat le 
 majority, part of whom, though disposed to disquaiily .1 nUgc* 
 
 ( from being eligible to a seat in the House, were averse to 
 the means proposed, insisting that nothing less than an 
 Act of the Legislature could operate such a disqiianiita- 
 lion. Others strongly urged lliat the Electors wetOj 
 and of right ought to be, the sole constitutional judg: iof 
 
 iho 
 
 • Thcbc Gemlemeii had been re-elected at the late Elections. 
 
td Admivistrattov Of 
 
 ffn A p. the competence of their delegate, and that his expulsion 
 i. tier any tbiui, v\ouid amount to a gioss violation of the 
 most sacred rights of the people, and be an act of arbitrary 
 loUii. power incoAnpatibie with the freedom of the Constitution, 
 This ettori having failed, a committee was appointed to 
 enquire into, and report to the House, the inconvenience 
 resuiiing from the election of Judges to sit in the House 
 of Assembly, and in the mean time, a disqualifying bill 
 tvas mil Oil need and read for the first time. The enquiry. 
 X?vas carried on with perseverance, and proved i*ather to the 
 disadvantage of the individual concerned, for which reason 
 we retrain irom any retlections on the subject. The exclu- 
 sion of ilie Jew was more closely prosecuted. The House 
 renewed the resolution which had been taken against hit 
 Wnuttance to sit and vote m the last session of the pres 
 ceding l^ariiament, and a Bill to disqualify Jew's from being 
 eligible to a seat in the i louse of Assembly was iniroduced, 
 C-iid underwent two readings. The lapse of live weeks it| 
 the prosecution of these measures exhausted the patience of 
 the Governor, whose military education and habits , may 
 On this occasion have inhuenced his better judgment. The 
 6piiited perseverance ol a deliberative body in a favorite 
 nieubiire, appeared to him like the refractory sjiirit of a body 
 of soldiers, which he seemed determined to crush. ^ 
 
 On the 15th of May, lie went dowm in slate from the 
 Castle to tlie Jjegislative Council, where having summoned 
 into his presence, the House of Assembly, and after giving 
 tlie lloyal Assent to such Bills as were ready, (live in nuiu- 
 ber) he inlbrmed them of his intention of dissolving the 
 |iiesent Parliament, and of recurring to the sense of the 
 people. When I met you, (said he,) at the commencement 
 Ol the present dess ion, I had no reason to doubt your 
 model ation or your prudence, and I therefore wullingly 
 lelied upon both: under the guidance of these principles 
 1 expected from you a manly sacrifice of all personal ani- 
 mosities, and individual dissatisfaction, a watchful solic^' 
 tude lor tiie concerns of your country, and a steady per- 
 ^ severance in the executing of your public duty, with zeal ' 
 and dispatch. 1 looked ibr earnest endeavours to pro- 
 mote the general liarmony of the province, and a careful 
 ‘ abstinence from whatsoever might have a tendency to 
 disturb it ; for due and therefore indispensible attention 
 Go the (>iher branches of the legislature, and for prompt 
 and cheerful co-operation and assistance in wnatover 
 
 miglit 
 
Sin James Henry CratoJ II 
 
 ^ might conduce to the happiness and welfare of the Co- 
 lony. All this I had a right to expect, because such was 
 your constitutional duty ; because such a conduct would 
 have been a lasting testimony, as it was the only one 
 sought for by His Majesty’s government, of that loyalty 
 ^ and affection which you have so warmly professed, and 
 ^ which I believe you to possess ; and because it was j^ar* 
 ^ ticularly call’d for by the critical conjuncture of the times, 
 and especially by the precarious situation in which w’« 
 ^ then stood with respect to the American States. I am 
 ^ sorry to add, that I have been disappointed in all ihes# 
 ^ expectations, and in every hope on which I relied. 
 
 You have wasted (continued he) in fruitless debatet, 
 ^ excited by private and personal animosity, or by frivolous 
 ^ contests upon trivial matttjrs of form*, that time and 
 ^ those talents, to which within your walls, the public have 
 ^ an exclusive title. This abuse of your functions you have 
 * preferred to the high and important duties which you ow^e 
 to your Sovereign and to your constituents, and you have 
 thereby been forced to neglect the considemtion of mat« 
 ters of moment and necessity which were before you, 
 while you have at the same time virtually prevented the 
 introduction of such othei*s as may have been in con* 
 templation. If any proof of this misuse of your time were 
 necessary, I have just presented it in having been caUed 
 on after a session of five weeks, to exercise his IVfajestv’a 
 prerogative of assent, to only the same number of bills, 
 three of which were the mere renewal of acts to which 
 you stood pledged, and which required no discussion. 
 So much of intemperate heat has been manifested in all 
 yonr proceedings, and you have shewn such a prolonged 
 and disresjiectful attention to matters submitted to your 
 ‘‘ consideration by the other branches of the Legislature, 
 that whatever might be the moderation and forbearance 
 ^ exercised on their jiarts, a general good undei*staudiiig is 
 scarcely to be looked for without a new Assembly.” 
 
 I shall not (he added,) particularly advert to other acts 
 which appear to be unconstitutional infringements of the 
 rights of the subject repugnant to the very letter of tlie 
 statute of the Imjierial Parliament, under whidi you hold 
 your seats: and to have been matured by proceedings, 
 which amount to a dereliction of the first principles of ua- 
 tuial justice,” He coacluded this speech with his. acknowi* 
 
 l,edgiuen;iB 
 
 Cjf 
 
 
Atottntj^ttiation of 
 
 
 Chat, to the Legislative Council for the unanimity^^ 
 
 I 7eaf, and unremitting attention j they had shewn in their pro* 
 
 teedings. 
 
 To a portion of the House of Assembly, he also expres* 
 jied his thanks, and trusted they would believe he did them 
 Che justice of a proper discrimination in the sense he en- 
 tertained of their efforts, to avert that conduct of w'hich he I 
 lad so much reason to complain. “ By this, gentlemen,” (said i 
 he, addressing himself to the minority who had pui*posely 
 assembled together on one side of the room) You have 
 truly manifested your affection to His Majesty’s govern- 
 inent, and your just estimation of the real and perma- 
 ^ nent interests of the Province.” 
 
 This hardy and decisive measure astonished the leading 
 triembers, who, at the utmost, anticipated no more than a 
 prorogation. A dissolution attended with such pointed 
 and almost personal censure, far exceeded their expectation; 
 and they returned to their constituents covered w'ith the op- 
 probrium of having incurred the Governor’s displeasure ; a 
 matter of no little moment in the eyes of the multitude, as 
 yet unaccustomed to the freedom of the constitution. The 
 country people who were at first disposed to thii\k favorably 
 of the recent measures of the Executive, gradually altered 
 their oj)inions, and were finally persuaded that the llouseof’ 
 Assembly had been dissolved for having espoused their in- 
 terests, in opposition to the encroachments of the Crown. 
 The press was put into violent action, and the Canaditn 
 teemed with able but sarcastic strictures on the Governor’s 
 i}>eech at the dissolution, and with strong animadvei>.o'i 5 
 upon the public measures. The preamble to the Bill of 
 Fights, in allusion to the Governor’s measures w ith resj)e(t 
 to the Assembly, was inserted as a motto at the head of 
 that paper, which was industriously circulated throughout 
 the province. Among other reports, it was said, and at 
 length cuiTently believed, that tlie Governor had been in- 
 N fluenced and deceived by the intngues of a favorite jud^e, 
 
 whom, having discovered the craftiness and duplicity of Lis 
 character, he now intended to discard. Tiiis belief ma- 
 terially contributed to reinstate and confirm the credit of 
 the late members in the minds of the people. 
 
 In the middle of June, the Governor left Quebec on a 
 tour through the Province, atieaded with a nuiutious suite, 
 
 and 
 
Slit James Henry Ckaig. 13 
 
 ^nd travelled in magnificent style. Several of the citizens 
 of Three-l^ivers, Montreal, Saint Johns, and William 
 Henry, successively received him with Addresses of applause 
 and thanks, for the interj>osition of the royal prerogative in 
 dissolving the Flouse of Assembly. These address^ being 
 inserted in the public printft, were criticised in the Can^ 
 Jicn with much asperity and abuse.* 
 
 In the month of October the elections for the ensuing 
 Parliament took place, and the people having had ample 
 time to reflect upon aftairs, re-elected, contrary to the ex- 
 pectation of government, most of the late representatives ; 
 removing some who were supposed to have been too pas- 
 sive, and substituting othei'S of a less flexible temper in 
 their stead. 
 
 The House of Assembly ifiet on the 29th January, pur- 
 suant to the Governor’s Proclamation. The Speaker of the 
 last Assembly (Mr. Panet) being re-elected, was approved 
 of by the Governor, who in his speech to the legislature ad- 
 verted to the unfavorable disposition of America towards 
 Great-Britain. He complimented them on the capture of 
 the Island of Martinique, and the battle of Tala verti, which 
 liad torn from the French that characterof invincibility they 
 imagined themselves to have possessed in the opinion of the 
 world. He recommended a renewal of such acts as might 
 enable the executive government more cttectually to dis- 
 charge its duty, in guarding against dangers which could 
 scarcely be remedied by the common course of law. He 
 called their attention to the practice of forging foreign 
 bank bills, which, from the want of a remedy iiAhe pre- 
 sent code of penal laws, had of late, grown to a very dan- 
 gerous extent, to the prejudice of the neighbouring States 
 of America; as well as to our own subjects. With respect 
 to the question which had led to the dissolution of the pre- 
 ceding Assembly, he observed, that during the two 
 last Sessions, the question of theexpediency of the exclu- 
 sion of His Majesty’s Judges of the Court of King’s 
 Bench, from a seat in the House of Representatives had 
 been much agitated ; that this question rested on the de- 
 sire of precluding the possibility of the existence of a bias 
 C “ ort 
 
 • Among thr arbitrary measures which characterise the times, the di mis- 
 aalor thr SoUcitor General, James Stuart, K^quire, from his Office, with- 
 out any other ostensible reason than his independent conduct ns a Mrujbev 
 « the House of Assembly is not the least remarkahlr. He was succcetf- 
 ^ by Stephen Sewell E^uire, an Adrocatc at xMomreal, 
 
 Cmap? 
 
 J809. 
 
 1810, 
 
14 Administration op 
 
 Crap. on the minds of persons exercising functions in tho^ 
 
 I. Courts, from their being under the necessity of soliciting 
 
 the votes of individuals, on whose persons or })roperty, 
 IblO. they might afterw^ards have to decide. Whatever (said 
 he) might be my own opinion on the subject, I never- 
 theless hold the right of choice in the people, and 
 that of being chosen by them in too high estimation to 
 have taken upon myself, had the qiiestion ever come 
 before me, the responsibility of giving His Majesty’s assent 
 ‘‘ to the putting limits to either, by the exclusion of any 
 class of his subjects ;and thev are rights, of which it isim- 
 possible to suppose they could be deprived by any other 
 authority than that of the concuiTence of the three bran- 
 ches of the legislature. That the channel in which 
 flows the current of public justice, should be pure and 
 free from every, the slightest contamination is too essen- 
 tial to the happiness of the people, not to be interesting 
 lo a government which has solely that object in view, ^ 
 and it is little less necessary to that happiness, that there 
 should not exist in the minds of the people a doubt on 
 the subject. In this latter view, (he obsei*ved) 1 have 
 thought tliat the early disposal of the question may be 
 of utility, and therefore, in recommending the subject to 
 your considemtion, I have to add, that liaving received 
 li is Majesty’s pleasure uyxin it, I shall feel myself war- 
 ranted in giving his royal assent, to any proper bill for 
 rendering His Majesty’s Judges of the Coip'ts of King’s 
 Bench, in future, ineligible to a seat in the House of As- 
 sembly, in which the two houses may concur.’’ 
 
 This speech, far from conciliating, tended to inflame the 
 Commons, who construed it into an avowal of precipitancy 
 and error in dissolving the last Parliament, and it was 
 surmised by many, that the Governor had incurred the dis- 
 pleasure of ministers by the exercise of the royal prerogas* 
 live in dissolving the late Assembly. This impression em- 
 boldened the members still indignant at the late dissolution. 
 The fii’st measure of the House was to pass a resolution ; 
 that every attempt of the executive government and of iHfe 
 other branches of the legislature against this House, whe- 
 ther in dictating or censuring its proceedings, or in ap* 
 proving the conduct of one part of its members, and dis- 
 approving the conduct of the others, is a violation of the 
 statute by which this House is constituted; a breach of 
 ^ the privileges of this House against which it cannot for- 
 
 bear 
 
Sir James Fenry rnAifl. 
 
 15 
 
 ^ bear objecting : and a dangerous attack upon the rights Cha^. 
 
 and lioeriies of His Majesty’s subjects in this province.” I. 
 I'liis resolution was aimed at the conclusion of the Govern 
 noi’s speech at the late dissolution. ibiO^ 
 
 The discussion of the civil list was taken up by th^ 
 
 House, and it was maintained that the provmce was now 
 capable of relieving the mother cotmtry of this burthen, 
 which the majority plausibly urged, would inevitably, at 
 no veiy remote period devolve upon the province with 
 accumulated weight. To anticipate the charge would 
 therefore prove a saving to the province. The minority atiect* 
 ed to discover a deep design in the measure, and opposed it 
 with some warmth. The idea of levying additional reven- 
 ues to the auiouiu of fifty thousand pounds (as it was report- 
 ed with a view of nvari iiig the int'asure) startled the comury 
 
 f i(’ 0 })le. who, on the other hand, were instructed that th# 
 louse of Assembly ha\ing the provincial revenues at their 
 disposition, wotdd, in the event, retiench a number ot pen- 
 sions, and by that means considerably diminish the public 
 expence. A resolution was passed by the House, that the pro- 
 vince was able to su])ply ftinds for the payment of the civil 
 list, and loyal addresses wcie drawn up to the King, Lord$ 
 and Commons of Great Hi iiain, in these, theHousi' expres- 
 s *d.a sense ot* the many tavours the colony iiad experience4 
 fromthe beneftcence i)rthe mother country, and of the loyalty 
 and pros]x'ritv of the province, by which it was enabled to 
 take upon itself the charge of the civil expenditure of the 
 government ; a step to wliich they had bei'u particularly in- 
 ti uence<l by reason of the long and expensive war, w herein 
 Great-Hritain ha<l l>een, and still w’as engaged for the com- 
 mon nrotociion of every branch of her extensive empire. 
 
 Tiie I louse of Assembly pieseiitcd these addresses to the 
 Guveruor, rcnjiiesting he would be pleased to lay them be- 
 fore his Majesty’s mmisieis tor the. piupose of submitting 
 them to the King, Lords and Commons of ijreai-iiriiain. 
 
 In answer tp their request the Ciovernor observed, that 
 tlie addresses were somewhat novel, and required reliec- 
 tioH. I'hat the constitutional usage of Parliament recognis- 
 ed by the wisdom of the House ot‘ C ommons, of the Cnit- 
 rd Kingdom, ibrbad all steps on the part of the people to- 
 wards grants of money w Inch were not recommended by 
 the ci->v. a, and alihoirgh by the same «ariiamentary usage 
 ail grants do ougioaic in c. c Lower ilouse j yet, that tiiey 
 
 C 2 v:er 
 
%e 
 
 Administration op 
 
 were ineffectual without the concurrence of the Upper If ousfef 
 that no precedent existed to his knowledge of ad iresses lO 
 the House of Lords, or House of Commons, separately by 
 a single branch of a colonial legislature : that for these rea- 
 sons, he conceived the addresses to be unprecedented, im- 
 ^rfect in fonu, and founded upon a resolution of the 
 House of Assembly, which, until sanctioned by the con- 
 currence of the Legislative Council, must be ineffectual 
 ^cept as a spontaneous offer on the part of the Commons of 
 Canada. I hat he regretted he could not take upon himself to 
 tiansmit these addresses to his Majesty’s ministers, impressed 
 as he was with a sense of his duty, and added that the minis- 
 ters were not the regular organ of communication with the. 
 House of Commons, unless by his Majesty’s command. He 
 concluded however, by informing them that on the present oc- 
 occasion, he thought it right to transmit to the King this testi- 
 mony of the good disposition, gratitude and generous intenti- 
 ons of his su bjects in the province of Lower Canada. He said 
 he ^"ought it right also, that his Majesty by their own act, 
 sliould be formally apprised of the ability, and of the vo-, 
 iuntai y pledge and promise, which the people of this pro-i 
 Vince by this address, had given to his Majesty, to pay the 
 ^ivil expenditure of the province when required so to do. 
 I^or these reasons he engaged to transmit their address to 
 the King. He obser\^ed that their zeal for the welfare of 
 his Majesty’s government, deserved from him eveiy mark 
 ot acknowledgment, and he regretted that any circumstan- 
 ces should have compelled him to express himself on the 
 subject in a way that might carry with it, an appearance, 
 however little intended, of opposing any check to the mani- 
 testation of the sentiments under which he was persuad- 
 ed they had been actuated. 
 
 The appointment of a colonial agent in England, had 
 been contemplated by the late House of Assembly, and 
 e subject was again taken into consideration in the pre- 
 pent session, but without effbet. The advantages propos- 
 ^ y Hs measure, were, a regular and direct intercourse 
 between the House of Assembly and the Commons of 
 
 Ion A Kui"’ ® executive of the co- 
 
 ‘ an but did not arrive 
 
 rnvmon? .1^ expedience of providing in future for the 
 pajmemof the. members of the House of Assembly dur- 
 ? B thon attendance at Uic Sessions was also discussed, but 
 
 this 
 
Sm James Henry Craig. !7 
 
 this measure, which with certain modifications might have CH A^g- 
 bixn judicious, was however, successfully oj>posed. I. 
 
 In the mean time a bill for rendering Judges ineligible 
 to seats in the Mouse of Assembly was drawn up, and 
 having passed below, was transmitted to the Upper House. 
 
 Mere the bill was amended by the inU’oduction ofaclaus® 
 postponing the period at which it should take efiect, until 
 the exT)iration of the present Parliament, the Judge whom 
 we have already had occasion to mention, having been re- 
 tnmed as a member at the late elections, 'fho liouse in- 
 dignant at the amendment, and resolved at all hazards to 
 expel the Judge before the amendment was disposed of, 
 passed a resolution That 1^. De llonne, being one of 
 the Judges of the Court of King’s Bench, could not sit 
 nor vote in that House,” and declared his seat vacant. This 
 measure brought things to a crisis and placed the Go- 
 rernor in a dilemma. To acquic'sce with the House in this 
 instance, would have been a relinquishment of the ])iinci- 
 
 f ^les which the Governor had hitherto maintained and j.iib- 
 ished at the o|>ening of the session, at once inconsistent 
 with himself and with the dignity of his post. On the 
 •ther hand, a second dissolution of the House, he w as 
 sensible, must be attended with much public inconvenience 
 and engender discontent. He however determined on tho 
 latter, and (on the 2()th of Febrnar^A went down to the 
 Council chamber with (he usual solemnities, and sent a 
 message to the House of Assembly requiring their imme- 
 diate attendance at the bar. 'file iVlembers with the Speak- scronJ drs* 
 er, in obedience to the message, proceeded to the Council 
 chamber, where he informed them, that he had come down 
 for the purpose of proroguing tlio l^arliament, and that 
 upon a mature consideration ol‘ the circumstances which 
 had taken place, he had determined again to refer to the 
 ^ense of the people by an immediate dissolution. 
 
 Whatever (said he) might be my personal wishes, or 
 however strong might be my desire that the public busi^ 
 ness should sutler no iiiteiruption, 1 feel timi on this oc-» 
 casion, nothing is lelt to my discretion. It lias been 
 rendereil imposhible ibr iiie to act uthcrwisc, than in me 
 way I am proposing.” 
 
 The House of A sembly liave taken upon ibemselvoe 
 without the paiticiwuuou oi tiic oilier branches oi ^ 
 
 “ log^ 
 
• Admikistratio.v op 
 
 
 C'MP. “ le^Iplatufc, to fiass a vote, that a Judge of His MajeSi 
 “ ■’ Court of King’s Bench cannot sit nor vote in their 
 
 House. 
 
 ACiUa 
 
 However I might set aside the personal feelings which 
 would not be unnatural in me, as to the mode in which 
 tills transaction has been conducted towards myself, 
 there is another and infinitely higher consideration a« 
 rises out of it, which I must not overlook. 
 
 . It is impossible for me to consider what has been 
 done in any other light, than as a direct v iolation of an 
 act of the Imperial Parliament: of that Pailiament 
 ‘ which conferred on you the constitution to which you 
 piotess to owe your present prosperity : nor can f do o- 
 therw-jse than consider the House of As.-emhly as hav- 
 '^*'c^ri^titutionally disfranchised a la rge portion oi'lnii 
 ivlajesty’s subjects, tind rendered ineligible by an author 
 u which they do not possess, artpther not inconsider-^ 
 able class of the community.” 
 
 ^ k assumption I should at any rate feel myself 
 
 bound by every tie of duty to oppose : but iii epnse- 
 qiieuce ol the expulsion of the member for the countj 
 ol Quebec, a vacancy in the represe illation of that county 
 has been declared, and it would be necessary that a ne\y 
 ^ writ should issue for the election of another member; 
 that writ would be, to be signed by me. Gentlemen (said he, 
 with warmth and emphasis) 1 cannot, dare not reader 
 myself a partaker in the violation of an act of the liu- 
 perial Parliament, and I l>.J^ow no othe*r way by which I 
 can avoid becoming so, but that which I am pursuing.'* 
 
 ^Viicnwe met I felt much satisfaction in the conscious* 
 u having taken such steps as I thought most likelv ta 
 
 1^^/htate, indeed 1 thonglu would do away every possible 
 objpctioii to a measure that seemed to be wished for, and 
 that in itsell met my entire concurrence: but the only 
 objection that can 1 think exist in the mind of any rea- 
 sonable man to the eligibility of tlie Judges, arises from 
 ^ le possib.e ellect that may be produced by the necessity 
 it puts them under, of soliciting the votes of the elec- 
 toi-s. iNo well gHMinded objection can b(> offered to 
 tncif siU.n;- in the ffouHe when they are elected. On 
 the comiary, tiicir talents and su])erior kittnvledge must 
 
iSiR James TIenry CRaio.' 
 
 f render them highly useful, and were it not for other con- 
 ** siderations highly desirable inembei*s. I cannot but ex- 
 ceedingly lament, that a measure which I consider ashe^ 
 nehcial to the country should not have taken elfcct. 
 The people however in the disappointment of their ex« 
 5^ pectat ons will do me the justice to acquit me of being 
 the cause of it, as they must equally acquit me of being 
 ( tlie cause tlmt so little of the public business lias btea 
 done.” 
 
 ^ On his entrance and departure from the rouncll cliam*- 
 her, the Governor was cheered by the populace, friendly 
 ‘ to his measures, with loud and repeated acclamations, 
 while the crest-fallen members and their friends retired 
 
 • wnth silent indignation. The Governor’s military prom|>- 
 ' tiiude, w hich they considered in civil atiairsas verging uj)On 
 
 • despotism, again overreached their expectations ancl'the 
 
 • Canadian public (a very great majority of the population) 
 
 ’ universally expressed their resolution of re-electing the late 
 
 members, with injunctions to persevere in the same m-'a- 
 sures. So strongly were they preposessed of the opinioTi, 
 i that the Goveimor, influenced by his favorite, only wushed 
 to screen him from the ignominy of an expulsion. 
 
 I 
 
 Upon a cool survey of the questions that le<l to the mis- 
 understanding between the (xovernor and the House ol'ds- 
 sembly, we may at this late period be indulged in the as- 
 sertion, that the situation of the Governor was critical and 
 trying in the extreme ; and it is difficult to conceive, how 
 he could otherwise liave consistently extricated himself 
 from the embarrassing dilemma, into which he had been 
 urged. 
 
 After the dissolution, studied addresses prepared by a- 
 gents of the administration, flowed in upon Uie Governor 
 from all quarters. The city and county of Quebec, the 
 city of Montreal, the town of Three-Rivers, and the Bo- 
 rough of William Henry, and the counties of Wai*wick 
 and Orleans, were conspicuous on the occasion. The late 
 members assisted by their friends, in the mean time, ex- 
 erted themselves diligently to secure their elections. Songs 
 adapted to the vulgar uiste, and calculated to rouse the 
 public spirit were composed and circuiaied, the Cana^ 
 dim teemed with harangues, addresses and observatioi^ 
 911 the occurrences of the day, and the measures of the exe- 
 cutive; 
 
 Chai^, 
 
 I. 
 

 so ABIVnNISTUATTOjT OP 
 
 Chap, cutive;* while on'the other hand, thediscovery of cabals anj 
 I. plans of insurrection and rebellion, were mysteriously whis- 
 pered among the minions of the administration. At one mo- 
 i8jL0« ment it was rumoured that the french minister in America 
 had supplied large sums in gold, to promote the views of the 
 seditious in Canada ; at another, that the whole of his cor- 
 respondence had been interested by some confidential a* 
 gents of our govermtient. Tnese reports, though utterly 
 groundless, and held in contempt by the adverse party as 
 the fabrications of intriguing sycophants, were never- 
 theless, evidently intended to prepare the public mind for 
 some eventful ciisis. 
 
 ♦ Of the many anonymous productions published at the period, one ad- 
 dressed to the public in a flying sheet of the Canadien .signed IVmi 
 •cr«, excited much attention, and created uneasiness in the mind of the Go- 
 vernor, who it seems made up his mind, from the moment of its appear' 
 «ice to seiie tho Canadien Pro§s.-^Scc Appendix Letter A, 
 
 CHAP* U 
 
Sir James Henuy Ceaig, 
 
 21 
 
 CHAPTER IT, 
 
 W E approach a period in tlie annals of the colony, 
 upon which, fi om the contrariety of public opinion 
 as to the measures by which it is characterised, we enter 
 with diffidence and respect. The storm diat had been 
 gathering for some time, was now ready to burst. The 
 elections were approaching, and the executive seemed de- 
 termined to strike a blow, that would crush all spirit of 
 opposition in the people, and awe their leaders into si- 
 lence and submission. 
 
 On the 17th day of March, a parly of soldiers headed 
 by a magistrate and two constables, proceeded to the Ca- 
 nndhyi Vrinting-Oflice in Quebec, under the sanction of 
 the executive, where having forcibly seized the press, and 
 the whole of the papers of every ilescription found in tfie 
 house, they conveyed them from thence to the vaults of 
 the Court- if ouse. The printer of the Canadien was ap- 
 jirelionded, and after examination before the council, was 
 committed to prison. The guards in the mean time were 
 strengthened, and patroles were sent in all directions 
 through the city, as if an immediate and universal insur- 
 rection of the people had been expected. The public stmek 
 at these appearances of unusual precaution, remained in 
 silence and snspence ; vdiile the discovery of plots, cabals 
 and cons})imcies, was confidently asserted; and an oflici.d 
 promulgation of some deep laid conspiracy was anxiously 
 expected. The Mbntreal courier was detained beyond the 
 usual time, with a view, as it was pretended, of prevent- 
 ing any report of the measures resorted to, until the ex- 
 pected discoveries were made. Three successive <lays were 
 occupied by the magistrates and crown ofricei'S in examin- 
 ing the old papers seized at the Canadien Printing-Of- 
 fice. On the 19th of March, three Canadian gcntlemea 
 of distinction* were apprehended bj' a warrant, signed hv' 
 three Members of the Executive Council and cast into 
 prison. Three others in the distnet of Montreal t shaicd 
 
 • Mps«iicnrs RodarJ, Blauclict ami TaiC’.icn au, nirir.bcrs » f the lute 
 ITouse of A^ ; mb!y. 
 
 + Mos'ii^'nrsLiiorcc, (Notary Public,) Papincaiiof Chnnibly, ard (Nirbeii 
 of Isle Jesus. 
 
 D the 
 
 Cir AP. 
 
 IblO. 
 
2* 
 
 Administration of 
 
 Chap, the <?ame fate, under the Imlefinite charge of being guilty 
 treasonable practices. These commitments were made 
 under an annual act. intituled, An Act for the better pre- 
 1810. servation of his Majesty’s Government,” which, from 
 the measures now' related, fell into disrepute, and was not 
 renewed after the present administration. No information of 
 any importance resulted from the search made among the 
 ])apers seized with the press, but the hasty imprisonment of 
 three reputable citizens, gave some colour to the tales of 
 intended insurrection that were artfully circulated, and it 
 was generally understood, that government were in full 
 possession of all the circumstances of the supposed con- 
 spiracy. Inhere is however to this day, no satismetory proof 
 before the public of the slightest plan to subvert the go- 
 vernment ; and the reader, in the absence of even the 
 lightest grounds to create such a presumption, as well as 
 from the enlarorementoftheprisonei's w ithout any trial, is leti 
 to judge, wdiether, the extraordinary and mysterious proceed- 
 ings resorted to on the occasion, were the result of w'ell 
 grounded apprehension of public commotion, or merely to 
 colour an act, which otherwise, cannot but be considered 
 as an exertion of power. 
 
 On the 91st of March, the Governor issued aproclama^ 
 tion, unique in its kind, and somewhat verging on romance. 
 In it he admonishes the Canadian subjects to beware 
 of the arts (without furnishing any proof of their exis*» 
 tence) employed by designing men, to mislead them. He 
 expatiates on the benevolence of the mother country to- 
 wards the colony, and on the paternal solicitude of his So- 
 vereign and himself, for the jiromotion of its w^elfare. He 
 descants upon the udes respecting himself, which he is in- 
 formed have been circulated w’ith a view to influence and 
 deceive the people: and thus vehemently apostrophizes the sup- 
 posed authors of them, base and daring fabricators of 
 falsehood; on what part or act of my life do you found such 
 J assertions ? Canadians, ask of those to whom you form- 
 erly looked with attention and respect: ask the heads 
 church who have opportunities of knowing* me. 
 
 1 hose aie men of honor and Kuow'Iedge i These arc men 
 \c "^hom you ought to seek for information and advice; 
 the leaders of faction : the demagogues of a party, as- 
 sociate not with me: they cannot know me. 
 
 T he earnest spirit wdiich flow's through this production, 
 
 ^ See Appendix B. slitWS 
 
23 
 
 Pm ^AMKS ^^Evnv rnATG.' 
 
 Siewp the dcLermi lation with which he intondoc! to per- 
 s.'^vei o in his measures, as they were evidently the result of a 
 conscientious conviction on his mind of their expedience 
 at t!*is crisis. Messengers were dispatched in all directions 
 throu/tvoui the Province to distribute co})ies of the pro- 
 clamation and the sound of insurrection and rebellion in 
 Canoidiu went abroad, and was echoed round the world, 
 af a period whicli does not even atford the solitary in- 
 st^mcc of a trial, much less a conviction, of a single indi- 
 vidunj in the colony, for treason or sedit on. The Ciergy were 
 summoned to support the administration on the present oc- 
 casion, and the proclamation, in obedience to the wish of 
 tl'e exec n live, was published in some instances, in the 
 church, during divine service, in others at the church 
 door after its conclusion, [t was confidently expected by 
 th‘‘ public, that his fiordship tlu? Catholic Ihshop of Que- 
 bec, would on (Siindav f the day succeeding the issue of 
 the prodafuadon. givv a discourse suitable to the occasion. 
 
 . a g*r niviUmide pressed into the Cathedjal, but t ;ey 
 w.'io di-iaopolnted. riie zealots took umbrage at the seCiU- 
 inr iudbh rence of the worthy Prdate. The CatUeilrai tis 
 on tl.e S uulay following again crowded: the proclainaLion 
 wa> read, and his Lordship delivered to some thousands of 
 S] MV tutors an able and impressive discourse, suited to tl.e 
 co nplexion of the times : He adverted with beconurg 
 spirit, to the hasty zeal, whicii had induced some to con- 
 d“». M ?i»e supineue.ss of the Clergy, who, he observed, were 
 n ss ioyal, zealous and instructed in their duty towards 
 t ani >oveieigu, iban at the period of the revolution ot the 
 I) 'iglibouring colonies, when the iideliiy of the canadiaii 
 Catliolic Clergy had been irrefragably established. He ex- 
 pounded with clearness and precision, the duties of a 
 subject and a Christian, in the .salutary submission to’ the 
 laws, and to the constituted authorities of tire laud. I iimi 
 the suite of the public mind at this juncture, tiie diliiculiy 
 of reconciling j>arties, heated by a st*ries of elections into 
 tliat political animosity incideiual to iiee govenuuents, is 
 easily conceived. 
 
 The Chief .liislico at the opening of the Criminal Ses- 
 slon.s in March, in delivering liis chiuge to the Grand dury, 
 called their attention to tin* tendency ui‘ the occurrence.s, that 
 had given room to the proclamation, which he read on the 
 occasion, 'fhe Grand .bu y in answer to his speech, drew 
 uj) an address to tire Court, in whidi they amuiadvt led 
 
 H 2 strong- 
 
 Ch AP. 
 H. 
 
 lb 10. 
 
21 
 
 Administration op 
 
 strongly upon certain numbers of the Canadien^ and otT)ef 
 p'rovlucfions issuing from that press, as dangerous to the 
 peace and security of the colony. They in like manner ex* 
 pressed their displeasure at divera productions in the 
 bic calculated to excite jealousy and distrust in 
 
 the minds of his Majesty’s Canadian subjects, leaving it to 
 the wisdom of the court to adopt such measures thereupon 
 as might be found expedient; and concluded by disclaim* 
 a wisli to encroach upon the genuine freedom of the 
 press; but tliat the abuse of this inestimable privilege,^ 
 *\Vhich could only tend to a subversion of order, was the 
 tjlibject of their animadversion,^ 
 
 In April, an ineffectual effort was made in the Court of 
 King’s Bench to obtain a Habeas Corpus for one of the 
 g entlemen detained in prison, under suspicion of treasona- 
 pie practices. The failure of this application left no alter-^ 
 native to the prisoners, who were left to pine in solitary 
 Confinement, until the Governor should be pleased to bring 
 them to trial, or release them. In July following, one of 
 the gentlemen confined in the jail at Quebec, became seri“ 
 ously ill from length of confinement, and was released by 
 the Council : another was also shortly after released from 
 the same cause; and the printer was in the month of Au- 
 gust, also turned out of prison. They however, previous 
 to their enlargement, gave security to appear to answer sucli 
 bill of indictment as might be afterwards found against 
 them : a precaution probably intended to save appearan- 
 ces. no bill having ever afterwards been juvsented by (he 
 crown officers ; nor does it appear that the Governor at 
 any time seriously intended to risk the test of a verdict 
 upon their guilt or innocence, which in the event of an 
 
 ac:piittal, must have covev(3d the administration with iff* 
 
 Iioniiny, ® 
 
 The September Session of the criminal court elapsed I 
 ^ithout any attention to the prisoner remaining in con* 
 nementjt who solicitous fora trial, had repeatedly refus- 
 ed with manly resolution a precarious enlargement, 
 Without the opportunity of vindicating his reputation by 
 the verdict of a jury, fie maintained with inflexible per- 
 severance, the integrity .of his conduct and political opi- 
 nions, and disclaimed the imputation of treason or disaf- 
 fection to the person or government of his Sovereign; and 
 
 the 
 
Sin James Henry Craig. 
 
 S5 
 
 ^ jbe stern Viceroy himself has been heard to express an 
 involuntary esteem for the consistency of his conduct, 
 
 * Tlie period at whicli we are arrived has been sarcastical- 
 ly termed the reign of terror, 'fiie perem})tory measure^ 
 of tlic (iovernor struck the opposition with disnuiy ; 
 
 I but tliougii he had suppressed, yet lie had not eliectually 
 subdued the spirit of the people. The elections for the 
 new Parliament took place in April, and the late nienw 
 6crs again prevailed, almost universally throughout tho 
 
 • province. 
 
 The Judge upon whose account the present difficult 
 ti^'s had originated, under the prospect ot' being called to 
 { the Legislative Council, did not jnesent himself as a caii- 
 ^ didate in the county he had recently represented, lie how- 
 ever was not afterwards called to the Legislative Coum iJ 
 ^ as he expected ; and we are left to conjecture, whether ho 
 ^ declined his re-election through a fallacious promise , front 
 I the 'administration to that purpose, in order to induce 
 ij him to retire, and by that means put an end to all strife 
 5 with the Assembly on his account, or whether disgusted, 
 with the intrigues and animosity of the times, he consukecj 
 his tranquillity by a voluntary retirement. 
 
 A pause ensued, in which all parties seemed desirous oF 
 repose from die fruitless contest in which they hail h eu 
 engaged. The piisoners confined at Montreal, whor y 
 had suffered all the inconveniencies and discomforts of a 
 damp and unhealthy j)i*i»on, and the severity of a surly jani- 
 tor, were successively released. One of them* is said to have 
 died of illness contracted during l\is imprisonment. Tlic 
 Governor in the mean time turned his attention to the im- 
 provement of the interior of the province, as well as to 
 the cities of Quebec and iMontreal ; to wliich he ap['oii L- 
 cd chairmen to preside in the Courts of quarler sessions, 
 with annual stipends. lie caused a road to bo opened 
 from St. Giles, in the vicinity of Quebec, to the township 
 of Shipton, near the provincial boumlarv line ; a distance 
 of upwards of sixty miles, by a cietachnient of trcu.ps, 
 which ailbrded a short and easy communicaiion for the iii- 
 dustrious settlers in the new townships, with the Quebec 
 market. 
 
 The new Parliament met at Quebec on the ISth of De- 
 
 cciiioor 
 
 JI. 
 
 ’♦ Mr. Corbeil. 
 
^6 
 
 ArMTNriSTRATTON #p 
 
 cember 1810, and the Flouse of Assembly having rf-e? 
 lected their former Speaker, the Gov ~ “ 
 
 that as he had never doubted tlie loyalty and zeal of tke 
 several Parliaments which he had occasion to meet sim e 
 he assumed the administration of the government of the . 
 province • so he relied with equal assurance, that lie would 
 not fail to experience the same principles in that w iicli 
 he was then addressing ; and that in the conhdent ex- 
 pectation that they were animated by the best intentiong 
 to promote the interests of his ^Majesty’s government, and 
 tile welfare of his people; he should look tor the happy" 
 etfects of such a disposition in the tenor of their deli- 
 beraiions and the dispatch of the public business,” ^ 
 
 1 desire to call your attention (said he) to t!<e tem-| 
 porary act for the better preservation of his Majesty'# 
 governmeni, as by law happily established in thisprovince,^ 
 and to that for establishing regulationsrespettiugaiicus.rr, 
 certain subjects of his Majesty w ho have resided In Fraru e/ 
 No ciiange has taken place in the stateof the].'ubUc ailahg" 
 ‘ that can warrant, a departure from those precamious and 
 that VigilanCewhich have hitherto induced all ihebrancli«*i 
 ‘ of the Legislature to consider these acts as'iM^cessary. Fi? 
 saying that they are important to the interests ofhis^ iMa- 
 ^^Vjesty’s government, you will not, 1 am conhuent, for a 
 moment suppose, that I mean to divide tliese from the 
 interests of the public : they are inseparable. Tlie pie-i. 
 servation of his Majc.sty’s government is ilie safety o/ Jie 
 province, and its security is the only safeguard to thepu- 
 blic tranquillity. Under these considerations 1 cannot 
 tlierefore but recommend them, together with the act n^k- 
 ing temjiorary provisions for the regulation of trade be-'* 
 tween tliis proviace and the United States, to your hrsi 
 and immediate consideration.'’ 
 
 !# 
 
 He in treated them to believe, that he should have great 
 satisfliction in cultivating that harmony and good undev-^ 
 stanciing which must be so conducive to the iirosperity 
 and happiness of the colony, and that he should most 
 leudily and cheerllilly concur in every measure which 
 they might propose, tending to promote those \ por- 
 J tant objects." Ho concluded by observing ‘Mhat the 
 mlo of his comiuet was to discharge his 'duty to Ins 
 ^ Sovereign by a constant atlcaiion to the weiiare of liis 
 
 proving of their choice, informed 
 
 subi» 
 

 Sir Ja3ies Henry Craig. 
 
 ^ subjects which were committed to his charge, and' that Tk ap,* 
 he felt these objects to be promoted by a strict adher- ll. 
 ence to the laws and to the principles of* the constitution, 
 and by maintaining in their just ualanoe tlie rights uad iolU. 
 ^ privileges of every branch of the legislature.’’ 
 
 Immediately after delivering his speech, he sent a mes- 
 sage to the House by a member of the Executive C’ouncil, 
 intimating that Mr. Bedard, returnetl to serve as a member 
 for the county of Surrey, was detained in the common jail 
 for the district of Quebec, under a warrant of three mem- 
 bers of his Majesty’s Executive (\)uncil. by virtue of the 
 act for the better preservation of his Majesty’s govern- 
 ment as by law happily established in this province,” for 
 treasonable practices. It was evident from the tenor of 
 the (Governor’s Sjieech, and his subsequent message to the 
 House, that the renewal of this unpopular act would be 
 insisted upon by the administmtion at all liazarcls. Tlic 
 sentiments of the majority of the House were without doubt, 
 entirely averse to the recent measures of the administra- 
 tion. To renew' the obnoxious act w ould be at once an un- 
 equivocal admission on their part, of its expedience, ami 
 of the pvoj)ricty of its recent operation. On the other 
 hand, a refusal might embroil them more than ever with 
 the ext'cutive, and result in consequences fatal to the tran- 
 quillity of the colony. The example of the two preced- 
 ing parliaments was still fresh in their memory, and the 
 inflexible consistency of Governor’s character iiad over- 
 come the firmness of the House. They observed in their ad- 
 dress to the (Governor, in answer to his speech that they 
 concurred with his Excellency, that no change had taken 
 place in the public allaii-s abroad, that would warrant an 
 alteration of the provisions of the provincial temporary act, 
 which provided for the better preservation of his Maje.sty’s 
 government; yet that they thought it their duty to infortn 
 his Excellency, that the fears and apprehensions which 
 prevailed among a great number of his Ma.jesty’s loyal and 
 faithful subjects in consequence of the execution of this 
 act, would demand their serious consideration before they 
 could determine if its continuation in the whole of im 
 present form and tenor, would insure that confidence be- 
 tween his Majesty’s government and his subjects in (’a- 
 natla, which is the safeguard of the former, a id of tiie in- 
 terests of the public, in themselves inseparable.” They ho w - 
 ever pledged thomselves that the present act and tluit re- 
 , Hpectmg 
 
 
Administuation or 
 
 Chap, spocting aliens, •would become the object oftlieirmost serw 
 II. ous consideration fully convinced (said they) that it is | 
 llie most serious wish of your Excellency to cultivate I 
 telO. that harmony and good understanding which is so condu; I 
 cive to the prosperity and happiness of the colony, we shall f 
 cheerfully concur in any measure tending to promote those ; 
 important objects ; objects (they observed) more difticult to ' 
 be obtained in this province than in any other of his Ma* j 
 jesty’s colonies, from the difference in opinions, customi 
 and prejudices of his Majesty’s subjects residing therein. 
 We reflect with pain on the efforts which are made to 
 Represent in false colours, and in a measure wide of truth, 
 the opinions and sentiments of the different classes of hij . 
 Majesty’s subjects in Canada. Following your Excellency’s | 
 example, let every one fulfil his duty to our august Sovereign | 
 by an unremitting attention to the interests and the happi- 
 ness of his subjects in this colony, and he will feel that a 
 strict adherence to the laws and principles of the consti- 
 tution, and a firm support of the equal rights and prin- 
 ci]>les of every branch of the legislature, are the means of ^ 
 ^curing to his Majesty’s subjects, the full and entire en- 
 joyment of their liberty, religious opinions, and proper- 
 ty, and which cannot be more perfectly confirmed to them 
 than by the free constitution, which it has pleased \m ' 
 most gmcious Majesty and his Parliament to grant to ' 
 this province.” 
 
 i 
 
 Words can scarcely impjk' a more direct disapproval of 
 the recent measures of the Governor, who felt the force of 
 their reflections, and replied in a way which left no room 
 in their minds to doubt of his earnest resolution to prosed 
 cute the renewal of the act in question. He returned them 
 kis acknowledgments for the sentiments of loyalty, and i 
 the good intentions to promote the interests of his Majesty’s 
 government, and the welfare of their fellow subjects, ex- 
 pressed in their address. ‘‘ I shall at all times (said he) re- 
 ceive with attention any information or advice that tli^ , 
 House of Assembly may think proper to convey to me : 
 in the present instance, however, I feel myself called ou 
 ^ to observe, that my information of the state of the pro- 
 vince does not warrant that which you say you think it 
 )our duty to give me, of the existence of feai*s and ap- 
 ^ prehensions, with relation to the execution of the act 
 ^ tor the better preservation of his Majestv’s govemment, 
 least* as applied to the people in general. If such I 
 
 « feam 
 
Sir James Henry Craio, 
 
 29 
 
 P f(!ars and apprehensions exist, are they not confined :o Chap, 
 “ tliose who are aware of tlic ))Ossibility of ihein-elves be- ^ ! . 
 €om\mr objioxioiis to the ojwation ot‘ the act ? the voice 
 of sucTi will be alwaVs loud ; and may not their clamour 18IU» 
 have misled you to Suppose them more numerous than 
 1 suppose thev really are ? Hut with regard to the 
 good people of the Province, I am so far from thiniung 
 ?hat they leel any apprehensions on the subject, tliat I 
 date the subsiding of the ferment that then existed. t:iJ 
 the restoration of the calm that has since prevailed a-» 
 mong them, precisely from the moment at which (It® 
 execution of that act took place. Similar means to tiio^e 
 formerly emjdoycd might again revive the one and dis- 
 turb tile other, and none perhaps would be more ehec- 
 tual for the purpose then infusing amongst them the 
 fears and apprehensions to wliicli you have alluded^ 
 
 Simple and uninstructed as they are however, 1 sliatl 
 trust to their good sense for its being found diihcult to 
 shake their confidence in His Majesty’s (Joverninent, be»“ 
 cause they find it exercising for their }>rotection the 
 means with which it is intrusted by J.iaw, or because 
 thev see that Cirovernment armed w’ilh the power and 
 ready to step forward should it become necessary to 
 crush the arts of faction or to meet the machinations ot 
 treason. V iewing your Address in the light of an aus- 
 vver to my s])eech, 1 must remark that 1 liave been mis- 
 understood in it. 
 
 The harmony and good understanding whicli I ex- 
 pressed myself desirous ot cultivating, w as that harmor.y 
 and nrood imderstanding between me and the otlua* 
 brancFies of the Liegislature which must be so cond\icive 
 to the prosperity and ha])piness of the Colony. W herf> 
 as I perceive y(>u have applied the expression more g\^ 
 nerally to the existence of these principles in the communi- 
 ‘‘ ty at large. This w ould be no otherwise of consequence 
 than as u has furnished you with the opportur.ity of bring- 
 ing forward a sentiment in which I desire most cordiaify 
 “ and truly to express my entire concurrence. I shad 
 join with you in feeling pain in every instance in whhh 
 the passions ot any one part ot His Majesty s sub:' v, is 
 shall lead them to represent in false colours, and v\ a 
 manner w ide of truth the opinions and sentiments o any 
 
 part fi their fellow subjecis. VV itht^nt any reteifnc.^' 
 example, lot every one as vou say do his duty to the 
 
 K ‘^aud 
 
 
30 
 
 Administration of 
 
 (?HAP* and to the Public, and as voii express yourselves awar# ^ 
 II. of the greater difhciilty tliat exists in this Province in 
 
 the attainment of the important object in question, so I | 
 1810, confidently trust I shall find you on all occasions exert- i,| 
 iiij^ with advantage the superior opportunity which ig 
 afforded yon by your situation as representatives of the 
 people for promoting and cultivating those true princi- 
 j)les of affection and attachment that may unite us as g 
 free and happy people.” - | 
 
 This sarcastic reply of the Governor nettled the Iloiist | 
 but they were too well acquainted with his firmness to j>roi 
 ceed to extremes on so nice a j^oint.’ The acts recom- 
 mended by the Governor were first introduced and passed 
 in the Legislative Council, from whence they were sent 1 
 down to the Lower House, where they passed with unusual 1 
 speed, although the detention of one of their members in Pri- 
 son was the cause of much murmur and disgust. Tliis 
 obnoxious act was therefore reluctantly continued with a ! 
 salvo (an amendment introduced into the Bill by the I 
 Lower House) of the Rights and Privileges of either i 
 House, and of the Members of the Provincial Legislature; i 
 it being thereby provided that no Member of either House 
 should be imprisoned or detained during the sitting of i 
 Parliament, until the matter of which he stood susj)ecte4 i 
 were first communicated to the House of which he might H 
 be a member, and the consent of that House obtained Ibr 
 his commitment or detention. It was obvious that the J 
 Assembly in this instance yielded to the menacing tone of 
 the administration who must have been conscious fronli 
 the recent exercise of this act for the better preservation of 
 His Majesty’s Government” and the reluctance with which 
 ' it was continued for another year, that its total extinction 
 could not be a remote occurrence. The Government not^ ' 
 withstanding this clause in the act, still persisted in de- 
 taining the member in confinement during the Session 
 without affording him the means of justifying himself by n 
 trial. , 
 
 ^ A Bill to disqualify Judges from being elected and tak> I 
 jng a seat in the House of Assembly was introduced, and 
 having met the concurrence of both Houses received the 
 Royal Sanction. This subject of strife being disposcxl of, 
 b Iciness was carried on with diligence and dispatch, and ' 
 some very usd ul laws were enacted in the coui-seofthe 
 
 Session, 
 
 1 
 
Sm James ITexry Craks. 
 
 SI 
 
 Session. The Governor was in the mean time notified ot 
 his removal irom the colonial Government in pursuance (it 
 was said) of his own request. On the ^ 1st March he proro- 
 gued the Parliament, and as his speech on the occasion, is 
 the best testimony to which we can resort for his own 
 0 |*»:iion on the character of the times, and of Ins adminis- 
 tration, we insert a part of it in his owui words. 
 
 ‘‘ r\ mong the Acts to which I have declared his Majesty’s 
 Assent, tiiere is one which I have seen with peculiar satisfac- 
 tion. 1 uK'an the Act for disqualifyng the .f udges from houl- 
 ii.;f a seat in the Mouse of Assembly. It is not only that I 
 tinuA the measure right in itself, but that I consider the pas- 
 sing an Act for the purpose, as a comj)lete renunciation of 
 tile errniH'ous principle, the acting upon which, putmeu»\* 
 tlu necessity of dissolving the last Parliament. 
 
 ( lentlemen, yon are now about to return to your homes^ 
 an I to mix again in the common mass of your tellow ciii- 
 te IS ir*t me eutreat you to roilect upon itio good that inay 
 \Voui your elforts to inculcate those true principles of 
 regularity a submission to the laws, that can alone give 
 •tabilit V to that degree of liappiness which is attainable in 
 the pp'sent suite of «roGiety. Vour Province is in an nnex- 
 ampied progress of pros]>erity : riches are pouring Vn upon 
 the jieople, but their attendant evils, luxury and dissij a- 
 Cion, will inevitably acjouipany them: the danger of these 
 is too well known, to require that 1 should detain you, by 
 enlarging upon it: it will demand ail the ellbrts of religion, 
 and of the magistracy, vwth the scarcely less jiowerful in- 
 11 lUMice of example and of advice in the well dis|>osed and 
 better informed, to counteract their ellects, to preserve tire 
 public morals from sudden relaxation, and, linally, to bar 
 the entry to crime and depravity. 
 
 » 
 
 ♦ A large tract of country, hitherto little known, has been 
 opened to you : its inhabitants are industrious and intelli- 
 gent, and they cultivate their lamls with a ])ro<iuctive ener- 
 
 f y, well calculated to eiicrease the resources of the colony. 
 
 i('l them not on these grounds be objects of envv, or of jea- 
 lousy: i-ather let them be exanqiles, to be carefully watc hed 
 and imitated, ’till, in the w hole province, no other driler- 
 ciice ot ihrtility shall ap[M'ar, but w hai may arise from va- 
 riety oi‘ soil, or dilkneuce of climate. 
 
 E S And 
 
 Chap 
 
 1811. 
 
S2 
 
 
 Adminj^^^tuation of 
 
 C.T Ap. And now. gontlomen, I have only fiirtbcr to recommend, 
 
 II. tliat as, in an early part ol’ ilie session, you yourselves ibok 
 
 W occasion to observe on tlie dilUculty of the task, you v^lU 
 l8ii. proportionally exert your best eiuleavours to do away ail 
 mistrust and aniinosity fiom among yourselves: — while these 
 are sutiered tO remain, all exertion lor the public good must 
 be |>alsied. No bar can exist to a cordial union — religioiu^ 
 diderences present none — intolerance is not the disj'O 
 sition of the present times — ^aml, living under one govern- 
 ment. enjoying equally its protection and iisfosleiing caie, 
 in the nnitual iTUcrcourse oi* kindness and benevolence, all 
 others will bt* iuuml to bo ideal. ] am earnett in this ad- 
 vice, gentlemen. It is ]>rohal)ly the last legacy oi’ a very 
 jjincere well-wisher, who, if he lives to reach the presence 
 of hi» Sovereign, would indeed present himself with ibe 
 proud certainly of obtaining his approbation, if he could 
 conclude Ins report of his administration, witli saving: I 
 found. Sire, the portion of your subjects that you commit- 
 ted to my charge, diviiled among themselves, viewing each 
 other with mistrust and jealousy, and animated, as they 
 Bupponcd, by seoamie interests. I left them, Sire, cordh 
 ^dy united, in the bonds of reciprocal esteem and conli- 
 dence, and rivalling each other only in affectionate a uacli- 
 mem to your Majesty’s government, and in generous exer- 
 tions for the public good.” 
 
 * In this, as well as in his former speeches to the legislature, 
 we find the sentiments of a man of frankness and ofeharactor. 
 Although he is thought by many to have been under the 
 iidiuence of a party, \\e was certainly unconscious of it, as 
 nothing appears to have been more despicable in his mind 
 'than party intrigue, 
 
 Sliortly after the prorogation of Parliament the prison 
 door was left open to the member in confinement, wilh- 
 pMi any explanation of the cause of his imprisonment, oi of 
 the mtuives of his enlargement. By some, his release was 
 Rttributed to orders from his Majesty’s ministers to that ef- 
 fect ; by others to a conviction in the mind of the Gover- 
 nor of his innocence, or at least, of his having made am- 
 pl'^ atonement for his errors (if any) by the length and du- 
 ress of his confinement. 
 
 On the lOthof .Tune 1811, he embarked on board Ilie 
 Majesty’s Snip Amelia, for England; leaving Mr. Duan 
 ' ^ in 
 
Sm Jamks ITenry Craig. S3 
 
 rbav^e of the Government of the colony, and Lie\ite- 
 nat -General Drum mono in command of the forges in the 
 (’uf.avias, consisting of 44.3 artillery, 3^783 regular troons, 
 and 1,2'Jt) Fencibk’s, in all 0,454 men. lie seemed tfis- 
 gnsled with the cares of a government, in which he had ex- 
 yo' ienci'd biu crosses aiul inortiticaiion. He is said to 
 lia>e ex|>i'o»»ed at ll;e moment of liis departure, an ambi- 
 guous relleciion on the decejulon, and ingratitude of 
 I Hiankind: whetlier his observiuiou were inteikdevl to be ge- 
 ijoral, or aimed at some of those imtnediately concci d 
 with him in the conduct of juildlc affairs, we aie leii to 
 imtigine. health had long been wasting away with a 
 
 drop.-y ai\vi ctiier iidinniiies contracted in tUe service of liis 
 country, and he doubletl whether tie siionUl live lo see liic 
 en:l of his voyage, wliich he however survived some months* 
 'j :ie feelings ol* the public ^Yere, upon ins deiiiirtiire ibc 
 litigland, variously expressed, according to the opinions 
 I am! prejudices of parties, which, under his aduiinistratu.a 
 ; had been inllamcd to a greater pilch tiian at any lbrn»er 
 p ilod sinte the concpiest. His administration was certa idy 
 II npopular among the great mass oft- e people : andali 
 tenacious of and consistent in hi.s measuas, he was evidently 
 influenced by councils ori«rinatingin tiipid and y.-stomoy 
 prehensions of danger, f he severity of his measures ga\e 
 just grounds to expect some conducive evidence of ' e 
 guilt of those who had incurred his displeasure, but we have 
 not even seen an attempt to palliate tlmt exercise of power, 
 which, in the total ahstmee of any vindication ot ns . 
 
 f iedience, we must attribiite to the lervour of ]>arty lieat. 
 vigonrops aA they were, thcymiglu have been rendered still 
 in ore so, had the Governor been less sensible of the ge- 
 neral good disposition of the colony, or listenevt mut? ^ 
 the suggestions of tiiose who had involved him imperct pli- 
 Wy ill their quarrel witii the people. The Proclaniaijoa 
 issued at the period alludeil to, shews the conviction uii vt 
 which \vc may fairly bt iieve him to have acted; but wiieu 
 we rdlect upon the unimosiiy of the ilinos, w e liave cause to 
 auspect, that the sources from whence his information was 
 derived, are liable to .some objections, which however, It 
 must have been difficult, nay, almost iinpossilile fin* liiui lo 
 have discriminated until ii was too late. On the eve of 
 his departure, an action of damages was instituted on tl^e 
 part of several of' the proprietors of tiie ( 'a^?aduu press, a; 
 gainst the mag stvate who ;,ad seized it. ddiis action prov- 
 ed abortive. TheiactismeiiCumeJjab it must have ca . d the 
 
 GovcpJ 
 
 ibik. 
 
C7 
 
 ?i DMlKtSTP ATTO.V OP 
 
 C'TAP, Oovornor to reflect, that althongli he had put down wiA 
 il force, the animosities wliich agitated his adnunisiration, he 
 had struck a blow, probably more important in its results, 
 iMi. than the most hostile adversaries ot his administration 
 could have wished. 
 
 Sir James Henm? y Craig had been from his youth in the 
 service of his country, and ow’ed to merit alone, his lank 
 ftud consideration in the army. He had upon seveial 
 oci asions distinguished himself as an able general. He 
 corpulent in pei*son, and rather below the middle sia- 
 fine his features were strong and regular, his aspect sevorit 
 an 1 imposing : his deportment was manly and dignitied: 
 i society he was polite, fiunk and allable. Me is said to 
 have been positive in his opinions, and therefore jiromptand 
 fiecisive 111 his measures. To a clear and comprehensive 
 judgment, he united the best qualities of the heart : anj 
 tho)igh hasty in temper, he was easily reconcih** I to thos< 
 who might have involuntarily incurred his displeasure, fa 
 fine he seems to have possessed all the sterling and uiuiis- 
 guised virtues that distinguish the soUher, and soine of tli^ 
 qualities that constitute an able statesmen. Men differ wide^ 
 ly in o])inion with respect to his adnunisiralion, yet feW 
 will deny him the merit of disinterestedness and integrity in 
 thedischargeof his public duties* and although in the pei fiir* 
 mance of the important and complicated lunciions of nil 
 post, he may have eiTed, w^e cannot but do his memory 
 the justice to believe, that he was guided by sincerity : and 
 that the olijects of his administration, however fallacioin 
 the means he pursued for their attainment, were the concord, 
 the prosperity and the happiness of the people intrusted 
 his care. 
 
 CHAP- 
 
Sin Geobgj: Prevost. 35 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 A FTET? an intPiTcgnuni of nearly tlifee tnonths, Sir 
 (rr.oPGK PiiEvosT anived 8t Quebec, and assum- 
 ed the Government of Lower-C'anada, having succced»*d Sir 
 James II. Ciiaig in the chief command of the 13ritish 
 JVorth American Provinces. I'he known mildness of his 
 cliaracter, and the popularity of his administration in \ova- 
 Scotia, from which he had been just promoteti. aihirdcd 
 a ho})c that the })resent administration of the government 
 in Lower- Cana da would prove more auspicio«is to th^' in- 
 lernal union of the people than the preceeding. Tlie t y- 
 ing juncture into which the policy of America luirried 
 provinces, impressed the people with serious aj.j)rel*er si‘- 
 ons, and all parties seemed to concur in a desire ibr u- 
 nanimity, as the chief barrier of the public security. 
 
 To succeed in abolishing the strife which liad so rapidly 
 
 r ined ground during the late administi*ation could scarce- 
 have been deemed attainable ; but an inditlerence anj 
 clisregard for party animosity, and a iiiir, impartial distri# 
 bution of the royal coniidence, might in a moment of com- 
 mon danger, reconcile and unite jiarties in the conunon der 
 fence. Such seems to have been the policy studied by the 
 present adminstration. A war with Great flrilain had ov n 
 long contemplated by the rulers in America, and a scason,- 
 able moment only was sought for, to grasp at these p\or 
 viiices which they had fallaciously been iiiduced to belie v^ 
 W'Cre ripe for revolt, and would therefore [all a willing con- 
 quest to America. The peninsular war had eugros.sed th^ 
 attention and resources of’ the mother country aiul the Ca- 
 nadas were necessarily the less amply provided with meauB 
 to encounter the struggle in wluch they were likely soon to 
 be engaged. The cotiers were exhausted, nor were lu>[ os 
 entertained of their being speedily replenished from hoiiu : 
 the regular ferces were too thin to preserve an extensive 
 fiTuuier of some hundreil miles against the pressure oi an 
 enemy, which if united inus^ become irresistible, and liic 
 canadiun.s though naturally brave aiul liardy, and attach 
 to tlu'ir constitution, might from recent occurrences :e 
 (iuriy presumed to have bei*n so tar disgusleil, as to l(‘av^ a 
 
 <joubt of dieir hearty <;o-opcraLion anti tne c a, 
 
 l:>uc.h 
 
 ClFAP. 
 
 n. 
 
 ibjL i* 
 
Administhation of 
 
 S0 
 
 Ch af. Siicli was the gloomy prospect of affairs at the outset of the 
 HI. present administration, and the Governor must have fbre- 
 seen that his resources in the event of a rupture with A- 
 lyil. m erica, lay more in the loyalty and patriotism of the Cana- 
 
 dian population, than in tli6 hope of early reinforcements 
 from home. To develop the resources and combine the 
 jarring energies of the countiT, fcquired the efforts of some- 
 thing more than ordinaiw genius. 
 
 Soon after the Governor’s arrival, Major General Brock 
 was ap}X)inted President and Administrator of the Govern- 
 ment in Upper-Canada, instead of l/ieutenant-Governor 
 Gore, who had retired from the Government of that 
 Province, by pemiission. To obtain a local knowledge of 
 the frontiers of the lower province, which were likely soon 
 to be the theatre of war. Sir f leorge on the 26th September 
 «ct out with his suite and visited the District of IVl outre- 
 al, and the forts of St. John’s, Chambly, AVilliarn Henry 
 and the military positions in their neighbourhood. From 
 the period of his arrival until the opening of Parliameiit 
 fve meet with no extraordinary occurrence. 
 
 18If. The Parliament met on the 21st Febrnary 1812. The Go- 
 Yernor in his speech informed the legislature that having 
 been appointed by the Prince Hegent to the Chief Com- 
 mand of the British American Provinces, he had hastened 
 in obedience to his orders to assume the Administration of 
 Lower-Canada, but that his (-ommission not having arriv- 
 ed, he continued to administer the Government under a 
 provisional authority to that effect. Me congratulated tliom 
 on the brilliant achievements which had attended tlie Orr- 
 tish arms in the deliverance of Portugal, and for the res- 
 cue of Spain from the tyranny of the Ruler of Fraixe. 
 Notwithstanding (said he) the astonishing changes that 
 mark the a^e in which w^e live, the inhabitants of this 
 portion of tlie Empire have witnessed but as remote 
 spectators the awful scenes which desolate Europe : and 
 while Britain ” built by nature for herself against in* 
 fection and the hand of war” has ha<l her political ex- 
 istence involved in the fate of surrounding nations, vott 
 have hitherto undisturbed in the habitations of your fa- 
 tilers viewed without alarm, the distant storm wliich now 
 ‘‘ seems bending its course towards this peaceful and Imp- 
 “ py region.” He recommended an increased and unreniitted 
 care and vigilance in securing the colony fiom either upon 
 
 in* 
 
Sm Geohcie Prevost. 
 
 
 hiVasion or in^^idiouR n^oTc^ccion, ftnd lie hoped tlio Parlla- C 
 ineiit wouUl testify its lojaliy l>y lin early uitention to those 
 acts, 'which expe rience liad roved essontial for the pio^erva- 
 tion ofhis Majesty’s governthent, as also hv its n adiness in 
 supplying government with such aKl as sh'oidd bo suitable 
 to the exigence of llio times, by enabling the Iby il eandd.iaii’ 
 5Jubjerts to assist iii repelling any sudden attack made by a* 
 tumultuary force, and eflectmiUv to pai ticipate in the de- 
 fence of tlieir coniury against a regular invasion at; fu- 
 fiire period. The Assembly m answer, assured the ( rbveriiorf 
 tiuit they would give their attention to those acts which he 
 regarded ns essential to his 'daje-tyhs goveriiTnelu, notWhh- 
 ^anding the i*epugnance they might feed from an improper 
 use of one of them,* and the bad edects which might ha\\n‘ 
 ix^ulted therefrom to his \Tajesty’s governin' nt, had it not 
 been flir the unshaken fidelity of his Maj.-sty’s lOVal Cana- 
 dian subjects, and tlrcir^conviction of the goodness of his’ 
 government, and the transient incOnVeniences \Vbich front,' 
 the common fate of human things wore inevitable : assur-" 
 iVig him however, that the confide nce they ]>lachd iff h\^ 
 Excellency, considerably dimin’ivhed tIvHr lelirs of lilO uVd 
 which miglit thereat ter h<- iiuule ()f tliM act. In reply lev 
 this, the (iovernor briefly exinc-ssed his regrt t th!-u they 
 should liave thought it expedient to I’evcrt to ai>v prow d- 
 ings which had taken place under anyone of tlicvo actsf 
 and earnestly* recommended to them as the UlORt e^Ieeiiial^ 
 means of ensuring tranquillity to tlVe Province, add ofoyin- 
 citig their zeal for the public good, to direct thou atten- 
 tion solely to the jiresent situation of aflah's. Although ike 
 meaning of the (iovernor’s reply could not ho misTindrr- 
 stood by the Assembly, they were too deeply conc^,rned in the 
 events of the last administration to loti ve them at rest, alii 
 at an advanced period of the session they came to the reso- 
 lution, that it was a justice due to the good character of 
 his Majesty s Canadian suh’.ects, that some measure 
 ‘if should be adopted by the House, to acquaint his Maies- 
 ty of the events that took place in thejiroviuce under (be 
 aviministration of Sir James Hemy Craig, its lato (b>- 
 vernor, and the causes w hich gave rise To tlie same. \n 
 Older that his Majesty, in his paternal goodness, miglit 
 ake such steps as would prevent a reciiiTcnce of a ?i- 
 milnr administration, which tended to misrei resem (be 
 fifotnl aiid tuithful people of the province, and to deilrive 
 t‘ eni of the confidence and aflbcuon of hi< Majv'stv* and 
 
 * .'Icrtnin^ i..l“ Acifo'i lliebencrii 
 
 F 
 
Administration oy 
 
 3S 
 
 Chap. ‘‘ from feeling tlie good eflTects of liis government in tlie 
 rn. ample manner that the law had provided.” 1 hi« reso* 
 
 Intioii was not carried into efi’ect owing to the intenemioa 
 
 1812. of more urgent concerns. In the mean time a bill, ‘^for the 
 better preservation of his Majesty’s government” was drawn 
 up, and sent down from the Legislative Council to the IjOW- 
 er House. Here several amendments were ])roposed, the 
 principal of which was, to transfer the power formerly vest- 
 ed in tlie Executive Council, of imprisoning pei-sons sus- 
 pected of treasonable practices, to the governor or jierson 
 administering the government, alone. The Legislative! o\in- 
 cil disapproving of the amendments, a conference ensued; 
 but both branches persevering in their opinions, the bill iiiis- 
 carried to the satisfaction of the Lower House, who were glad 
 of a pretext to allow this odious law to expire. The con- 
 sideration of appointing an agent in England was resumed 
 by the House in tlie present session, and the expedience o{ 
 providing a fund for the ]>ayment of the Members of the 
 House oLlssembly w as also discussed, and a Bill was introdu- 
 ced to that eflect, which however failed. The Militia Bill 
 passed after much debate in the Lower House. The Governoi 
 was authorised by it to embody tw^o thousand Bachelor 
 between the age of eighteen and twenty five years for three 
 months in the year ; and in case of invasion or imminent 
 danjrer thereof, to retain them for one year, relieving one 
 half of the number embodied, by fresh drafts at the expira- 
 tion of that period. In the event of war, invasion, insur- 
 rection, or imminent danger thereof, he was empowered to 
 embody the whole militia of the province, should it become 
 necessaiT. No substitutes were allowed, nor w'ere com- 
 missioned officers permitted to take any militiamen as ser- 
 vants, under a penalty of ten pounds for eveiy odcnce of 
 that nature. These provisions from their harshness and 
 inconsistency were however wdnked at in actual service, h 
 was made penal to inlist any militiaman into the regu- 
 lar forces, and such enlistments were declared null. Twelve 
 thousand pounds were gmnted by the Legislature, ontf 
 moiety thereof for drilling and training the local militia, the 
 other moiety for other puiposes of the militia act. Twenty 
 thousand pounds were granted, to be employed for such 
 services as the safety of the province and the exigence of 
 the times might require, and the further Sum of thirty 
 thousand pounds currency, to be at the Governor’s dispo- 
 sition in case of war between Great Britain and America. 
 These liberal supplies enabled the Government to meet ..thv 
 
 ap* 
 
Sir George Prevost. 
 
 39 
 
 approacli’mjT contest with confidence in the patriotism and Chap. 
 8ii[)jK)rt of the provincial Ijcgislature, and of the whole mass III. 
 oi tlie Canadian jH)pulation. On the nineteenth of May the 
 Governor proroguetl the Mouse of Assembly. 
 
 In his Speech he thanked the Mouse for the labour they 
 had bestowed u})on the improvement <^f the militia system, 
 and for the increased means they had thereby afforded hiiij 
 for the (U'fence of the Province : Me also expressed his best 
 thanks for the proofs he had received of their confidence in 
 his Administration, by the very liberal provision they had 
 made for the exigencies of the public service. 
 
 About this time a ferment existed in America, excited 
 hy the discovery of the Henn/ Pint which the (lovernment 
 ofthat Country exaggerated into an attempt on the part of 
 this (rovernment to bring about a revolution among the 
 eastern states, and to dissolve the union. John Men ry, a 
 ne<Hly adventurer, though a man of some talents and ad- 
 dress, is said to have been by birth an Irishman, and to 
 luive emigrated when a youth to America, where through 
 the interest of friends, he vs'as appointed a Captain in the 
 militia, and from thence bore the name of Captain Menry. 
 
 Not succeeding in America to the extent of his wishes, he 
 migrated to Montreal, where he found means to ingratiate 
 himself with some of the principal personages of tliis Pro- 
 vince, and CO nmenced his studies at law, with a view of 
 qualifying himself for a seat in the judiciary of Ih Canada, 
 to wliich, he was already ambitious enough to asj)ire. Me 
 easily worked himself by Intrigue into the Governor’s no- 
 tice, who from the proceedings of the Federal Faction in 
 the eastern states, had room to suspect the existence of a 
 il'^sire on their part, to form a political connection with 
 Great Hritain. In order therefbi*e to ascertain the state of 
 panics and their views, Henry, being acquainted with the 
 country, and considered a man accomplished for political 
 intrigue, w'as selected, who, with a view of turning it to his 
 advantage, readily accepted of the mission, an I proceeded to 
 Boston, where he sauntered away his time in the })iil)hc 
 houses and brothels of that city, writing from time to time 
 to (’anada.* Mis studied and ostentations epistles, must ra- 
 ther have amused than instructed tlie Governor, who in- 
 deed, derived less intbrination from them, than from the 
 public journals of the times. Henry, however estimated 
 
 This happened iu the course of thr- winter of 1809. 
 
 , F 2 bis 
 
40 
 
 ApMIXISTR ATION' Op 
 
 Ills services niucli beyon:l any thin<r his employer was dts-* 
 posed Lo admit of, ami liiereioie resorted ibr a coni})onsati.ja 
 to the Government at home. In a Vteaiorial to Lord Id- 
 verpool, stating his services, iie suggesj^ed that theappointinent 
 ot Judge Advocate General oi:‘ ijovver-Canada, with the 
 salaiy of live Inmdred jmiinds per annum, or a Cen- 
 siKate in tlie United States sim curn^ would be con- 
 sidered by him as a liberal discirarge of any obligation tiuOt 
 Government entertained in relation to his services. The 
 prudent Minister held the royal favors in too high estima- 
 tion to prostitute them upon a mercenary and intri- 
 guing vagrant, and coolly referred him to the colouiul 
 government, then in charge of Sir George Prevost. The 
 proud spirit, or perhaps the indigence of the adventur r 
 could not brook the delay ami indifference of the Minister, 
 who. he clearly sa .v, by referring him to the colonial gov- 
 ernment, only wished to evade a direct reliisal to his ap. 
 plication. Chagrined with disappointment, he made his 
 way to America, where (as it is conlidenlly .said) upon re# 
 ceiyinga stipulated sum, he, in resentment to the IhLtisli, 
 delivered^ up his correspondence to the American Govern- 
 ment. 'Fhe Ilitiry Plot (it was so denominated) was cla- 
 moured through America, as a crime of the deenest dye on 
 |he part pf Great Britain, tending to disorganize the Go* 
 vernineiU, to dismember the union, and to destroy the inde- 
 pendence of the States. The hetious and exaggerated im- 
 portance which the American (joverninent allected to at- 
 tach to this trivial matter, had however, some influence in 
 confirming the spirit of hostility towards Great Britain 
 which, at that time pervaded America, and shortly alter 
 |3roke out in open war. This self-siiflicient miscreant liav- 
 nig as he fancied, taken ample vengeance upon the govern- 
 ment of his native country, could not with any degree of 
 decency remain in the States, from whence he sailed lor 
 Fiance in an american sloop of war, carrying with him 
 the reward of his treason, and the universal contempt of 
 mankind. ^ 
 
 The Governor by a General Order of tlic 28th Afay or- 
 ganised four Pattalions of embodied militia, in virtue of 
 the late Act. The first Battalion reiuh'zvoiisM at Pointe 
 3^ux Lremblcs near Quebec, under the Command of Colo- 
 nel De Sala berry, tlie second, at Lapralrie near IVIontreal, 
 pinmamied by Colonel De Rouville, the third, at Borthicr 
 m the District of MuiUreal, commanded by Lieut- Col. 
 
 Cufli- 
 
I 
 
 Sin George Prevost. 41 
 
 Cuihb<‘rt> ou<i the fourth, at St. Thomas near Quebec, Chap. 
 coininar. led by Ideiit. (ol. Tascheroau. The alacrity HI. 
 with which they were klled, and the cheerfulness with 
 V. l.icii the voung men submitled to the restraints ol disci- 
 pUne, relh cted Cievlit upon the military character of th.o 
 (aeadiuns. This proof of the Zealand the loyalty of the 
 people iuust have inspired (Jovernment with hopes ofa 
 successful resistance against the a).})roaching war, and a re- 
 ciprocal conlideiice between the Governor and the people 
 seems to liave resulted as much from the danger ot the uio- 
 inent, as from any studied policy on the part of tlie nresent 
 administration. I liey w^ho had incurred the displeasure 
 ol'the late (rovernor were treated with conlidoncc, and gra- 
 di!!illy ap})ointed to situations of trust. A Ivogiinent ot ( a- 
 iiadian V olligeurs was recruited, and placed under tiie 
 command of Major l)e Saiaben*y of the bOth regiment of 
 loot, w hich in the course of the war became I'lninent for 
 di r>cipline, and its steadiness in action, as well as for the 
 tiuiguing duties on which it was umeiiiittiiigly employed. 
 
 % 
 
 On the ISth June, the American Government declared 
 
 ur against Gri'ul Britain, and on the -<24tli, the c\ent Wtts 
 known at Quebec, wdiere it caused an immecliatc stagnation 
 in business. The Province was however now in some mea* 
 sure prepared for defence : yet so bold a measin e on the 
 j)ari of America necessarily crei^ted a belief that the cabinet 
 of AVasIiington must have ivfu'd upon sonic unknown re- 
 sources, vvhicli when developed tor action, would se- 
 icure tlie conquest of these colonies. A notilication wils 
 immediately made by the police, that all anierican citizc ns^ 
 must leave Quebec by the first of July, and be onto! 
 the limits of that district on the third ol the same month. 
 
 Outlie last day of June, tlie period was extended by the 
 (iovernor’s proclamation: fourteen days were allowed to 
 SIR 5) americans as were in the paovince, they being prin- 
 cipally persons who had entered the same in good faith and 
 in the prosecution of commercial pursuits. On the same 
 day, proclamations issued imposing an embargo upon the 
 shipping ill the port, ami convoking the House of Assem- 
 l>ly on the 16ih of July. 
 
 At the opening of the session, the Governor after briefly 
 inlbrming the Parliament of tlie recent declaration ot war 
 by America, said, he relied upon the spirit of His Ma;csty’s 
 subjects in the province, their attachment and zeal fs>r the 
 
 ro 
 
49 
 
 Administration of 
 
 #nAP. religion of tlicir forefathers, their loyalty to their Sove* 
 
 III. reign, and their ardent love for the true interests of iheir 
 ^ countiy ; and tliat he sliould depend implicitly under di* 
 vine providence, upon their best exertions, aided by the 
 courage and loyalty of the militia, and by the valour, skill, 
 and discipline of H is IVlajesty’s regular forces, for re|)ellinar 
 every hostile attempt tliat might be made upon the colonv\ 
 He observed with concern that the necessary establishment 
 of the Militia Forces, together with the various servicers and 
 op<?rations of the approaching campaign, wtmld be attendiHl 
 ^vith considerable expence, but that he relied ujx)n theif 
 vyisdom aiul public spirit, fiir such supplies as the exigen* 
 cks of affairs might be fbuiul to retpiire : he at the 
 time expressed his approbation of the emlKxiied militia, 
 and his confidence in their increasing diseijiline, which en- 
 couraged an exjiectation that they would materially contrb 
 bute to the defence of their country. 
 
 The public coffers being entirely drametl, the Oovemor, 
 to obviate the deficiency, resolved to issue Army Bills pay- 
 able either in cash, or in Government Bills of Exchange on 
 l-iondon, but the concurrence of the Legislature in this 
 nrieasure was indispensible, as well to insure their currencyj 
 as to j)rovide funds for the payment of the interest that 
 
 I them. Two private and confiden- 
 
 tial Messages were sent to the House of Assembly by th# 
 Governor ; one, submitting to its consideration the neces- 
 
 ' 7 ^ 11^/11 iiic- iirxrs- 
 
 Sity ot iimnediately strengthening, the Jiands of government, 
 by arming him with authority to suppress any attempt to 
 pi()duce disoixler or insubordination, and for immediate pu- 
 nishment of any offences which might interrupt or endanger 
 
Sir George Prevost. 43 
 
 ^tvice of the Executive Council, as to the most e(T(*ctual 
 moile of resource from which a deficiency in tlie circulat- 
 ing Tuediuin might be supplied, recommending the issue of 
 Army Bills under certain conditions to the amount of two 
 hundred and fifty thousand pounds currency. He there- 
 lore called upon the House of Assembly for such aid as 
 might be deemed ex|>edient for the accomplishment of an 
 object, rendered more peculiarly important by the present 
 extraordinary crisis of public aifairs^ and strongly recom* 
 mended to them the adoption of such measures as should 
 inspire confidence in the persons taking these billsy and 
 guard both the public and individuals against the possibi- 
 lity of any loss to arise from them. 
 
 The House of Assembly appears from its silence on the 
 subject of the former message, to haVc cautiously dediiu'd 
 any measure tending to sanction a recurrence to niartiiil 
 law, or at least, to have left the responsibility with the (Jo* 
 yernor* of exercising in the event of need, those [Kivvem 
 with which he thought himself vested in virtue of his com-* 
 mission: the same House however in the following session 
 resolved that martial law could not be legally resorteii to^ 
 unless witlt the authority of the Provinciai Parliameiu. ^ 
 
 A Bill to fiicilitate the circulation of Army Bills was in-^ 
 iroduced, and the liberality of the House of Assembly siir<i 
 passed the hoy>es of the Executive. Fifteen tliousand 
 pounds were granted to pay the interest that might becomd 
 due upon Army Bills, of which two hundred and fifty thou- 
 sand pounds were aiitliOrized to be put in ^b’calation, 
 f large Bills of twenty five dollars, and upwards, bearing in- 
 lercst at the rate of four [>euce j>er day for every one hun- 
 dred pounds.) They were made current in the Revenue^ 
 Were to have the effect of a legal tender, and were reileem- 
 able at the Army Bill Office, either in cash, or (Jovermneutf 
 Bills of Exchange on London, at the option of the Com- 
 mander of the forces. Small bills of four dollars were at 
 all times payable in cash at the Army Hill Office, All 
 contracts in which any distinction should bo made be- 
 tween Army Bills and cash, were to be voUitandat the expi- 
 ration of five years, all thosewho might then be holders of 
 such Army Bills, were entitled to receive the amount of the 
 same with interest due upon them, out of the l^rovincial 
 Treasury. To defray the expence of the Army Tfill Oilice 
 in issuing, circulaiiiig and cancelling the Army Bills, the 
 
 Chai^ 
 
 ibl2. 
 
44 
 
 •'AdMINISTRAI’ION of 
 
 Ct' Ar, Legi^latxivc also "ranted tlie further snm of two thotlsand 
 Ilf. five hundred pounds per tininim. * On the first clay of 
 August J812, this Bill received the Royal Sanction, and 
 ibi2. the Governor prorogued the Parlianu'ut^ \yiih ncknowledg-* 
 inents for the liberal aid they had gi’anled him, to meet the 
 exigencies of the public service. Thif^ setisonable provision 
 ofthe Legislature, at once eitabled governuient to meet the 
 dejuandsof the public service, and revived the public spirit, 
 A want of means at so urgent a crisis must have paralysed 
 the energies of government, and this circumstance alone, 
 might have created a doubt in the minds of the Canadians,- 
 of the indihen’uce of the mother country towards the co- 
 lony, tiiat would have induced a despondency final to thef^e 
 provinces. 
 
 In the mean time the cities of Quebec and Montreal as- 
 sumed a military aspect. The sedentary militia regularly 
 at tc'nded drill and exercise; and all classcM^ manifested un 
 ardent zeal for the public service, vei’ging upon enthusiasm; 
 On die .5th of July, (the regular troops having ])revious!y 
 leli Quebec for the district of Montreal) the sedentary mi- 
 litia of Quebec commenced garrison duty, and the Klon- 
 treal militia soon followed the example. On the ()th, the 
 whole militia of the province, were, by a general order, 
 commanded to hold themselves in readiness to be embodied, 
 and march to such points as might be requisite for the de^ 
 fence of the province; and the flank comjiauies of the Mon- 
 treal militia, were formed into a battalion and armed. 
 
 ei^nc! A riot which occtirred in the neighbourhood of Montreal 
 
 at this time, the progress whereof, w^as however promptly 
 checked by the interposition of the military, deserves to be 
 mentioned* Some young men who had been drafted into the 
 ernbodied militia from the parish of Point Claire, refused to 
 join the battalion into which they were drattcxl •. four ofthe 
 deiincpients were apprehended after some opposition by their 
 adherents, who having rescued one, threatened to assem- 
 ble and proceed to Laprairie, and bring away such of their 
 friends as had already joined the embodied militia at that 
 dep6t. On the ensuing day, a mob assembled at Liichine, 
 to the number of between three and f^ur hundred (some es- 
 timate them at a greater number,) of whom, nearly eighty 
 w ere armed with fusils and fowling pieces ; beimr deaf to 
 remonstiance, it was judged ex peciient to call ourthomili- 
 tar )5 and accordingly the light company of the kVth )<)J- 
 
 ment 
 
Sm GKoncE PnEvdfeT. 45 
 
 JhC^nt, and a tlotachmdnt of artillery with two field pie- Chap^ 
 ces, under the command elf Major Plenderleath, j)roceeded III. 
 from Montreal, accompanied with a ma^i?;trato* w ho upon 
 anivinir at Lachine, remonstrated widi the rioters upon 1819 ) 
 their misconduct. They, in answer, gave him to understand, 
 that they were informed the militia bill Imd not been nanc- 
 tioned by the (jovernor and Legislative Council, and that 
 necessarily, the militia law was not in force. They, how- 
 ever, with ix'peatcd shouts of Fhe le Roiy declared they 
 ivere ready, one and all, to serve the King against tlie com- 
 mon enemy, should the Governor call for their services. 
 
 The ferment w'as already too high, to hope for any advan- 
 tage from argument. The liiot Act being therelbre read, 
 the magistrate ordered them to disperse, and upon tlieir re- 
 fusing to comply, a round shot was fired by the artillery 
 too high to do in jury, in order to intimidate them. This was 
 instantly returned by the mob in a spirited manner, witli small 
 arms : a volley was then fired by lheti*oo})S w ith grape and 
 small arms, but still purposely too elevated to do any liarm : 
 this was also I'eturned by the mob. From tliis determined 
 resistance, decision became absolutely necessary, and the 
 troops w'ore ordered to direct their fire against the rioters' 
 
 \yho almost immediately dispersed, keeping up a stragglina 
 fire tVoin the bushes, and concealed by tlic darkness, \vliich 
 began to set in. One man was found dead, and ano- 
 ther dangerously wounded. A few prisoners were taken and 
 sent to Montreal. On the following day a detachment of 
 the Montreal militia, consisting of four hundred and fifty 
 mm, marched for Point Claire, and from thence to St. Lau- 
 rent, in the rear of the Island of Montreal, and brout^ht 
 into tow n, twenty-four of the delinquents, wlio, with thir- 
 teen already in custody, made thirty-seven in all. Many o- 
 thers came into Montreal to crave the Governor’s pardon, 
 which, after reproving th ir misconduct and pointing out 
 the danger wherein they had placed themselves, he grant- 
 ed, upon condition of their giving up the deserters of the 
 embodied militia, and declaring the ringleaders of the * 
 riot. Tw^elve or fourteen of these deluded mm w^ere after- 
 w\ards brought to trial and convicted of rioting, and were 
 condemned to fines and imprisonment. 
 
 Hostilities had in the mean time commenced in Upprr-Ca« 
 nada. and the most brilliant success dawned upon the Hritish 
 arms in that quarter. Captain Roberts who wis statione d at 
 the small post or blogk liouse of St. Joseph's, situated on an • 
 
 Isiaad 
 
ADMIXTSTRATIOff OP 
 
 45 
 
 Chaf. Island in Lake Huron, to the north west of Mackinac, nad 
 If I. at about forty-five miles distance, on the eighth of July re^ 
 ceivcd from Oeneral Brock, commanding in Upper-Cana- 
 1812. da. a notification dated on the 26th June, of the declar* 
 ation of war, with orders to make an immediate attack upon 
 Mackinac if practicable; or in the event of an attack by the 
 i\mericans upon St. Joseph’s, to defend it to the utmost, orre* 
 treat upon St. Maiy\ a post belonging to the North-West 
 Company at no great distance, and to make the best possible 
 defence. He at the same time received from that officer, a* 
 nother letter dated the 27th June, suspending the orden 
 given in the former letter, from his uncertainty of the de- 
 claration of war. On the eleventh of July, he again received 
 des]>atches from Sir George Prevost, dated at Quebec 
 on the 2jth June, and from General Brock dated at Fort 
 George in Upper-Canada, on the 28th June; the former of 
 these notifying the war, and directing him to take every 
 precaution to secure his post against any attempt by the 
 enemy, and to render every assistance in his power consis- 
 tent with the service, to secure the interests of the North 
 West Company, and in case of necessity to effect his re- 
 treat. By the* latter, General Brock, being sufficiently in- 
 formed of the declaration of war by America against G, 
 Britain, desired Captain Roberts to adopt the most prompt 
 and effectual measures to possess himself of Mackinac, and di- 
 rected him, in order to effect his puqiose, tocall tohis assist- 
 ance the Indians within his influence, as well as the gemle- 
 men and dependants of the North-^Vest, and South-West 
 CO'upanies, who might be at, or near his i>ost. The contrari- 
 ety of instructions from the two General Officers, with tlie 
 great hazard in attempting to seize upon a post of the 
 atrongth and importance of Mackinac to the United Stales, 
 whicli there was reason to presume, had prepared that post 
 against any emergency, could not fail to peqrlex Captain 
 Roberts, who, not only, was totally unprepared for an ex- 
 pedition of such moment, but being in a wild and unin- 
 habited 001111117, was also, at too great a elistance from re* 
 sourco.s to maintain even Iris own ]>ost against the enemy, 
 in the event of failure in the present enterprise. He, how- 
 ever, with a promptitude and decision which reflect hon- 
 or upon Iriis military character, determined upon an attempt 
 against Mackinac, and having comintiiucated his intenti- 
 ons to ?rlr. Fothier, a gentleman of the South-West Com- 
 
 f fany. at St. Joseph’s ; he was coofinued iu hU reso- 
 
 ution, by the approbation and zeal with which M *1?* 
 
 con* 
 
Sm George Prevost. 
 
 47 
 
 toncnrrod in the enieq)rise : who, to facilitate it, j^one- 
 r I threw open the stores of the company, and laid every 
 tUi in them tliat could contribute to its success, at the 
 disposition of Captain Kobrnts. He at the same time vo- 
 lunteered his personal services upon the expedition, at- 
 te :d«xl with al>out one hundred and sixty Canadian voya- 
 ge! rs, one half of wiiom were armed with muskets and 
 fowling pieces. On the 13th of .Inly, Captain Roberts had 
 j)iepare«j his little armaineiit, consisting of thirty regulars, 
 with two artillery men and a serjeant, one huiuhed and six- 
 ty Canadians, and two iron Held ])ieces, neither of which 
 in an emergency could be of much service : when an ex- 
 I .'» ss arriveil with a despatch from General Hrock, of the 
 C > ' !ib of the same month, leaving it entirely at his discre- 
 tion to adopt either oifensive or defensive measures, as 
 pindeiice might dictate. I'rom this last despatch, coupled 
 with his instructions from the Commander of tlie forces, of 
 the of.Inne, in which no allusion was made to an 
 
 attempt upon Mackinac : (''apt. Roberts felt that the whole 
 ivrpi)n-«.il>dity of the euierprise \ievolved upon himself, and 
 iiial inealculaMe evil must result to the Upper Province in 
 th^ ev nt of failure. Finding his men in i.igh spirits, he 
 was th tennined to persevere at all events, and on the Ibih 
 oL d dv he sei out with his Hotilla of boats and canoes, 
 CvUiv jyed by the ‘ Hledonia brig belonging to the iVoi ih 
 West Company, loaded with stores and provisions, (^n t!ie 
 ensuing m > umg, .le edeciod ms laUihng before Xfackinac 
 withoui op])o.-i(u>u, and immediately summoned the gar- 
 rison to siirren.ler. which after a tew niimitcs was com- 
 plied with, wiiliont the ethision of a drop of blood, (apt. 
 Roberts in resolving upon an attack against Mackinac, 
 had imposed an embargo upon all boats and canoes at St. 
 Joseph’s, by whicii imans all communication was cut otV, 
 nor had t’ue american OHicer any certain imeiiigcnce of the 
 deciaration oi war previous to the arrival of the Rritish be- 
 fore Mackinac.* A vpiantity of miruary stores of every de- 
 scription suitable for the ludum trade was found in the tort. 
 Two ve.ssels loaded with furs not aware of the capture were 
 decoyed into Mackinac, but the projierty was restored to 
 the proprielois, by order oi‘ a board of claims ailerwards 
 lieidat Montreal, at which Major (ieiicral l)e Rottenburgh 
 presided. 'Phis achievement, etfecteil by the proniptiiude 
 aiivl judicious arrangements of Caj>t. R. not only inspired 
 
 * J'i.o virnson at Mar.kiuac (r<irrcct!y Mi»*!jilima.ckinac) consist- 
 
 4pd of ii (Juuiu.aud of »c\cm>'tivc nv»ii. 
 
 G 2 the 
 
 Chap. 
 
 ill 
 
 1812. 
 
 Gapfr-e 
 
 Muckiiu,c. 
 
48 
 
 Admini^tuation of 
 
 Chap, the people with coriiidencc and gave a tarn to the pre^»| 
 lU caiiipaign tiital to the views of Vinenca, bat by enabling 
 urf to maintain our iniluence among the Indian naiious ot’ 
 1812. the west, wliich otherwise in ust have been lost, essentially 
 contributed to the successful struggle altci wards inaiipaiiial 
 against the american arms in Lppei-Canatla. Geiieial 
 liull after the capture of his army and the tall of Detroit, 
 in his olficial despatch, relative to these eveius, aitribut^‘g 
 his disasters to the fall of Mackinac ; alter the surrender of 
 which, almost every tribe and nation of the Indians, except 
 a part of the Miainics and Delawares, north from beyond 
 Lake Superior, w'cst from beyond the Mississippi, south 
 from Ohio and the Wabash, and cast from every part of 
 .Up})cr-Canada, and from all the intermediate country joined 
 ia open hostiiity against the army he commanded. 
 
 Previous to the declaration of war, the i\merican govern* 
 jnent had concentrated their army at Detroit, and in the 
 lilichigan Territory, under the command of Brigadier (ie< 
 neral Hull, Tan ollicer bred in the revolutionary war,) with 
 the intent ofibllowing up their declaration of war, by an iiiii* 
 mediate invasion of Upper-Canada, and by that means to 
 intercept the British iuliuence over the Indians, as well as 
 to maintain co-operating relations with such forces as might 
 elscwlicre engaged against the British Provinces. 
 
 on of U|,per- 
 iCoiiada, 
 
 On the 12th of July, this Officer, possessed of discretion- 
 ary authority from his Government, and having as he 
 .thought a sufficient force to secure an easy and victoiious 
 progress in the Upper l^rovince, crossed without opposition 
 from Detroit to Sandwich on the British side, with an army 
 of about lifteen hundred men. Here he established his 
 head tpiarters, and issued a Proclamation, memorable from 
 the positive and pompous tone in which he anticipates the 
 easy conquest of Canada, and the hostile threat of extermi- 
 nation and indiscriminate slaughter of every white man who 
 should be found lighting by the side of an Indian.* Gene- 
 ral Brock iq)on receiving this proclamation at Fort George, 
 issued on tlie 22d July a proclamation as remarkable for the 
 solid reasoning and dignity of its language, as that of the 
 American, for its presumption. He immediately convok- 
 ed tlie Ihovindal Parliament, whicli assembled on the 
 at York, the capital ol‘ Upper Canada; and in the 
 mean time despatciied Colonel Proctor with such reiiiforce- 
 
 Sec Appendix C. 
 
 (uents 
 
Sir George Prevost. 
 
 49 
 
 Wf'Pts as could bo i^paied, to assume the command at Am- Ch ap. 
 Lt isibnr^h, then in charge of Lieut. Col. St. George. Ge- F^L 
 reral Hull remained for some time inactive, under pretext 
 of making ]>reparation to prosecute the campaign with vi- 
 goiir ; blit it was the fallacious hojx‘ofan early insurrection in 
 hisliivor that lulled him into a supineness fatal to the satety 
 of his army. Amherstburgh lay but eighteen miles below 
 him, and the mud and picketed fortificatiofi of that post 
 was not in a condition to make resistance against a regular 
 siege. The American, confident of an easy conquest, had not as 
 yet a single cannon or mortar mounted, and to endeavour to 
 take it at the point of the bayonet be thought inexpedient. 
 
 Di iring this delay his situation became more and more pre* 
 carious: three detachments from his army were on three 
 successive days, beaten back by a handful of the 41st regi- 
 ment and a few Indians, from the bridge over the River Ca- 
 nard, three miles from Amherstburgh, which they endea- 
 voured to seize, in order to open the route to that post. 
 
 Another iletachment, in attempting to ford the river higher 
 up, was put to flight by a small party of eighteen or twenty 
 Inilians who lay concealed in the grass. The enemy panic 
 struck at their sudden and hideous yell, fled with precipi- 
 tancy, leaving their arms, accoutrements and haversacks. 
 
 The lintisli sloop of war Queen Charlotte carrying eighteen 
 twenty-four pounders, lay in the Detroit River opposite the 
 mouth of the river Canard, so that it was impossible for the 
 Americans to convey by water to Amliorstburgh any artille- 
 ry, of which after imieli labour they had at last mounted two 
 twentN-foiir pininders. Lieutenant Rollette commanding 
 the armed Brig Hunter, had on the 3d of July at about 
 ten o’clock in the forenoon, by a bold attempt in his barge 
 with only six men, succeeded in capturing tlie Cat/nho^a* 
 
 Packet bound from Miami river to Detroit, with troops, and 
 
 * Thr merit of fhisg^aliant action Tvhich greatly contributed to mar the piani 
 of General Hull, by the total los of all hisi ho pital stores, has been more than 
 once undeservedly attnhuted to a person who never saw the until 
 
 Lieuf. flollettehad brouph: her safe into harbour, to the surprize and. udmira. 
 tion of every one present. If is no more than justice, to whi«*h Lieut. Rolb'tto 
 issirietly entitled, to assert that his services upon I^ake Erie, while he c »m- 
 manded the Hunter, and until he \.as eompelled as a Provivcial Officer lo 
 fall in tbe rear of the Lieutenants of the Royal Navy, were uniformly s'»c- 
 cer FuL and have not been excelled by any thini; performed on the laikes by the 
 offioers of the navv, who superseded the provir.rial officer's. The former Were 
 perhaps superior iR tactic?, and eherisheti a hearty though mistaken contempt 
 for die am«*ri cans, in w hich they have been since w of iilly undeceived. Tire 
 
 F rovinrial officers were lurely not les^ brave, though more prudent than the 
 irmer, and as things have turned out, our fleets on Lakes l<>ie and Champlain 
 n»‘srht as wi'dlhave been entrusted to provincial, as navy officers. The former 
 witij one or twflrcxcenuous, have been always more successful on the lakei 
 than thelaiU'r. 
 
 load-* 
 
 

 c/ 
 
 50 AbMINISTH ATIOV or 
 
 ^* 11 A p. loaded wltli bagr^ge ami tlie Hospital Stores of the Amerii 
 
 HI. can army, the loss of which was now severely felt. IV1i» 
 
 chilimackinac in his imr, had been taken since the com- 
 niencement of the invasion, while the Indians from that 
 quarter w’ere flocking in to the British standard. Our na< 
 Val tbrco being superior on tlie lake, Colonel Proctor push- 
 ed over to Brownstown, a village nearh opposite to Amherst- 
 burgh, tw'eiitv miles below Detroit, a small (h'taclmiem of 
 the 4 1st regiment tinder the command ^>^ Captain lailoii 
 vith a few Indians, who on the liflh of August surprizid 
 «nd routed a party of two Imndred Americans under Major 
 Vanhorne. on their way from Detroit to the nver Haisiu, to 
 Titeoi a detachment of volunteers from Ohio under C aptaln 
 Ih ush, with a convoy of provisions for the ani.y. In ihi« 
 afldir a quantity of booty, and Geneial Ifuirs despatches to 
 the Secietary at war, fell into the hands of tlie victoi.s, 
 V hereby tlie "deploi'able state of the American arm - was Us- 
 closed ; and Colonel Proctor lost no time in sending over a 
 reinforcement of one hundred of the 4 1st regt. with point 
 iniluia and four hundred Indians, the whole comman li'i 
 by» Major .Muir, under protection of the Hun(*^r . op Sf 
 war. In tlie interim, the American General received a 
 ^atch from General Hall on* t tie Niagaia tios.uei, irtiina- 
 tm r tliat he could not exjiect a co-operation in that qiiaoer, 
 which would have created a diversion in his favour. Such 
 was the hopeless state of things when the American Gcner.tl 
 began to be sensible ofhisdangerr His army hemmed in 
 on every side, cut oft* from its resources, and hourly v.asi* 
 ing away with defeat, death, sickness and fatigue, unsi|i- 
 ^orted by an insurrection of the country pcojile in his liivor, 
 and unaided by any co-o}>erating army, and aoove ail .iis- 
 mayed at tlie report of (ieneral Brock’s resoluiiou to '.id- 
 vance against him ; bis schemes of conquest vanished, ai>4 
 in the sinking state of his aftairs, he saw no other altenmuAe 
 tlian a retreat to Detroit, under pretence of there coiico 
 trating his main army, and after re-opening his comuumica- 
 HolP«sr^?fr#*at river Raisin and Miami, through which here- 
 
 from Upper- ceived the whole of his supplies, to resume oftensive opera- 
 Caoada. tions against Upper-(’aiiada. Accordingly on tlie evening 
 of the seventh and the morning of the eighth of August, the 
 whole of his army except a garrison of two hundred and (if- 
 BauleofMa- tv men and a few artillery left in charge of a small fortress 
 g«ago. they liad thrown up on the British side, a little below Dt'- 
 
 troit, re-crossed the river. General Hull now detached a 
 body of six hundi'cd men under Lieutenant Colonel Miller 
 
 to 
 
Sir George Prevo«?t. 
 
 6 \ 
 
 to dislodge the British from Brownsto^vn, and open the com- Cn a 
 Biunication with tlie rivers Raisin and Miami, upon which I’ I, 
 the existence of his army dq>ended. On the ninth, this do- 
 iadmient was met by the British and Indians under Major 
 ftl uir, at Magiiago, between Brownstown and Detroit, w^ho, 
 after a desperate battle, in which the Americans lost seventy-^ 
 five men, were obliged to retreat with inconsiderable losa 
 compared with that of the Americans. On the seventh 
 Lieutenant Rollette with the boats of tlie Queen Charlotte 
 and Hunter, under cover of the guns of the latter, attacked 
 and captured a convoy of eleven battea\ix and boats having 
 on board fifty-six of their wounded, and two English prison- 
 ers, on their way from Maguago to Detroit, escorted by tw(> 
 hundred and fifty American troops on shore. 
 
 Amidst these reverses of fortune, the A nierlcan Oeneral 
 was startled at a summons to surrender the Fort of Detroit,- 
 by General Brock, wiio, after having closed the public 
 business prorogued the Parliament, and collecting a 
 regulars and militia, with incredible exertion, had reacln*d 
 Amherstburgh on the 13th of August. So resolute a de-« 
 mand, strucK the American Commander with dismay, wito- 
 at the worst had never contemplated a ptirsuit into his o a ii 
 territory by the British. He still however maintained suf- 
 ficient pix'sence of mind to return a prompt and positive ix'- 
 fusal, upon receipt of which, the British, who now occupied 
 the ground lately in possession of the enemy in front of De- 
 troit, w here they threw up a battery under the directions of 
 Captain Dixon of the Royal Engineers, commenced at about 
 four in the afternoon on the fifteenth, a brisk cannonade npoi> 
 Detroit, ironi tw^o inch mortars, one eighteen, and two 
 twelve pounders, under the management of Captain Hall, 
 of the Provincial Navy, with a party of sailors, which was 
 continued fi>r upwards of an hour w'ith great efiect. Early 
 on the morning ol' the sixteenth, the cannonade recommenced, 
 while General Brock wuth about seven hundred regulars and 
 militia, and six hundred Indians, crossr<l the river without 
 oppositional the Spring Wells, three miles below Detroit im- 
 dt*r cover of the Queen Charlotte and Hunter. This small 
 l^ut resolute force, after forming upon the beach, advanced 
 in column, flankt^don the left by the Indians, with the river 
 of Detroit on their right, and took (at the distance of a mile) 
 a position in line, in front of the american fort, into which the 
 <*nemy had retircvl. Here every jireparation was making' 
 ior an amuodiaic assault, when to th« surpribc of 
 
 a 
 

 52 ADjlINIRTnAtiOX op 
 
 Chap, a white Flagwa^ seen flying upon the walls of the r*ort, an<! 
 
 111 . a messenger advancing with jiroposals from the American 
 Geneml to capitulate. Lieutenant Colonel M>Donell of 
 Militia^ and Major Glcgg of the49th regiment, Aid-de-Canip 
 to General Brock, immediately proceeded by his orders to 
 the tent of the American General, where they in a t*'w mi- 
 nutes dictated the terms of capitulation. By this the 
 whole of theamerican army, including a detachment of three 
 hundred and fifty men under Colonels McArthur and Cass, 
 despatched on the 14th for the river Raisin to escort the pro- 
 visions in charge of Captain Brush from thence to Detroit, 
 became prisonei's of war ; and Detroit with the Michigan 
 territory. Mere siiiTendered to the British arms M'ithout the 
 effusion of a single drop of British blood, 'fhe arnerican 
 statements of their own strength, nearly coincide with the 
 british reports, which make it two thousand five hundred 
 men regulai's and militia. The militia M ere paroled and 
 mitted to return home, on condition of not serving during 
 the present M^ar. The regulars were sent doM’n to~Quebec. 
 The British force including Indians, is acknowledged by the 
 enemy to have consisted of only one thousand and tliirty 
 men or thereabout. Our own, and perha])s the more correct 
 reports, state it to have consisted of three hundred and 
 thirty regular troops, four hundred militia, and six hundred 
 Indians, who, upon the present occasion, are said not to have 
 sullied the glory of the day by any wanton acts of savage 
 barbarity incident to the Indian mode of warfare. TM cnty- 
 fivc pieces of iron and eight pieces of brass ordnance, (the 
 latter chiefly of those takem from us in the revolution) with 
 an immense quantity of Stores of every description, and one 
 armed brig, called the John Adams (afterM’ards named De- 
 troit) fell into the hands of the British. 
 
 Tims ended this rash and imbecile attempt at tlic con* 
 quest of IJ pper-Canada. The loss of Mackinac and Detroit, 
 M ith the flow er of their army at the outset of the war, was a 
 disgrace which filled the American government with con-- 
 sternation and alarm, as their plans oi aggrandisement were 
 notonly totally defeated, but their whole western frontier laid 
 open to the inroads of hostile Indians, and at the mercy 
 of a people still w'arm with indignation at the late invasion! 
 
 General Brock having issued a proclamation addressed 
 to the inhabitants of tlie Michigan Territory, confirming 
 them in the full enjoyment of their property, laws and relb 
 
 gioni 
 
Sill George Prevost. 
 
 5/5 
 
 gion, left Colonel Proctor in command of Detroit, and re- ChapJ* 
 turned to York, where he arrived on the twenty seventh of III. 
 August, amidst the heartfelt acclamations of a gmteful 
 people, rescued by his promptitude from the ignominy of 1812J 
 submitting to a conqueior. In the short space of nineteen 
 days, lie had with the assistance of his parliament, Settled tho 
 public business of the Province, under the most trying cir- 
 cumstances that a commander could encounter, and havincr 
 united and prejxired his little army, had effected a long an3 
 fatiguing march of some hundreds of miles ; and with means 
 incredibly limited, had re|>ellcd an invading enemy of doiw 
 ble his force, pursued him into his own territory, and final- 
 ly compelled him to surrender his whole army ; thus 
 extending the British dominion Without bloodsheil, over 
 an extent of territory almost etpial to Ujiper-Canada. Tho 
 humbled, the fallen General Hull, with the officers and men 
 of his army, were introducetl into Montreal, on theeveniiur of 
 the ()th of September, in a triumphal though mock proces- 
 sion, amidst the shouts of a scornful multitude, indignant at 
 the savage threat of extermination he had breathed in his 
 proclamation at the outset of his invasion. The Commander 
 of the forces however, received him with every mark of atten- 
 tion due to his rank, and unsolicited, allowed him to return 
 to the States upon his jmrole ; but his officers with few ex- 
 ceptions, were sent to Quebec, 
 
 Our little navy on lake Erie, and on lake Ontario, thoimli 
 the enemy were making the most active exertions, still 
 maintained a decided ascendency, and upon it depended 
 the safety of Upper-Canada and the future fate of the British 
 Provinces. General Brock intended to have followed up 
 his first success Iw an attempt upon Niagara, a fort nearly 
 opposite to Fort George ; which in all probability as well 
 as Oswego, and Sackets Harbour, the nursery of the enemy’s 
 fleet and forces, would have yielded to the terror of his 
 name and the tide of success that attended his arms ; but 
 contvouledby his instructions, he was prevented from adopt- 
 ing measures, which probably, might have for ever blasted 
 the hopes of America in the Upper Province. 
 
 The Commander of the brltish forces, conscious of the in- 
 feriority of his strength, and uncertain of reinforcements 
 from home, seemed to have adopted a defensive svstem, ra- 
 ther than incur the risk of wasting his army in hazardous en- 
 lerpriscs which in case of failure might lead to disasters ruin- 
 
 H 01© 
 
1 
 
 
 
 54 AmiiNt^TRATioN or 
 
 oils to the provinces entrnctod to his cliarire. Forhr^arailcc 
 towards America had lon^ been the known and favorite 
 policy of Great Britain and there is cause to believe that 
 George I^revost acted in the present instance, pursuant 
 to directions from his Majesty’s {rovernment, which in the 
 hopes ofa speedy termination of the differences with Arne, 
 rica, studied by temporizing, to avoid measures tending 
 to widen the breach, or ^iverooin to the american people u 
 embark in the quarrel of their government. 
 
 Major General Dearborn Commander in Cliief of th« 
 Forces of the United States, had soon after the commence^ 
 ment of hostilities fixed his head quarters at Greenbnsh 
 near Albany, which was converted into a military depots 
 with a view of collecting an army to overawe Lower-Canada, 
 and by preventing succours to the upper province, afford 
 General flull a facility in his accomplishment of the con- 
 quest of that province. Here, he received towards the end of 
 July or in the commencement of A iigust, despatches from Sir 
 George Prevost, by the Adjutant General, Coload 
 Bavues, beanng a flag of truce, notifying the repeal of the 
 Orders in Council transmitted from Halifax by Mr. Foster 
 the late Minister in America. A proposition accompanying 
 these, ofthe propriety of suspending hostilities, untilthe plea- 
 sure of the President of the United States should be known, 
 was submitted to the American General, under the hopes 
 that this conciliatory measure, removing the allcdged princi- 
 pal ground of difference between the two nations, w'ould be 
 met by a corresponding disposition on the part of tliea- 
 morican government. General Dearborn readily consented 
 to an Armistice, (except as to General H nil, who, he said 
 acted under the immediate directions of the Secretary at war,) 
 and forwarded the des))atches to his government, which 
 Tuisconstnilng this friendly pioffer, into weakness, or a sense 
 of danger on the part of the British Commander, and proba* 
 bl v flushed with the prospect of subjugating Upper Canada, 
 refused to ratify the Armistice. Messengers^ ban in the mean 
 time been dispatched to Upper Canada to inform Geneml 
 Ih'ock of (he provisional Armistice agreed upon between the 
 British and American Commanders, but the promptitude of 
 that officer had secured Detroit before their arrival.* 
 
 * Grorral Hiill was, some mATifh? after hi« return to the Ignited Sratrn, and 
 Qf .'r h^viiipj been reg^nlarly rxebanfi^ed, tried b\ a general court mart'al fnrhw 
 
 ( n-sronfTii:i in this rarrpaipi*. TJe wa8 found jriiiUy and sejjtriiccd l‘) br shot, 
 »«f 'beinK roeomm?' Brib'd on accfUMitof his services in the rcvollUionarv 
 
 was i»ard«Ded by the President of the United Sluics.. ‘ 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 Chap 
 
 1812. 
 
Sm George Prevost. 
 
 55 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 f S Amorican {rovernment chagrinoil with cli‘^3ppo!rt- Crr 
 
 ^ PPMU and lUo displace of the late campaign, whicii, e- | 
 V; ii m their own esiimaiion, had obliteratcdthe gloriefi of the 
 re> 'luiionary war, resolved to strain every sinew to retrieve 
 thv la led lustre of their arms, 'rue capture of the Guer- 
 ri('ie bv the United States frigate Constitution, a ship far 
 superior to the former, in tonnage, weight of metal, and 
 tlie number of her men, atlorded some solace to their 
 won vded priile. The american forces on the confines of 
 lA» ver Canada, under the immediate co nmand of General 
 I), art) rn were increasing rapidly, and threatened A^ont»*oal 
 witn invasion by St. .lohn’s ami the Odeltown road, 'fheir 
 force at Niagara, .in j on the Niagara frontier mi ler Briga- 
 dier (fcneral V'an lUnsalaer, was already formidable, and 
 iiiiurdcd good giouii Is of ap])rchension to General Brock 
 Ot a speedy irruption trom that quarter; while General Har- 
 rison was acuv«‘lv employed in collecting an army at the Ri- 
 ver Raisin near Ootroit, from the (^hio, and the State of 
 K atucky. rii(‘ naval establishment at Sacket's Harbour 
 in tlie ui an time increased with prodigious celerity, 
 and live arcen iency of their fleet on lake Ontario was 
 by the indeiiuigaole exenions of ( ommodore Cliauncpy 
 now almost iiicontesiibly established. 
 
 It was, as yet uncertain at wdiat point their main force 
 Would be directed: or whether their object was by a combin- 
 ed movement to overwhelm both provinces at the same 
 instant. file shewy legions they had assembled, were 
 however, rather disdained than dreaded by the British forces, 
 who were supported by a brave and loyal militia, animated 
 to enthusiasm in the cause m wiiich they were engaged, 
 while the V uei icans averse by education, and their indo- 
 peuvUnt habits of life, to the Wiioleso nc constraints of 
 discipline, and the subordination of a cam]), could hardly l>e 
 organized into the semblance of an army, which nothing 
 but the allurements of a speedy conquest, and an abun- 
 dant harvest of sj)oil, could jirevent from dispersing. 
 
 A Covflon was formed along the frontiers of Low er-Cana- 
 •da; froui iTamuska to.St. ilcuis wuerc the line of sej aia- 
 
 11 ^ tioD 
 
•! S 
 
 
 
 lu. ■ 
 
 iK> 
 
 Ad;\jin'isthation of 
 
 tion between the United States and Lower-Canada, touches 
 the St. Lawrence, consisting of the Canadian Voltigeurs, 
 . and part of the embodied militia. A light brigade of the 
 elite of the forces, regular and militia, was formed at Blair- 
 iindie, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Young, 
 of the Stli regt. consisting of the flank companies of the 
 8th, 100th, 103d, Hegiinents, with the Canadian Fenci- 
 bles, the (iank companies of the 1st Battalion of embodied 
 militia, and a small brigade of the Royal Artillery, with 
 •six field pieces. 
 
 The road to the United States, from the camp of Blair- 
 findie (or I’Acadie) through Burtonville and Odlctown,' 
 .\vas cut lip, and rendered impracticable by abbatis, and 
 every precaution was taken to prevent a sudden irniption 
 of the enemy from that quarter. The Voltigeiirs, with ex- 
 traordinary perseverance, effected this fatiguing duty in 
 the course of a very short time, under the superin tendance 
 of their commanding officer Major De Salabcrry. 
 
 The .slender reinforcements that arrived this summer, 
 were barely sufficient to relieve the citizens of Quebec for 
 ft short time from garrison duty. They consisted of the l03d 
 l^egiment from England, and a battalion of the Jst (or Koy- 
 ti\ Scots) from the West Indies, with a few recruits for other 
 regiments ; and it was evident that the mother countiy un- 
 able at the present moment to supply the necessai'y aid 
 ^br tile defence of these provinces, committed their destiny 
 to the loyalty and patriotism of the Canadian population. 
 
 In September, another battalion of tfic militia was em- 
 bodied, principally from the Montreal militia, and placed 
 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Murray, and 
 called the i ilth Battalion (afterguards Canadian Chasseurs). 
 The North-West Company raised a corps of Yoyageurs, 
 N\hich was disbanded in the ensuing spring, while the 
 merchants and tradesmen of the 1st Battalion of Montre- 
 al sedentary militia, in order to avoid the rigour of the mi- 
 litia Laws, which admitted of no substitutes, organised 
 themsel\cs^ into four companies of volunteers for garrisoo 
 /luty and field service in case of emergency. 
 
 Fiom the captuie of Detroit and the American army un- 
 der General Hull, we have nothing of any importance to re- 
 Jate until the battle of Queenstown. The predatory^ incur- 
 sions of the enemy in the meantime, deser\ e to be notice^ 
 
 V ^ 
 
 I ^ 
 
Sir George Prevost. 
 
 57 
 
 On the sixteen til of September, a brigade of batteaux load- 
 ed with stores, and about one hundred and thirty eight 
 troops, under the command of Major Heathcote of the 
 Koyai Newfoundland Fencibles, were suqirized and nearly 
 taken by a party of five hundred Americans, at Matilda, in 
 tlioir route to L pper Canada. The enemy having crossed 
 over before day light in tlie morning from the American side, 
 eftected a landing unperceived upon a small island at a 
 little distance from the British shore. They concealed them- 
 selves in the bushes, and sent a party to secure a man by 
 the name of / oussaint^ the only inhabitant upon the isl- 
 and. Early in the morning, the batteaux were seen advan- 
 cing, and in the eagerness of the Americans to observe them 
 through a broken glass in his hut, Toussaint stole out and 
 reaching the shore, got into his canoe unobserved. The 
 Americans upon discovering his escape fired upon him, 
 while he, by shouting and making signals, apprized the bat- 
 tcaux of their danger, which then precipitately made for the 
 shore. A gun boat which escorted this party, immediately drop- 
 
 K ed down from behind the island and opened a tire upon the 
 atteaux, wdiile two large boats loaded with troops were 
 seen crossing from the American shore, and making for the 
 upper end of the Channel between the island and the Bri- 
 tish shore, with a view of taking the British batteaux in 
 flank. They proceeded without interruption until upon 
 entering the channel, when a body of militia under Captain 
 Ault, opened a most destructive fire upon them. One hed 
 for shelter behind the island, while the other made for us 
 shore and abandoned the boat with precipitancy, leaving a 
 number of killed and W’ounded. They kept up a brisk tire 
 for some time from the Island under cover of the busin s, 
 but upon the arrival of a reinforcement of militia fi*om a 
 neighbouring township, under Captain Munro, they retired 
 from the island with considerable loss, (exaggerated by 
 some statements to fifty seven killed) and returned to their 
 own shore, having completely tailed in their enterprise. 
 
 A party of one hundred and fifty Americans under Cap-f 
 tain Forsyth, near the same time crossed over from Gi*avel- 
 ly point to Gananoque, some miles below Kingston, front 
 whence they dislodged a party of fifty militia, and took 
 possession of a quantity of anns and ammunition, which 
 they carried away after bniTiing the Store and a small quan- 
 tity of provisions. Tlieir conduct is represented to have 
 been disgraceful towards the defenceless inhabitants, whom 
 
 ChaFc 
 
 

 AbMINriSTRATIOi?^ 
 
 Ch ap, they ^ pr^vonted by the olTicers from y)hniclcrJng, 
 
 iV^. some tlifhoHltv. Four men ionncl in the liospiui! ami a 
 
 Dragoon intercepted by them on his way to Kingston lof 
 give notice of tlieir a]7pioach, v.ere inatie piisoneis ami ear- 
 ned away by tliis party. J 
 
 From the frequent interruption of the convoys frotW 
 Moinreal^ or rather f machine, to vingston in Upper Cana ia, 
 by i ne Americans at Ogdensbiirgh, opposite Prcscot: Colo- I 
 nel J^ethhridge commanding tlie latter, formed the desigrf J 
 ol dislotlging the enemy and possessing himself of Ogdens- | 
 burgh. With a view to eliect his purpose, he assembled a 
 fbice of seven hundred and lifty men regulars and militia, 
 and having collected a sufficient number of batleaux, he 
 pushed oli in the forenoon of the 4 th of Octerber, underco- 
 ver of a cannonade from Prescot, with twenty five batteaiiy 
 escorted by two gvin boats. They advanced without opyo- 
 fiition, until mid-channel, when the enemy opened a trernrn- 
 doas discharge of artillery, which checked their |)rogress. 
 
 A confusion immedial* !y ensued, and they were compelled | 
 to make a precipitate roireat, with the loss of three men 
 killmf and tour wounded. The Americans were command- i 
 ed i>y Idrigii lier General Rrown, and are said to have be- | 
 baved witli much coolness and intiTj/ulity. d'his enterprise 
 undertaken av ithout the sanction of the Commander of i he 
 Forces, was censured by him ; and the public opinion con- 
 demned it as rash and premature. 
 
 On the ninth of October, the armed brig Detroit, re- ! 
 contly taken at Detroit, and the brig Caledonia with a j 
 quantity of Furs b^'tonging to the North-West Company, | 
 having arrived tlie preceding day from D(*troit with prison- j 
 eis, were boarded opposite Fort Erie before the dawn of 
 doy by a party of upwards of two hundrcil Americans in 
 boats manned by seamen, 'fhey succeeded in cutting the 
 cabh^s, and the vessels drifted towards the American shor6. 
 Tiio Caleilonin grounded at Rlack Hock, and the Detroit 3 
 U]u>n Sqnaw l.dand a small diviance from the American I 
 side. i'he crew atfer a severe contest being made prison- I 
 ers. a party of men from I ’on Erie succeeded in hoarding | 
 and dismantling her in a fog, under a warm fire of the ene- I 
 UiV, and at about ten at night she was blown up. Some I 
 lives were lost upon this occasion : among the Americans a | 
 IVIajor Cuvier, who was killed by a shot from Fort Erie, as | 
 he was riding along the beaca oa the opposao side of tl^ 
 
Sir George Prevost. 
 
 69 
 
 fJoneral Brock, who, with unwearied diligence had watch- 
 e<l the motions of the Ainerican army upon the Xia >ara 
 frt)iuier, commanded by Major General Van Hansaiaer, 
 was convinced from tlie movements he had observed on the 
 American shore, that an invasion was premeditated, and 
 kept his little army upon the alert. On the Uh of October 
 an American spy was sent over to the British side, who re- 
 turned with information to the American General, that 
 General Brock had moved on to De troit with all the force 
 that could be spared. Bneonraged by these false news, eve- 
 ry preparation was taken for a descent upon (iueensto'x n. 
 On the morning of the Ilth, their forces were con-* 
 centrated at T^wistowu, opposite Queenstown, with a 
 view of making an immediate attack upon tlie latter ; 
 but through the neglect or cowardice of tlie officer 
 entrusted with preparing and cortducting the boats to 
 the place of embarkation, the attack miscarried. Eiu*Iy in 
 the morning of the l^tli, their tbrees were again concen- 
 trated at Lewistown, and the troops embarked under cover 
 of a commanding battery of two eighteen and two six 
 pounders. This movement being soon discovered, a brisk 
 life was ot^ned upon them from the British shore, by the 
 troops, and from three batteries. The .Vmericans commenc- 
 eda cannonade to sweep theshore, but with little ellect. The 
 first division under Colonel Van Hansaiaer, ejected their 
 landing unobserved under the heights a little above Quwns- 
 tow n, and mounting the ascent with firmness and alacritv, 
 attacked and carricHl an eighteen pounder battery, a?ul 
 dislodged the light company of the '19th regiment. The 
 enemy were in the mean time pushing over in boats, ami not-? 
 Withstanding the current and eddies, which in this part of 
 the river are numerous and rapid, and a tremendous dis- 
 charge of artillery which shattered many of their boats, 
 persevered w ith dauntless resolution, and eflccted a landing 
 close upon Queenstowm, where they were opposed by the 
 grenadiers of the 19tli llegt. and the York V'olunteer 
 lilia, with a determination verging upon desperation. The 
 carnage became terrible. I’he Britisli being overwhelmed 
 with numbers, wx'rc compelled to retire some distance, in- 
 to a hollow. General Brock having hcaril the cannonade, 
 arrived at that moment, with his Provincial Aide-de-Ca i.p 
 Lt. Col. M^Donell from Niagara (at the grey ofthe morn- 
 ing. ) and Imving rallied the grenadiers of his favorite J9th, 
 wash adingthemonio theduuge, when he received a musket 
 J^ailiu his breast, wUicii aJiaosUmmeU^tci/ lummateiUus e 
 
 CilAVjg 
 
 IV. 
 
 of 
 
 Qjt‘cua«.owq^ 
 
 Peai!h o9 
 Gi.ll. Hrocil? 
 
 isteru.^ 
 
60 
 
 ADMiNISTUATIOJiJ OP 
 
 Ik 
 
 Chap, istencc. The only words he uttered were push on the Irtixc 
 IV^. York Volimtcers^^ when he fell from his hor?^e, and his 
 corpse remained for some time in the power of the enemy. 
 
 181^. In the interim, the light company supported by a parly of 
 the Yorkers rallied, and reascended to dislodge ihc enemy 
 from the heights. They formed and advanced to the charge 
 exposed to a smart tire, but finding the enemy posted be- 
 hind trees, so that a charge could have little effect, they de- 
 sisted, and separating, posted themselves in like manner, 
 and kept up a smart tire for some time. J^iciU. Col. 
 M^Donell who had joined them while in forming for 
 the charge, and was encouraging the men, received a ball 
 in his back, as his horse, which had been wounded, was 
 in the act of wheeling. He survived his wound twenty 
 four hours in the most excruciating pain. The Americans 
 having eftected their landing with ah OvenVhelmlng force, 
 the British were obliged to give way, and suspend the tight 
 until the arrival of 1’einforcements, leaving the Americans 
 in possession of the heights. General Sheaffe soon came 
 up with a reinforcement of three hundred men of the 4 Jst 
 regiment, two companies of militia, and two hundred and 
 fifty Indians. Reinforcements having also arrived from Chip- 
 pawa, the British General collected liis whole force amount- 
 ing to upwards of eight hundred men, and leaving two 
 field pieces with about thirty men under Lieutenant Hol- 
 croftof the Royal Artillery in front of Queenstown, as a check 
 to prevent the enemy from occupying the village, proceeded 
 by a circuitous route to gain the rear of the heights upon 
 which the enemy were posted. The Indians being more 
 alert than the troops first surmounted the hill, and com- 
 menced the attack, but were repulsed and fell hack upon 
 themainbody, who formed with celerity, and upon the word, 
 advanced to the charge under a heavy shower of musketry. 
 The British sat up a shoutacconipanicd with the war-whoop 
 of the Indians, andadvanced at the double quick or ruuuiug 
 
 S oce, when the Americans struck with terror, gave way and 
 ed in all directions, some concealing themselves in ilie 
 bushes, others precipitating themselves down the preci}>ice 
 were either killed by the fall, or drowned in the attempt to 
 *wim the river. A temble slaughter ensued, by the Indians, 
 whose vengeance it >vas impossible to restrain, until a white 
 flag was ebserved ascending the hill with ofiiers of an un- 
 conditional gurrender which were accepted. An arniifiice 
 ol'throe days was proposed by the American and grantetl by 
 'the Jirkiish in order to take care of their woui-ded 
 
 and 
 
Sfu Geouge Prevost. 61 
 
 And bury tlieir dead, on condition of destroyin'^ tlieir bat- 
 teaux, which was immediately complied with. ^ One General 
 Odicer (Wadsworth) two Lieut. Colonels, five Majors, a 
 miikitude of Captains and Subalterns, with nine hundred 
 men, one field jiiece, and a stand of Col on i-s, were the fruits 
 of this important victory ; and it is computed that the enemy 
 must have lost in killed, wounded, missina and prisoners^ 
 upwards of fifteen hundred men. The action lasted fioia 
 four in the morning until near four o’clock in the afternoon, 
 and though vanquished, the obstinacy with which they con- 
 tested the honor of the day, reflects credit upon the ene- 
 my. General Van Rensselaer, before the arrival of’ the 
 reinforcements from Niagara under General Sheafle, findim^ 
 the fate of the day still undetermined, his troops almost ex- 
 hausted with fatigue, and falling sliort of ammunition, had 
 returned to the american shore, to urge across reinforce- 
 ments from the embodied militia, but they, notwithstandiiur 
 c\ery menace, and entreaty on his part, unanimously 
 refused. In this dilemma he wrote a note to General 
 Wadsworth, who remained with the Americans on the 
 Queenstow’n heights, informing ’ him of the situation of 
 things, and leaving the course to be pursued, much to his 
 own judgment, assuring him if he thought best to retreat, 
 he would send as many boats as he could command, and 
 cover his retreat by every fire he could make. But before the 
 latter had time to resolve upon any mode of security or re- 
 treat, the spirited advance of the British liad decided the 
 fate of the day. The British at fort Erie under the command 
 of Lt. Colonel Myers, silenced the enemy’s fire at Black 
 Rock, and blew up a banack with a considerable depot of 
 ammunition. The Caledonia lately captured by the enemy 
 Avas almost destroyed at her moorings. A weirdirccted fire 
 from Fort George also silenced the enemy’s Battcricaon the 
 other side of the river, from whence they fired red hot sl:ot 
 upon the wooden buildings in the neighbourhood of for^ 
 George. 
 
 Thus ended in their total discomfiture, the second at* 
 len\pt of the Americans to invade I pper-Canada. The loss 
 of tf le British is said to have been about twenty killed in- 
 cluding Indians, and between, fifty and sixty wounded. 
 The fall of General Brock the idol of the army, and of the peo- 
 ple of Upper Canada, was an irreparable loss, and cast a 
 shade over the glory of this dear-bought victory. He was 
 a native of Guernsey of an ancient tad repUtable'tarlily dis- 
 
 I tinguislied 
 
 Chap. 
 
 1812 . 
 
62 
 
 Administration or 
 
 Cfl AP 
 
 IV. 
 
 1812 , 
 
 tinguislieJ in the profession of arms. He had served fot 
 many years in Canada, and in some of the principal cam* 
 paigns in Europe. He commanded a detachment of his 
 liivorite 49th Regiment, on the expedition to Copeiiliagen 
 Avith Lord Nelson, where he distinguishedhimself. He wasone 
 of those extraordinary men who seem born to influence 
 mankind, and mark the age in which they live. Conscious 
 of the ascendency of his genius over those who surrounded 
 him, he blended the mildest of manners, with the sever- 
 ity and discipline of a camp, and though his deportment 
 was somewhat grave and imposing, the noble frankness of 
 his character imparted at once confidence and respect to 
 those who had occasion to approach his person. As a sol- 
 dier he was brave to a fault, and not less judicious than 
 decisive in his measures. The energy of his character was 
 strongly expressed in his countenance, and in the robustand 
 manly symmetry of his frame. As a Civil Governor, he 
 was firm, prudent and equitable. In fine, whether^ we 
 view him as a Man, a Statesman or a Soldi^^r, he equally 
 des(^rves the esteem and respect of his contemporaries and 
 of posterity. The Indians who flocked to his standard 
 were attached to him with almost enthusiastic aflection, and 
 the enemy even expressed an involuntary regret at his un- 
 timely fall. His prodigality of life, bereft the country of 
 his services at the early age of forty-two years. The re- 
 mains, of this gallant Ofliccr, were, during the funeral service, 
 honoieil with a disphargeof minute guns from the Ameri- 
 can, as well as British batteries, and with those of 
 his (aitliful Aid-de-Camp Lieut. C’olonel M^Donell, wore 
 interred in the same grave at Fort Cileorge, on the J6th 
 October, amidst the tears of an aflbetionate soldiery and 
 a grateful people, who will cherish his memory with vene- 
 ration. and hand to their posterity the imperishable name 
 of BROCK. 
 
 civil and military commands in Upper-Canada no\f 
 ed upon Major General Shealfe, a triend and fellow 
 
 The 
 
 devolved 
 
 soldier of his illustrious predecessor. He |>arole(l Genei'al 
 Wadsworth and some of the principal oflicers ; the remain- 
 der were sent to Quebec. Among the American prisoners, 
 twenty-three men were found, who having declared them- 
 selves British born subjects were sent to England for trialas 
 traitors. This gave occasion to rclaliatc upon British pi’h 
 soners in America, and a like number of the latter were put 
 uuo close confuieiuont as Hostages for the safety of 
 
 (raffoi'S 
 
Sm George Frevost. 
 
 63 
 
 tmitors by order of the American p^overnment. This cir- Chap 
 stance led to discussions that shall be noticed in their IV. 
 proper place. 
 
 On the 18th of October, General Smyth assumed the com- 
 mand at Nia^rara, and applied to the British General for an 
 Armistice which was agreed upon, and to continuo 
 until thirty hours after notice of its termination. 
 
 On the ^.3d of October, a party of near four hundred Am- 
 ericans from Plattsburg under Major Young, surpriseil the 
 pKpict at the Indian Village of St. Regis. Twenty three men 
 were made prisoners by the enemy, and Lieut. Rottotteanda 
 sergeant M^Gillivray and six men were left dead. The 
 piquet consisted of a detachment of Canadian Voyageurs. 
 Theamericans in jilundering the V^illage found an Rnsigi\ 
 or I nion tfack, in the house.of the resident Interpreter, usu- 
 ally lioisted upon a flag staff at the door of the Chief on 
 Sunilays or Holy-days, which, said the American Major in 
 an order issued upon the occasion (not a little proud of the 
 achievement) rare the first Colours taken during the rear. 
 This occurrence was however, counterpoised by an attack 
 upon a party of Americans at Salmon river near St. Kegis 
 ov. uie2,>d November, by detachments of the Uoyal Artillery, 
 4fhh Regiment and CTlengary Light Infantry, amounting to 
 sevemv men, with detachments from the Cornwall and Glen- 
 gary Miliiia of near the same number, the whole under tho 
 co!nmaml of Lieut. Col. McMillan. In this afiair, the ene- 
 my looKtoa block house, but finding themselves surrounded, 
 surrendered themselves prisonei*s of* war. One Captain two 
 Subalterns, and forty-one men became prisoners of* war, and 
 four batieaux, and fifty-seven stand of anus were taken. 
 
 Notwithstanding the vicissitudes ofw^ar, and the internal 
 dilhculties with which the american government had to 
 struggle, the most active pn'pamtions wTre carrying on to in- 
 vade the Cmnadas. MajorGeneral Dearborn was at the head 
 of ten thousand men on the confines of Low^r-Canada : our 
 fleet, though superior to them in the spring and summer on 
 Lake Ontario, dare not now even contest with the Americans 
 forthedominion of the f^ake. General Smyth had an army of 
 »ix tho’isajul men on the Niagara frontier, and General Dar- 
 risor) on the river Raisin, over-aw'ed Detroit w'ith his Ohio 
 and Kentucky men. From these hostile aj)pearances it was 
 #ividcnt that theenemy still meditated a combined movement, 
 
 I 2 
 
 but 
 

 O i Administratiox of 
 
 Til \ r. but tbe uncortainty of the point against which their main 
 I strength would be aimed, ke])t our army constantly on ihc" 
 'w alert. On the niniii of November the amci ican fleet coii- 
 
 ISi^. sisting of seven sail of vessels with a considerable number of } 
 Troops after chasing the Royal George into Kingston Chan- 
 nel cannonaded her for some time; being however, warmly 
 received by the batteries as well the shii>s, they hauled off 
 and beat up under a lieavy hre to Four Mile Point, and an- 
 chored, wdth a view of renewing the attack at a more favora- 
 ble opportunity. Early on the ensuing morning they got 
 under way, and beat out of the Channel under a heavy press 
 of sail to the ojien Lake, where they fell in with tlie Go- 
 vernor Simeoe, from Niagara running for Kingston, and 
 chased her into the Harbour ; she eliuled their pursuit by 
 ruuiiin^over a reef of rocks under a heav^ fire from the Go- 
 vernor Tomkins, the Hamilton, and Juliana, which did her 
 some injury. The weather becoming boisterous the licet 
 bore away for Sachet’s Harbour, after having taken in their 
 cruise tw o Schooners, in one of which Capt. Brock Pay- 
 master of the 40th Regiment was made j)risoner. He w•as]?a^ 
 oled by Coiufnodore Cliauncey, who meritoriously restored 
 the IMate and Effects found in his possession belonging to his 
 late illustrious relative General Brock. 
 
 CnTriro The American forces under General Dearborn in the 
 
 boniV*^ mean time gradually approached the frontier of Lower Ca- 
 nada, and early on the morning of the seventeenth of No- 
 vember ISI:^, Major (now Lieut. Colonel) De Salaberry, 
 Snperintendant of the Canadian Voltigeurs, commanding 
 the cordon and advanced posts on the lines, received infor- 
 mation at St. Philips, that the enemy to the number of 
 ten thousand, were advancing upon Odeltown. He imme- 
 diately despatclied tw'o couumuies of the V oltigeiirs under 
 the command of Captain Perrault of the same regiment, 
 witli three hundred Indians under Captain Ducharme of 
 the Indian department, to reinforce Major Laforce of the 
 1st Battalion Embodied Militia, who was posted with the 
 two flank companies of that battalion at the river La Cole. 
 Tins detachment after a fatiguing march of thirty six miles, 
 cltiefly through morasses and albatis^ arrived early in the 
 afternoon of the same day at Burtonville, and took a posi- 
 tion within the river La Cole, a mile distant from it, in 
 conjunction with a party of about thirty Ahronquin and 
 Abenaki Indians, and a few voyageurs under Captain 
 M‘Kay, a gentleman of the North-West Company in the 
 
Sju George Prevost. 
 
 65 
 
 Voj'agcurs coi’ps. Afajor D(' Salaberry arrived on the day 
 following with tlie remainder of the Voltigeurs and the 
 Voyageiirs, commanded by Lieut. Colonel M'Gillivray, and 
 four companies of the Volunteer Chasseurs Irom the parishes 
 of Chatoaiigiiay, St. Constant, St. Philip and I'Acadie. 
 In the mean time the enemy occujued Champlain Town, two 
 or three miles from the lines, and an earnest invasion wa* 
 moiiiently expected. Nothing occurred of any consequenco 
 until the 2Cth in the morning, when Captain IVPKay visit* 
 ing the piquet between three and four o’clock, perceived tho 
 €memy tbrding the river La Cole, and at the same instant 
 heard them cock tlic'ir firelocks in the surrounding bushes, 
 lie had scarcely time to apprise the picquet under Captain 
 Bernard Panet, of their danger, when the enemy w ho had 
 surrounded the guard-hut on all sides, discharged a volley 
 ol* musketry so close that their wads sat fire to the roof and 
 consumed the hut. 'Plie Militia and Indians discharged 
 their pieces, aiuhdashing through the ranks of the enemy, es- 
 caped unhurt, while the Americans who had forded the 
 river in two places, mistaking each other in the darkness 
 and confusion of the night for the enemy, kept up a brisk: 
 fire fur near halfan hour, in which they killed and wound- 
 ed several of their own people. After discovering their er- 
 ror they retired to Champlain Town, leaving five men 
 wounded, and three or four killed, who were tbund by the 
 Indians on the same day. This party is said to have con- 
 sisted of fourteen hundred men and a troop of Oragoons, and 
 was commanded by Colonels Pyke and Clarke. 
 
 This movement, or rather incursion of the enemy, gave 
 Toom to expect another more vigorous attempt to invade 
 Lower-Canada, and on the 2^d, the Governor by a General 
 Order directed the w hole ^lilitia of the province to consider 
 themselves commanded for active seiwice, and to be prepared 
 to move forward to meet the enemy as soon as required. 
 Lieut. Colouf^l Deschambault was ordered to cro.ss the St. 
 Law rence at Ijachine to Cahnawaga, with the Pointe Claire, 
 Bivierc du Chene, Vaiidreuil and Longue Poiiue Battali- 
 ons, and to march nponl’Acadie. The Volunteei*s of the 1st 
 Battalion of Montreal militia, the flank companies of the 
 second and third battalions, and a troop of militia dragooni 
 crossed the river to Longneil and Laprairie, and the whole 
 mass of population in the district of Montreal made a spon- 
 taneous movement tow^ards the point ol‘ invasion with an 
 enthusiasm unsurpassed in any age or country. General 
 
 Dcai^ 
 
 Chap. 
 
 
66 
 
 / PMINISTRATTOV OF 
 
 Dearborn, who, no doubt was well informed of the state of 
 the public mind in Lower-Canada at this crisis, Ibresaw’ 
 from the multitude assembled to oppose his progress, and 
 the hostile spirit of tlie Canadians, the fniitlessness ol aii 
 attempt to invailc Lower-Canada, began to witluiravr 
 his sickly and already enfeebled host, into winter quarte r 
 at Plattsburg and Burlington. Whetlier he ever earnestly 
 contemplated an invasion, or only intended this movea eiit 
 as a feint to create a diversion in favor of the army ui der 
 f»enerul Smyth on the Niagara frontier, remains a question. 
 All apprehensions of an invasion of Lower-Cariaiia tor tho 
 present season having disap})eared, the troops and Lmbodiod 
 milma were on the ^'/tli November, ordered into winter i 
 quarters. 
 
 Ihe armistice concluded between Generals S^myth and 
 Suea^Hbafter the l)atlle of Queenstown was terminateil on 
 t^lie 20lh November,^ pursuant to notilication to thatellbct 
 inmi the former. This and the former Armistice without 
 ailbiding any present advantage, proved in the event of 
 material prejudice to the British on I^ake Erie. The 
 Ame:icans availed themselves of so favorable an occasion to 
 forward their Naval Stores unmolested from Black Bock 
 to f^es(|ue Isle by water, which they could not otherwise 
 have eflccted, but with immense trouble and expence by 
 land, and equipped at leisure the fleet which attenvardj 
 wrested from us the cominand of that Lake. 
 
 ! 
 
 Onl.Smvtirs General Smyth (of proclamation memoiy) had during ilic 
 ▼alir^Upper- exerted himself in preparing boats for another at- 
 
 Caaada. tempt to invade the Upper Province, near Fort Erie at the 
 foot of the Lake of the same name.* 
 
 Daily on the morning of the 28th Nov. the enemy effectoda 
 landing on the British side with a division of fourteen boats 
 rowed by sailors with about thirty men each at the upper 
 end of (xrande Isle between Fort Erie and Chippavva. They 
 were resolutely opposed by Lieutenant King of the Roval 
 Artillery, and Lieutenant f/arnont and Bartley with detach- 
 ments of thirty and thirty five men each, ofthe49ih Kerrimcnt. 
 liicntenants King and Larnont were wounded, and their 
 men being ov(Twhelmed with numbers gave way after 
 si)iking the guns ; these two officers with about thirty three 
 
 • See Appendix D. 
 
 ;neO 
 
 Chap. 
 
 181 H. 
 
Sir G EORGE PrEVOJ^T. 
 
 67 
 
 were made prisoners and sent over to the american 
 side. Lieut. Bartley in the mean time after a determined 
 resistance by which his force was reduced to seventeen eftec- 
 tive men was compelled to retire, being threatened by a 
 movement of the enemy upon his flank. In the interim 
 the boats with the prisonersand as many Americans as could 
 crowd into them, returning, left Captain King Aid-de-Camp 
 to the American General with a few officers and about forty 
 men, who moved down the shore of the ri\er but being 
 pursued by Major Ormsby from Fort Erie, were made pri- 
 soners after a feeble resistance. At about seven o’clock in the 
 morning, another division of eigliteen boats were seen advanc- 
 ing to effect a landing two miles lower down than the former. 
 Colonel Bishopp having upon the first alarm, moved from 
 Chip])ewa, had now formed a junction with Major Ormsby 
 from Fort Eric, and commanding a force of nearly eleven 
 hundred men, consisting of detachments of the 41st, 
 and Royal Newfoundland Regiments, a body of Miiuia 
 under I.iieut. Col. Clark and Major Hall, and some Indians, 
 waited tor the enemy on tlie shore. Their approach was wel} 
 corned with three cheers, and a steady and clfectual fire op- 
 ened upon them from musketry and a six pounder (under 
 the command of Captain Kirby of the Royal Artillery,) 
 w hich destroyed two of their boats, threw the remainder 
 into confusion, and compelled them to seek safl'ty in flight. 
 The enemy, for a part of the day, made a display of tlieir 
 force on their own side of the river, but perceiving the Bri- 
 tish had imspikeil and remounted the guns which had fallen 
 into tlieir hands in the morning, they, with a view of re- 
 tiring unmolested from our fire, by gaining a little time, sent 
 over a flag to Colonel Bisliopp to summons the surrender 
 of Fort Erie, to save the eflusion of human blood, who an- 
 swered in the laconic words of an Englishman C omc 
 
 and take /V.” Preparations were made for another descend 
 on the Canada side, on the morning of the 1st of Decem- 
 ber, but through mismanagement in embarking their troops, 
 anil a deficiency of provisions, the project miscarried, and 
 the troops were ordered to re-land and hut themselves for 
 the winter. Murmur and discontent crept into the \- 
 incrican cainj), and Geneml Smyth was obliged to tako 
 flight to save himself from the indignation of his army, which 
 from death, sickness and defection, soon ceased to be a 
 .subject of appreliension to the British in th.eir n^^iglibou?-- 
 hood. This was the termination of the third attempt to 
 invade Uppor-Canada, amjl tliQ result of the ibnuid. *lc 
 
 jircS 
 
 CllAI^. 
 
 

 'I 
 
 68 
 
 Administration of* • 
 
 Chap, preparations of the American government to conquer tli6 
 I V^. Canadas. • 
 
 ibl^. The Legislature of Lower* Canada assembled on (lie 29tli 
 of December. The Govemor, at the opening of the Ses- 
 sion, expressed his confidence in the people, the fruits of 
 whose loyalty were the hononiblc termination of the cam- 
 paign without effusion of blond, loss of territojy, or a re- 
 course to martial law. He thanked the House in th^ 
 name of the Prince Regeni, for the assurance of’ attach- 
 ment and support they had ])romiscd in their answer to 
 his Speech at tlie opening of Parliament in the preceding 
 month of February, and acquainted them that His Roy- 
 al Highness jilaced that confidence in the courage and loy- 
 alty of his Majesty’s Canadian subjects which made him 
 equally fearless of the result of any direct attack upon 
 them, and of any insidious attempts to alienate their af- 
 fection from his government.” He informed them of the 
 beneficial effects resulting from the Army Bill Act, and re- 
 commended it to their further consideration. He had 
 (he observed) according to the powers vested in him by 
 the Legislature, called forth tlie Militia to assist in the de- 
 fence of the Province, and with the most cheering satisiac- 
 fion had been a witness of that public spirit, that steady 
 order and that love of their country, their lleligion and 
 tlieir Laws, which they had manifested on this occaion, 
 and which by animating and uniting all classes of his Ma- 
 jesty’s subjects, could not fail under Divine Providence to 
 make them safe at home and respected abroad.” He recom- 
 mended a revision of the Militia Laws, and concluded by 
 urging the necessity of disj>atch in conducting the publiQ 
 business. 
 
 Among the first proceedings of the House of A.ssembly in 
 this Session, was an enquiry into the causes and injuriouf 
 Consequences that might have resulted from the delay in- 
 curred in the publication of the laws of the Provincial 
 Parliament passed in the Session thereof began and holdcn 
 on the 21st February preceding. This measure vas for 
 3(nr.e time poi'severcd in with nnremitted assiduity, and 
 With the obvious intention to palliate the guilt of the l iot- 
 eisat Lachine. Among those summoned on this occasion to 
 attend tlie bar of the House of Assembly, were the Clerk and 
 other Officei's of the Legislative Council, which not having 
 been previously consulted by the Lower House refused to 
 
 allovr 
 
69 
 
 SJxR George PrevosT.' 
 
 •ullow their servants to be examined at the bar of the latter. Cf/A» 
 The Legislative Council however, after deliberation per- IV. 
 mitted them to be examined by the House of Assembly 
 under a species of protest, from a desire to remove every l¥i2« 
 possible obstacle to the immediate discussion of ineasuret 
 requisite for the defence of the Province, reserving tpr a 
 more convenient occasion the question of their privilege ia 
 this respect. Nothing of any importance resulted from 
 the enquiry, which, after some procrastination was totally 
 relinquished. The subject of appointing an Agent in Eng- 
 land was resumed by the House in the present Session, but 
 M^as posqwned. To support the expence of the war an 
 income tax upon salaries from government was proposed 
 in the Lower House, in the proportion of fifteen per cent 
 upon every salary of aPl^OO ana upwards, per annum, 
 twelve per cent upon £1000 and upwards, ten per cent 
 upon £500 and upwards and five per cent upon every 
 £230 and upwards. A bill to that effect was passed iu 
 the Lower House but was rejected by the Legislative Coun-* 
 cih 
 
 The House resolved itself Into a Committee to take int© 
 consideration the power and authority exercised by his 
 Maj^ty’s Courts in this Province under the denomination 
 of Kules of Practice. The result or rather progress of 
 this enquiry during the subsequent Session, we shall have 
 occasion to notice in its turn. The House in taking into 
 consideration that part of the Governor’s Speech, in which 
 reference W'as had to Martial Law, came to certain Resolu- 
 tions strongly adverse to a recourse to such a measure. The 
 Army Bill Act was renewed and extended : five hundred 
 thousand pounds were authorized to be put into circulation, 
 and in order to secure their credit, Commissioners were 
 appointed to establish at regular periods the current rate 
 of Exchange, of Bills upon London, which the holders, upon 
 applicatioiTwere intitled to obtain from Government. Fif- 
 teen thousand pounds were granted by the Parliament to 
 equip the Embodied Militia, one thousand pounds to pro- 
 vide for hospitals for the Militia, and twenty-five thousand 
 pounds for the support of the war. The further sum of 
 four hundred pounds was granted to improve and facilitate 
 the communication between Lower and Upper-Canada. 
 
 But no amendment was made to the Militia Laws owing 
 to a disagreement on the subject between the Lower and 
 Upper Houses. A duty of two and a hall per cent upoa 
 
 K . fA 
 
70 
 
 ADMINl«nrRATION OP . 
 
 mercliandize (provisions excepted) imported Into the 
 I V. Province, and two and a half per cent more, upon Merchant 
 dize imported into the Province by persons not actually 
 1813. therein resident six months previous to such importation, 
 was granted for the support of the war. The present Ses- 
 sion of the Legislature was prorogued on the fifteemk cf 
 February. 
 
 K. 
 
 ,vf 
 
 i 
 
 -M 
 
 t 
 
 i 
 
 / 
 
 J 
 
 CHAP- 
 
Sir George Prevost, 
 
 71 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 T he American army under the command of General 
 Harrison still hovered on the border of the Michigan 
 Territory and over-awed Detroit, where Colonel Proctor with 
 an interior 1‘orce was left in command after the reduction 
 of that post by General Brock. On the 19th of January, in- 
 formation was received at Detroit by the British Command- 
 er, that a division or brigade of the American arinv under * 
 Brigadier General Winchester, was encamped at iFrench* 
 town on the River Raisin, twenty-six miles from Detroit, 
 having driven in a body of militia and Indians posted there 
 under Major Reynolds of the militia, who, after some resist- 
 ance with a field piece, fell back upon Brownstowm. Colonel 
 l^roctor promptly determined to attack this division before 
 it could be reinforced by the main body under General 
 Harrison, three or four days march in the rear ; and assem- 
 bled his ilisposeable force at Brownstown on the 21st, con- 
 sisting of five hundred regulai's, seamen and militia, and 
 about six hundred Indians. He advanced the same day 
 twelve miles, to Stoney Creek, and at day break the next 
 morning made a resolute attack on the enemy’s camp. 
 (General Winchester himself, fell soon after the commence- 
 ment of the action into the hands of the Wyandot Chief 
 Jloitndhead^ who surrendered him to Colonel I’roctor. The 
 Americans liad retreated to the houses and enclosures, from 
 which they w’ere making a desperate resistance through 
 fear of fulling into the hands of tne Indians ; but upon its 
 being rejiresented to (jfeneral Winchester, that unless a 
 speedy surrender were made, the buildings would be set on 
 fire, and that uq responsibility would be taken for the con- 
 duc|, of the Indians, he sent a flag of truce to his men, and 
 agreed on their }>art to a surrender, upon condition of their 
 being protected from the fury of tlie Ravages, and allowed 
 to preserve their private projicrty. In this alliiir the enemy 
 lost in killed between three and four hundred men, and one 
 Ih igadier General, three field Officers, nine Captains, twenty 
 S ibalterns and uj>wards of five hundred men in prisoners. 
 The loss on the British side was also severe : twenty-four 
 killed and one himdreil and fil'ty-cighl wounded. This spi- 
 rited and vigorous measure completely disconcerted th 
 urrangements made by General Harrison for the recover 
 
 K 2 the 
 
Chap. 
 
 1813. 
 
 "ADMINISTnATION 
 
 the Michigan territory, and secured Detroit from any im* 
 mediate danger. In recording this gallant exploit, it must 
 be regretted, that the ungovernable ferocity of our Indian al- 
 lies, (who on the day after the bat tie, are said to have slaughter- 
 ed in spite of the British, such of the wounded ])risoners as 
 were unable to walk,) should have tarnished thehonorot the 
 victoi 7 . Humanity revolts at the idea of a massacre of de» 
 fenceless and wounded ])risoners taken in open and honora- 
 ble warfare, and we can only find an excuse for the guilt of 
 the tame spectators of such atrocities, in their apprehen- 
 fiions of a similar fate, in case of interference to rescue the 
 unhappy victims of savage vengeance. The House of As- 
 sembly of Lower-Canada passed a vote of thanks to Colonel 
 Proctor for the skill and intrepidity with which he planned 
 and carried into execution this enterprise, and for the ex- 
 emplary humanity displayed by him in the moment of vic- 
 tory* A vote or thanks was also passed to the officers, 
 non-commissioned officers and privates belonging to the 
 line, marine and militia forces who assisted in its accom- 
 plishment, and Colonel Proctor was immediately promoted 
 to the rank of Brigadier General by the Commander of the 
 Forces, until the pleasure pf the Prince Regent should be 
 known, who was pleased to approve and confirm the ap- 
 pointment. 
 
 The Governor having closed the Session of the Legislature 
 left Quebec on the J 7th February on a visit for Upper-Cana- 
 da. In his route thither, Lieut. Colonel Pearson in com- 
 mand at Prescot, proposed to him as he passed, an attack 
 upon the American post of Ogdensburg in retaliation for an 
 excursion by the enemy from thence upon Brockville some 
 days previous. The Governor did not deem it expedient 
 to order an attack upon that post, but as two men had 
 deserted on the evening of his aiTival, and had gone over 
 to the enemy, who might upon ascertaining the arrival of the 
 Governor, way lay him on his route, it was determined 
 that Lt. Col. Peamon should proceed on the ensuing morn- 
 ing with His Excellency to Kingston, while Lt. Col. McDon- 
 nell second in command at Prescot, should make a demon- 
 stration on the ice in frontofOgdensburgh,as well with a view 
 of engaging the attention of the enemy, as by drawing out 
 
 the facts alluded to, were certain 
 It not wuhin the knowledge of the Assembly, as it is more than probaW 
 they would have been silent upon the score of Awmoai/y, ^ 
 
 jbeir 
 
9m George Prevost. 
 
 ts 
 
 dieir forces, to ascertain the strength of the garrison. On the Cha#. 
 ensuing'inorning (22d Februaiy,) as the Governor departed, V. 
 Lieut. Col. McDonnell moved with his party across the river 
 on the ice, towards Ogdensburgh; the enemy perceiv- 18 IS. 
 ing the movement, were prepared to receive him, and Lieut, „ 
 
 Col. McDonnell impelled by that spirit characteristic of Bri- Ogdeoil^ 
 tish Soldier'S, turned the demonstration into a real attack, kurjb. 
 
 The enemy were driven from the village after a short 
 contest, leaving about twenty killed, and a considerable 
 number wounded. Four brass held pieces, seven pieces 
 of iron ordnance complete, with several hundred stand of 
 arms, and a considerable quantity of stores fell into the 
 hands of the victors, who lost seven killed, and seven 
 ofTicers (including Lt. Col. McDonnell) and forty-one men 
 wounded. After having destroyed two small schoonem 
 and two gun boats left there to winter, they returned to 
 their quarters at Prescot. 
 
 During the winter the greatest exertions were made to 
 be in a state of preparation for the ensuing campaign. In 
 March a draught of militia took place, to fill up the militia 
 Battalions. A Battalion (the 6th) was embodied at Que- 
 bec from the city Militia for ^rrison duty. The Canadian 
 Regiment of Fencibles, the Glengaries and the V^oltigeure 
 recruittxl with diligence and success ; and the 104th (or 
 New Brunswick Uegimeni) marched tlirough from Frede- 
 rickton for Upper-C^itnada, some hundreds of miles, with 
 extraordinary celerity in the month of March, though tiieir 
 route from Frederickton to the river St. Lawrence, lay 
 through an uninhabited wilderness buried in snow and 
 never before practiced by troops, ' 
 
 The American forces in the mean time augmented daily 
 at Sacket’s Harbour, and their fleet being superior to that 
 of the British, a descent upon Kingston or its neighbour- 
 hood was confidently expected : the American government 
 however, deemed it too hazardous a game to stake the fate of 
 their Lake armament upon an enteiprise against the prin- 
 cipal depot of the British in the Upper Province, where 
 tliey must expect a desperate resistance, and resolved to 
 direct their efforts against the more distant and vulnerable 
 parts on the Lake. Commodore Chauncey having accord- 
 ingly equipped his fleet for an expe<iition, and received on 
 board upwards of seventeen hundred troops under the 
 
 eois* 
 
ri 
 
 ArMINISTRATIO.V 
 
 fwAP. command of Generals Dearborn and Pike, sailed froni 
 
 V. Sacket’s Harbour on the 25th of April, and on the follow- 
 
 ing evening appeared off York with fourteen sail of armed 
 IbiJ. vessels. On the ensuing morning (27th) the enemy com- 
 menced a debarkation about three miles to the wesi of 
 the town, but the wind blowing fresh from the eastward 
 they fell considerably to leeward of the position hxed upon 
 for landing (the site of the old French Fort Toronto) while 
 they sulfered much from a galling fire of the British troope 
 posted in a wood. They how ever accomplished their Ijind* 
 Ttafdc ft rap^ and compelled the British to retire with loss. The 
 <tarc of Vork. Grenadiers of the 8th Regiment, who lost their Captain, 
 M‘Neal, were, after a desperate contest almost annihilated 
 by the overwhelming numbers of the enemy. The latiet 
 having made their landing, formed upon the beach undet 
 the immediate orders of (general l^ike, w hile the schoonori 
 worked up to the Forts under a heavy cannonade, and as- 
 thiming a poskion at the distance of six hundred yards fi on^ 
 the batteries in order to make a simultaneous impressinij 
 upon the works by water and by land, opened a heavy lire 
 hpon them which did great execution. The land forces 
 under General Pike advanced through a little wood tb 
 the main works, w'hen, at the distance of sixty rods from 
 them, a tremendous explosion took place fi'om a magazine 
 previously prejiared, which discharging tin immense quan- 
 tity of rubbish, spread havock among their troops and killed 
 a number of their officei*s and men. General Pike, an 
 Officer much esteemed in the American army, and who 
 Si'ems to have been a gentleman of an amiable character in 
 
 } )rivate life, received a contusion from a large stone while 
 eading on his men, which in a few hours put a jieriod to 
 bis existence. General Sheaffe finding his small force un- 
 able to resist that of the enemy, retreated at tw^o o’clock in 
 the afternoon, leaving Lieut. Colonel Chewit of the militia 
 to treat with the enemy ; and a capitulation immediately 
 ensued, by which York was surrendered to the American 
 forces, and the IVlilitia to the amount of more than two 
 hundred men with their officers surrendereil prisoners of 
 Avar, oil condition that all private property should be respect- 
 ed. Ihe public stores of every description fell into the 
 hands of the enemy with the armed schooner Duke of 
 Gloucester undergoing repairs. A new ship which had 
 iniiuhcionsly been laid down at this open and defenceless 
 Post the preceding winter, and now almost completely 
 planked, w as, with the naval stores set on fire by theBritisji 
 
Sm George Puevost, 75 
 
 previous to their retreat. The loss of the British was severe, 
 amounting to about one hundred and thirty men in killed 
 and wounded, among the former Mr. M‘Lean, the Speaker 
 of the House of Assembly of Upper-Canada, who had 
 volunteered his services with a musket. The loss of the 
 enemy tliough not correctly ascertained must have been 
 proportionally heavier than that of the British. The enemy 
 having secured their booty, re-imbarked and sailed on tho 
 2d of May for Niagara, 
 
 The people hitherto unaccustomed to hear of reverses, 
 were irritated at this success of the enemy, and as usual 
 upon such occasians, clamoured against the Geneml com- 
 manding, who a few weeks afterwards was succeeded in 
 the Administration of the Civil Government of Upper-Ca- 
 nada by Major General De Rottenburg, and on his return 
 lo the Lower Province assumed the command of the forces 
 in the District of Montreal. It is not ascertained whether 
 his removal was the result of the displeasure of the Com- 
 mander of the forces, but upon a cool survey of the event 
 •f the battle of York, it must be owned that the honor of 
 the British arms was strenuously and ably maintained by 
 the small party of men under his command, who, includim^ 
 
 Kegulars, Militia and Indians, did not exceed six hundretf. 
 
 The American fleet having landed the troops at Niaga- 
 ra, returned to Socket’s Harbour for reinforcements, and”on 1 
 the 25th May, their whole fleet having proceeded by de- 
 tachments, were again assembled at Niagara, and General 
 Vincent commanding at Fort George, foresaw that an attack 
 was intended shortly to be made upon his Post. Commo- 
 dore Chaunc^ despatched two of his vessels to cruise vi- 
 
 g ilanlly off Kingston, and concerted his arrangements with 
 encral Dearborn for a combined attack upon Fort 
 George.. Early in the morning of the 27th May tlie enemy AUark and 
 commenced a combined attack upon that Fort, having pre- redortion of 
 viously, on the 2kh and 25th materially injurt'd the works Georgo, 
 by a warm cannonade from their ships and batteries. A 
 body of about eight hundred riflemen under Colonel Scott 
 landed near the two Mile Creek, while the fleet ranged up 
 in the form of a crescent, extending from the Nortli^of the 
 light house to the two Mile Creek, so as to enfilade the Bri- 
 tish batteries by a cross fire. The riflemen after forming 
 and ascending the bank were mot by the Britisli, and com- 
 pelled to give way ii\ disorder and return to the beach 
 
 from 
 
 Chap* 
 
 
 f 
 
Administration ©f 
 
 Chat. 
 
 V. 
 
 iSliJ. 
 
 Fr^^dilioa 
 Sack- 
 ei*b Harbour. 
 
 ro 
 
 
 fi’om whence they kept up a smart fire under cover of 
 bank. In the mean time another body of upwards of two 
 tiiousand men under the direction of General Lewis, made a 
 landing and formed on the beach under cover of a tremen- 
 dous cannonade of round shot, and showers of grape and 
 canister from the fleet, that swept the adjacent plain, and 
 compelled the British to retire. General Vincent finding 
 the works torn to pieces by the enemy’s artillery and no 
 longer tenable against so ovenvhelming a force, caused the 
 Fort to be dismantled, and the magazines to be blown 
 up, and retreated to Queenstown, leaving the Ampricang 
 to take possession of the ruins of the Fort. The British 
 loss consisted of fifty-two killed and upwards of three hun- 
 dred wounded and missing. The American accounts state 
 their loss at thirty-nine killed and one hundred and eleven 
 wounded. 
 
 General Vincent on the ensuing day having collected 
 the whole of the forces from Chippawa and Fort Erie, and 
 destroyed or rendered useless the posts and stores along 
 that frontier, commenced his retreat toward Burlingtpn 
 Heights at the head of Ontario. 
 
 The arrival of Sir James L. Yed fiom England at Que- 
 bec, on the 5th May, with several Officers of the Royal Navy 
 and 450 seamen for the Lakes, cheered the drooping spirits 
 of the public. Captains Barclay, Pring and Finnis, with 
 five Lieu tenants of the Royal Navy having previously arrived 
 over land from Halifax, with some seamen, Were already at 
 Kingston, and w ereputting the fleet in a state of preparation 
 to meet the enemy. Sir George Prevost proceeded from 
 Montreal to Kingston with Sir James L. Yeo, who arrived 
 at the latter place in the short term of six weeks from hit 
 embarking at Portsmouth. 
 
 The two Commanders being now at Kingston, the publla 
 was on the tip-toe of expectation for some decisive dash 
 upon the enemy’s flotilla. An attack upon Sackel’s Har- 
 bour in the absence of their fleet at Niagara was resolved 
 upon. A body of eight hundred or a thousand men were 
 embarked on the 27th May, on board of the British flotilla 
 at Kingston, consisting of the Wolfe 24 guns, Royal 
 George 24, Earl of Moira 18, and four schoonei-s bearing 
 from ton to twelve guns each, with a sufficient number of 
 iTaiteaux, ami at noon »n the next day they were offSac- 
 
 ket’6 
 
Sm Georgt. Prevost. 
 
 fr 
 
 kct*s Harbour. Tlie weather wass propitious, and the troops Ch a Ri 
 were transfeiwi to the batteaux to make their landing \ n- V. 
 fier an escort of two gun-boats, commanded by Capiom 
 Mulcaster, the whole under the immediate direction of tVm 181^, 
 land and naval ( -ommandiTS in Chief, 'f hey had ju'Occeded 
 but a sliort distance when a convoy of American boats 
 loaded with troo|7S were descrieil doubling Stonev Point, oil 
 their way from Oswego to Sacket’s Harbour. Tl\o Indians, 
 who had {U'evionHy Iknded on an Island, tired upon tliein as 
 they irassed tlmi threw them into confusion, while the boats 
 and batteanx bore down and capUir^ed twelve of them with 
 about loO men : the remainder escaped into Sacket’s Har- 
 bour. I'lie landing was then deleTred until the next morn- 
 ing, while the Americans raised the alarm, and withdrew 
 a detachment of their troops jx)sted upon Horse Island at 
 the month of the Harbour, and assumed a position on the 
 main, opposite a ford leading from the Island to the nivaiu 
 land, where they w ere reinl()rced by a body of militia under 
 (Tenoral Brown, and prep>ared tor a vigorous tleience. 
 
 Tlie nigbt w’as dark and rainy, and at day break next niorn- 
 ing the boats were so scattered that they were uuabh' to 
 rflect a landing as intended, before the enemy should hare 
 time to line the woods. They first attempted to land on 
 the main, in a cove termed by Horse Island, but oii aj)- 
 proacliing it they l()imd the enemy piT})ared for them by a 
 heavy tire of musketry from the surrounding woods sup- 
 ported by a field piece. 1'hey ilien j^ulled round and land- 
 ed on the outside of the Island, with little or no loss, and 
 pushed forward to the tbrd, in theiace of a hot tire ofmuS- 
 kctiy and the tield piece, w Inch they carried in a few md- 
 meiits after landing, with a tumbrel and a few rounds of 
 timmu'nitton. Tlie enemy retreated’, and posting tiiem selves 
 •securely behind large trees, kept up a smart fire upon tlio 
 Britisli. The fleet in the mean^time, as well as a small 
 vessel with two six pounders, intended to have been landed 
 in time to support the advance of the troops, were, ihrondi 
 ‘light and adverse wind, along way in the rear. I lul^V 
 these circumstances it was impossible to wait for the arrival 
 of the artillery, and Colonel Baynes, the Adjutant General 
 of the Forces in British N. America, who was charged w ith 
 this service, ordereil the detachment to divide, in order to 
 scour the woods by pursuing two paths which led in opjio- 
 site directions round a rising ground. The enemy dislod- 
 .ged from the w oods at the ])oint of the bayonet, fled to their 
 •jfort and blockhouses, whither they were pursued by the 
 
 L British, 
 
Administration op 
 
 Cu AP British, who set fire to their barracks. At this junctoreH 
 
 V. was thought by the commanding officer, that tlie enemy’s 
 
 block houses and stockaded battery could not be carried by 
 1815. assault, even with the assistance of field pieces had they 
 been landed. The fleet were still out of reach to render 
 any assistance in battering them, while his men were ex- 
 posed to the fire of the enemy secure within their works. 
 The signal of retreat w^as therefore given to the indignant 
 assailants, and the enterprise was abandoned at a moment 
 when the enemy had so far calculated upon a decisive vic- 
 tory on the part of the British, as to set fire to their naval 
 store houses, hospital and marine barracks, by which all the 
 booty previously taken at York, and the stores for their new 
 ship were consumed. They had also set fire to a fi'igate on 
 the stocks, but on discovering the retreat of the British, they 
 succeeded in suppressing the fire and saved her. The troopi 
 were immediately re-imbarked and returned to Kingston. 
 The loss though heavy on both sides is not correctly ascer- 
 tained ; among the British, Capt. Gray, Acting Depy. Q. 
 M. General, was much regretted. He fell while reconnoitring 
 the enemy’s works in the hope of discovering some opening 
 to favor an assault. 
 
 Thus terminated this expedition to the disappointment of 
 the public, who, from the presence and co-operation of the 
 two Commanders in Chief, fondly flattered tiiemselves with 
 a far more brilliant result. I'his miscarriage with otkv 
 reverses at the commencement of the present campaign, de- 
 stroyed in the opinion of the enemy, the invincibility our 
 arms had acquirecl the preceding autumn. 
 
 at From these humiliating occun’cnces, W'e turn with pride 
 roit to more cheering scenes of action, wdiich effectually re- 
 
 trieved the honor of the British arms in Upper- Canada. 
 General Harrison notw ithstanding the defeat of a division 
 <)t his army under General Winchester at Frenchtown in 
 1 ebruary, still persevered in his preparations to recover 
 the Michigan territory, and in pursuance of his views had 
 towards the spring, taken post near the foot of the i*apii 
 o( tire Miami, wdiere he, only waited for reinforcements to 
 commence active operations against the British. General 
 Proctor aware of his view's, determined to dislodge him be- 
 fore the arrival of his reinforcements, and proceeded for 
 tho Miaini. He arrived at the neighbourhood of the cne- 
 ^ny's position on the 2Gtli of April. The .liuericans had 
 
 c how? 
 
ScR George Prevost* 
 
 79 
 
 however, secured themselves by block houses and batteries Cha^, 
 
 10 as to render every effort of the small artillery of the be- V . 
 liegers unavailing. In the morning of the 5th of IVTay, a 
 reinforcement consisting of two regiments amounting to 
 about twelve hundred men under Brigadier General Clay, 
 having rapidly descended the river from Fort Defiance some 
 distance above Fort Meigs (the American position) made a 
 sudden attack and suq:>rised the British batteries on the 
 West side of the river, seconded bv a resolute and simulta- 
 neous sally from the garrison, ifaving carried the British 
 batteries, tliey unwarily pursued the Indians who fell back 
 ikirmishing with the enemy, while the main force coming 
 np, by a hastv and judicious movement circumvented the 
 Americans and intercepted their retreat to the river. After a 
 desperate contest, the enemy surrendered, and upwards of 
 500 men were made prisoners. They who had sallied from the 
 fi)it alone effected their escape, and betook themselves to 
 their fortification. The Indians although disposed to sa- 
 crifice the j)risoncrs accordii^’ to their mode of waiTarc, after 
 io\ne excesses, were with difficulty restrained from slaughter 
 by the British, two or three of whom fell victims to the tury 
 of the Savages, in their endeavours to protect the detenceless 
 prisoners. By this partial success the enemy became so 
 crippled as to be unable to prosecute the campaign with 
 any prospect of recovering Detroit, and General Proctor 
 drew oif his forces and retuimed to Sandwich, under the 
 apprehension of being abandoned by the Indians, who after 
 a battle, according to their custom, retire to the enjoyment 
 of their booty. In this afiuir, the British loss amounted to 
 one officer (of the militia) and tburteen men killed, and one 
 •fficcr and forty-live men wounded. 
 
 Immediately after the capture of Fort George by the ene- of 
 
 my, General Dearborn ])usIi<hI forward a body of three Stuoej Crcc* , 
 thonsiind infantry with nine field pieces and two hundred 
 and fifty cavalry, as far as the Forty -Mile Creek, for the 
 purpe^se of dislodging General Vincent, who had assumed 
 a position at Burlington Heights at the head of Lake Onta- 
 rio; or to prevent a junction of the forces under General 
 Proctor with those of General Vincent, which, the Americans 
 understood had been agreed upon by the British. On the 
 5th of June, Geneml Vincent, was apprized of the advance 
 ol'the enemy by the retreat of his advanced picquets from Ston- 
 •my Creek. Lieut. Colonel Harvey, Deputy- A djulant-Ge- 
 !|tul; iraiaediately moved forward with the light coinpa- 
 
so 
 
 AoMINlStnATION OP 
 
 « 
 
 C!' 
 
 \ 
 
 
 r. njes of tlife SiU and 49lh l^eginients, and hav’fng reconnoitml 
 tlio cneiny’s posilion, propov^cd to (leueral Vincent a noc- 
 W turnal attaci^ u|Km liis camp, which was approved. At 
 ^ eleven in tlie evening, the General moved up with the 49th 
 I{e:;^dment anda pan of the 8th (his whole eilective force on- 
 ly 704 lireiocks) toward the American camp, distant about 
 seven miles. Jjient. Colonel Ifarvey led on the attack in 
 ^^aliant style, and completely succeeded in surprising the 
 enemy in the midst of liis camp, who, notwithstanding the 
 darkness of the night, and the consternation and disorder 
 into which they were thrown, evinced a stale of order and 
 discipline highly creditable to themselves, in repeatedly 
 forming, ’though comjrelled as often to disjrerse before the 
 i; 4 ;>istless energy of tlie British bayonet. Two Brigadier 
 Generals, (Ciiaudler and Winder,) seven oflicers of inferior 
 rank, and one hundred and sixteen men, with three guns, 
 one brass howitzer and three tumbrels, fell into (he hands 
 of tlie Bi itish by this brilliant and intrepid action, which as 
 it reduced tlie Americans from offensive to defensive opra* 
 lions, was probably in its result of more real importance to 
 the salvation of the Vyiper Province than any other occur- 
 rence iluring die present campaign. The British were or- 
 dered to retreat before clay light, lest their small strent^th 
 exposed to the view of the eneiny, upon the return of day 
 might be overpowered by their superior numbers. Finding 
 that the British had retreated, they ro-occupied their camp 
 afa r sun-rise, and liaving destroyed all their incumbrances, 
 commenced a precipitate retreat to Forty-Mile Creek, ten 
 miles from the stene of action, where they were reinforced 
 o?^ the following day by General I^ewis, with a detachment 
 of the army from Fort George. The loss of the British in 
 this aHhir was one Oflicor and twenty-two men killed, and 
 twelve Officers and one hundred and fifteen men wounded, 
 and fiity-fivc men missing.* On 
 
 * Tn Crncrhl Vinceiu’r? Official Deepatrh the following wHI rnmed (ri- 
 or applnnsc is bestowed upon the Officers and men euirajjrd in tbil 
 iaemorahlo aeliievtjncut. 
 
 r ennnnf conchide this despatch without calling your attention to the 
 folio wiiij: Officers: — 
 
 “To l.iem. Col. Harvey, the Oeputy- Ad)utant-OcneraI, my obligation! 
 ar<' port ii’ularl y diir. l‘r;'in the first moment the enein\'’s approach rriis 
 huown, he rratched his movements, and aft'orded me the earlie-i information. 
 To him, indeed, I :im indebted for the snp:p:estion and plan of operations; 
 Jiothin,<x coiiivl be more clear than his arrangements, nor more completely 
 sneressful in the result. The conduct of Major Plenderleath, who com- 
 Vri.in<led the I9lh Regiment, was vei*v ronspiVuous. By his decision and 
 yrojupt elloris, the surp.rise of the enemy’s camp was ‘completed, and aU 
 Hlorts to make a stntjd were rendered ineflVciual by the bavonrt, 
 which overLbrew all opposiiioa, A party of the 45tk with Wajor 
 
Sir George Prevost. 
 
 81 
 
 • On the evenhi" of the seventh, the British fleet hove CnA»f 
 iti sight, and on the ensuing morning approached the shore V*. 
 and lired a tew shot upon the enemy, whom they sum- 
 inoned to surrender prisoners of war. This was refused 
 by the American Officer, who however, deemed it expe- 
 dient to full back upon Fort George, while the British^ 
 as they retired- pressed upon their rear and occupied the 
 ground they abandoned. Twelve of their batteaux w^hich 
 accompanied the army on its retreat, containing principally 
 officers baggage, fell into the hands of the 6rilish fieetj 
 which occasioned the enemy for the present, no other in- 
 convenience than by enabling the British troops to ad vane©- 
 with security and to urge the retreat of the Americans. 
 
 On the 2'lth June, a party of about six hundred of tho 
 enemy, under Lieut. Colonel Boerstler, who had been dis-^ 
 patched the preceding day by General Dearborn, by way 
 of Queenstown, with a view of dislodging a detachment oi* 
 piccpiet posted at a place called the lieaver Dams, (a few 
 miles from (Queenstown,) were surprised on their route by 
 a party of Indians under CajUain Kerr, and after some 
 skirmishing, believing themselves hemmed in by superior ACair at 
 numbers, surrendered to Lieut. Fitzgibbons of the 4Qth 
 Begiinent. I'his Officer arriving at the conclusion of the 
 business w ith a small detachment of forty-six rank and 
 file, completed the victory, and the Americans surrender- * 
 
 ed themselves prisoners, after negociati ng a capitulation 
 with him in tlm name of Major de Haren, by whom ha 
 
 acrlrafh at their head, f;.'illanlly charj^cd some of the enemy’* field pieces 
 anrf hrou^rht ofl’ ‘2 six pounders. 
 
 “ Major O^iUie led on, in the most gallant manner, the five compa» 
 nies of the Kind's Regiment, and whilst one half of that highly distin- 
 UuisliCfl cordis supported the 49(h Re«:iment, the other part moved to the 
 ri«:ht and attacked the enemy’s left tiank, which decided our midai^bt 
 contest. 
 
 I l ave also received the preatect assistance from Major Gle^e, Bri* 
 jfade Major lo the Forces, and her leave to mention the names ot Cap» 
 tains M^Oonal and Millies, your Lxcclleiicy's Aids-de-Camp, who accom- 
 panied me to the attack, aiid upon all occasions have volunteered their 
 aerviees. I have likewise to acknowledfi^e the assistance of Cant. Charo«« 
 ber*, of the 41st Regiment; who had arrived some days before from Anv* 
 berstburpjh, and Mr. Brock, Pay-Master of the 49th, who assisted me af 
 Actinic Aid-de-('a;t)p. 
 
 “ To Mr. ilaekett, 4cfi»i|: StaflT-Sui^eon to this army. T feel particulaiv 
 ly indebted, by which the wounded have received every attention, au4 
 are most of them likely to be restored to the !-ervice. 
 
 “ It would Ik* an act of injustice, were 1 to omit assurinj^ yonr Ex- 
 X'ellency, that tfaliantry and discipline were never more conspicuous tiiaa 
 during our short service; and I feel the greatest <^tisfaction in assurin|g^ 
 you that every Officer and individual seemed anxious to rival each other 
 in his efTorfs to support the honour of His Majtfety’s «rms> and to ma.iv- 
 taiD the high dmracter ol' Britu>h t-roopa.” ^ 
 
 
82 
 
 AnMm!?iT1lATI0-V op 
 
 l?HAP. induced tlic pnemy to believe themselves surrmmded 
 V. considerable force. The latter oflicer though not immediately 
 on the ground, w as however in the neighbourhood, and aci- 
 i813. vancing with the light company of the 8th Regiment, and 
 the two flank companies of the 104th, with a small body 
 of Provincial cavalry, under Capt. Hall. The prisoners 
 taken, were live hundred and twelve in number including 
 twenty-five officers, with two field pieces, and a stand of 
 Oolours. 
 
 The enemy by these partial successes of the British^ 
 %ere compelled to confine themselves to Fort George and 
 its environs, and before the 1st of July the British had 
 formed a line extending from Twelve-Mile Creek on Lake 
 Ontario, across to Queenstown, on the Niagara river. 
 From Chippawa a descent w'as made on the American 
 Fort Schlosser on the opposite side of the river, during 
 the night of the 4th of July by a small party of militia 
 and soldiei's under Lieut. Colonel Clark of the militia, 
 who surprised a small guard at that post and brought a- 
 way a brass six-pounder, upwards of fifty stand of arms, 
 a small quantity of stores, with a gun-boat and tw o bat- 
 ^ tcaux. 
 
 Tipon .. Lieut. Colonel Bishopp lately commanding at Fort Erie| 
 oc . break in the morning of the eleventh of July, hav- 
 
 ing obtained the approbation of the General Commanding 
 for the execution of an eruerprise, which he had previous- 
 ly proposed, crossed over with 240 men, consisting of a 
 Small party of militia, and detachmenis of the 8th, 4lsU 
 and 49th Regiments. They effectually surprised the one- 
 tny’s post at Black Rock, where they burnt his block 
 liouses, stores, barracks, dock-yard and a vessel ; but while 
 occupied in securing the stores, to carry them away in 
 their batleaiix, the enemy with a reinforcement of militia 
 and some Indians in their interest, under cover of the sur- 
 rounding woods, opened a smart fire and compelled the 
 British to hasten their retreat, with the loss of thirteen men 
 killed, and a considerable number wounded ; among the 
 latter, Cant. Saunders of the 4 1st Raiment severely, and 
 Lieut. Colonel . Bishopp mortally, an officer of distinguished 
 yierit, whose loss was much regretted by the muitia of 
 Lpper-Canada, >^<'ilh whom he seems to have been a favorite 
 Inspect ing-f ield-Oihcer. Seven pieces of ordnance, two 
 nundred stand of small arms 2 ^ great quantity ^ 
 w^ere brgught away, ® ^ 
 
Sir George Preyost; S3 
 
 -•'The tvro armies almost in sight of each other, te^ CiiaY, 
 giained inactive, until the arrival of the Commander of V. 
 the Forces from Kingston, when the speedy reduction of 
 Fort George was confidently expected. Tlie Governor, to 
 ascertain the extent of the enemy’s works and the means 
 he possessed of defending theposition which he occupied, de- 
 termined to make a full demonstration on Fort George, and 
 •n the morning of the 24th of August, the army was put 
 in movement, as if an assault upon that Fort was Im- 
 mediately to take place. The British drove in the picquets, 
 fleveral of which were taken, and advanced within a few 
 hundred yards of the enemy, who, although supported by a 
 fire upon the British from their batteries on the opposite 
 shore, declined leaving their entrenchments to venture into 
 llie field. The Commander of the Forces did not deem ii 
 adviseable to risk a trial for the recovery of that post, 
 which, by the little utility, the enemy cooped up witliin the 
 limits of the fort, derived from its occupation, was not of 
 sufficient moment to compensate the loss, the British must 
 Lave experienced from an assault. The whole force in the 
 neighbourhood of Fort George at that period did not ex^ 
 eeed 2000 men, on an extended line, while that of the 
 enemy in F'ort George, exceeded 4000, totally depending ^ 
 
 upon their own resources for the subsistance of their army, 
 and compelled to act solely on the defensive, from the hos<> 
 tile front assumed by the British in their neighbourhood. 
 
 Harrison in the mean time was on the Sandusky river, 
 making |ireparations to prosecute the war witli vigour 19 
 the Michigan territory, us soon as the Heel fitting out at 
 Erie (Presqu’isle,) under Capt. Perry, who had been dis- 
 natchcil thither by Commodore Chauncey towards the end of 
 iVIay, should be in sufficient strength to co-operate with the 
 Luid forces. General Proctor again resolved to make a- 
 nother effort to defeat his purpose, and immeiliately invested 
 the American Fort at Lower feaudusky then under the com- 
 mand of Major Croghun, with a force consisting of near 
 five hundred men including r^ulars and militia, and be- 
 tween three and four thousand Indians under Mr. Dixon and 
 the celebrated Indian Chief Tecumseh. After a smart caii- 
 jionado on the second of August from five six pounders and 
 a howitzer tor the puipose of effecting a breac 11 in the ene- 
 my’s works, the British (the Iiuliaus having previously 
 withdrawn themselves out of n'ach of the enemy’s fire) 
 J.ed on b.^’ Brevet Lieut. Colonel Short, advaiKeU nnpcrceiv- 
 
 Attack 
 
 L«»wrr-Saft- 
 
 dusky. 
 

 SI ' AftMiNlsthliv’rtCN dS- 
 
 Ch-a?. «d by tb> eilbtny utid^r fcWver of a tloud of sniolw? to tbe clis- 
 V. lance of eighteen or twenty pates of the enemy's work^. 
 A heavy fii*e was immediately opene(4 which at first threw 
 iblB. the assailants into disorder: ihey however immediately rah 
 lied and having advanced 16 the outer works, began to leap 
 into the ditch when a fire of grape sings was ojH?ned from a 
 4 R 1 X pounder (which had been previously ari-anged so as to 
 irake the ditch) supporterl with inuskeil*}', that dealt de- 
 struction among tVie assailants, aifd compelled thrln to re- 
 treat with precipitancy, leaving their gallant leader, Liem. 
 Col. Short with three Ofltcers arkd fifty-two men killed and 
 4ind missing. The wounded amounU'd to forty-one iiidud- 
 ing three Officers. General Froctoi' after this affair fmd- 
 ing his force inadequate, the Indians unaccustomed to 
 che European mode of waifare, and the delay of a siowe, 
 gi’owing impatient, and General Harrison at no great dis- 
 tance with a respectable force, thought pro})er to raise tl«* 
 Eiegeand retire to Amhci*stburgh. 
 
 O^ture of The events in the Lower Province deserve mir attention. 
 E fortifications at the Isle-aux-NoiXj emphatically 
 
 liie-iiux-lIi^U tenned the key of Lower-Canada, had been I'epaired, aiiA 
 three gun-boatS sent thither from Quebec. No material 
 occurrence transpired in that neighbourhood Until iIk? third 
 day of June, when early in the morning a sail was obseevod 
 from the garrison over a point of land formed by a bend in 
 the river about two leagues above the Island. This un- 
 usual appearance created an alert in the garrison, at that 
 time commanded by Lieut. Colonel George Taylor, In- 
 specting Field Officer (then Major in the ]()0th Regiment) 
 who apprehending from previous private informaUem, a 
 combined attack fiom the naval force on Lake Cliainplain 
 And the troops in the neiohbourhood of his post, cominand- 
 ■cd by the Ihigadior Geimrals, Smith and Clarke, deter- 
 mined by a decisive coifp de main to anticipate the views af 
 the enemy. He lost no lime in equipping the three gun- 
 boats lying nn-employed for want of seamen, carrying each a 
 carronade (one of them an eighteen, the two others twelve 
 
 i )onnflers) and having manned them with soldiers from his 
 iegiment, with three artillery men to each boat, proceed- 
 ed to engage the enemy : on doubling the point above the 
 l^arrison, ancther vessel was discovered a short distance 
 from the Ibrincr, hitlmrto concealed by the interveiimg 
 land. Thisdiscovory did not however deter Lieut. C'ol. Taylor 
 from per8€vcri:\g in his former resolution; and tiie boatB 
 
 having 
 
Sir George PaEvafSTr 
 
 85 
 
 liuvinp advanced, a spirited engagement soon ensued, which CiiAp"^ 
 after some continuation was suspended from a deficiency of V. 
 ammunition, that w'as however, speedily supplied from the 
 garrison, when the action revived with augmented vigour. 1818 ^ 
 Lieut. Colonel Taylor had on leaving tlie garrison taken 
 the precaution to man two batteaux with a detachment of 
 soldiers, for the double purpose of rendering assistance to 
 the gun-boats in the event of their being either sunk or dis- 
 abled in the engagement, or to assist in boarding if it 
 should be found necessary ; but on seeing the enemy man- 
 ceuvring up the river with a light southerly breeze, by 
 which tliey alteimately approached tlie banks of the river, 
 
 [here, more than a mile wide,) he promptly seized the advan- 
 tage, and directed the landing of one of the batteaux crews 
 on the East, under the direction of Lieut. Williams, and the 
 other on the West side of the river, under that of Captaia 
 Gordon, with orders to j)roceed up the river, until op- 
 posite tlie vessels, and to ply them with small arms fronji 
 either shore. 
 
 These detachments on their arrival at the point of des- 
 tination, poured a destructive fire of musketry on the ene- 
 my as they alternately approached the shore. This ju- 
 dicious and well timed measure, combined with a well di- 
 rected fire from the gun-boats, of round and grape, com- 
 pletely decided the fate of the action, which the ene- 
 my most gallantly contested from half past four, until 
 half past eight in the morning, and did not surrender 
 until further resistance became utterly unavailing, one 
 of the vessels being run aground to prevent her sink- 
 ing. They proved to be the American Sloops of War, 
 
 Growler and Eagle (aflerw^ards named Shannon and Broke, 
 and subsequently by orders from the Admiralty, Chub and 
 Finch) fitted out in the most complete manner for service, 
 each carrying eleven guns, (eighteens, twelves and sixes, > 
 longeighteens on pivots upon their forecastles, with comple- 
 ments of fifty-five men, comprehending a company of ma- 
 rines, which they had received on board from Champlain the 
 evening previous to the engagement ; the whole under the 
 command of Officers of the United-States Navy. The gal- 
 lantry and good conduct of the Officers and men, particu- 
 larly that of Captain Gordon, Lieut. Williams, Ensign* 
 
 Dawson, Gibbon, Humphries, Quarter-Master Pilkington^ 
 and Mr. Lowe of the Provincial Marine Department, en- 
 gaged on this occasion, were highly applauded in Tiie»?t.'. 
 
 M Colonel 
 

 86 
 
 Administration of 
 
 Chap Colonel Taylor’s Official Despatch. The loss of the enemy 
 
 V . was considerable : the prisoners amounted to one hundred 
 
 men, of whom many were wounded ; the killed were thrown 
 1813. overboard during the action. Of the captors, not a man 
 was killed, and only three severely wounded.* The naval 
 force of the enemy on Lake Champlain was by the capture 
 of these vessels almost annihilated, while it afforded the 
 British, immediate and effectual means for offensive opera- 
 tions on that Lake, and checked the invasion meditated on 
 the Lower Province. The intention of the enemy by thus 
 venturing so near to Isle-aux-Noix where the river becomes 
 so narrow as scarcely to afford room to manoeuvre with safe- 
 ty, has never been clearly ascertained. It was thought his 
 
 { ilan w^as to have attempted to carry the fortifications of the 
 sland by surprise, or that this approach of their Sloops of 
 War was more probably to secure the progress of a regular 
 land force, actually in movement with the supposed inten- 
 tion of reducing the post by a regular siege. 
 
 pl't^rbu'rgh American Government with a view of prosecuting 
 
 Champlain & the war against Lower-Canada had been at considerable 
 SwantoB. pains aitd expence in erecting Barracks, Hospitals and 
 Magazines at different points along Lake Champlain, 
 particularly at Burlington, Plattsburgh, Champlain and 
 nwanton in the neighbourhood of the frontiers ; and it was 
 deemed expedient by the Commander of tlie Forces to fit 
 out an expedition at IsIe-aux-Noix for the pui-pose of de- 
 stroying them, as well as to divert the attention of the ene- 
 my from the Upper- Province. The two armed vessels re- 
 cently captured were put in commission, under Capt. Pring 
 who was sent from the fleet on Lake Ontario, and promoted 
 , to them by Sir James Yeo, with the rank of Commander. 
 Captain Eyerard, commanding the Wasp Sloop of War, 
 having arrived at Quebec at that juncture, was ordered 
 II om thence, with his Seamen to the IsIe-aux-Noix, where? 
 as Senior Officer, he assumed the comitiand of the two ves- 
 sels and the three gun-boats, w hich had soon been put in a 
 competent state of repair after the action. On the twenty- 
 small fleet w^as completely equipped, 
 and having received on board about nine hundred meil 
 
 T» aflair no more than 108 mm wereen^aa:ed on the part of the British. 
 
 It IS Tvoithy of notice, that this was the first action in which the 100th Kepment 
 nHviI r •'‘*1 Jiw-Picioiis omen of the ?:allautrv .afterwards di-i- 
 
 inenionous corps i i lommon Mith the other troops at M- 
 War AllrV I""’ gnn. belon^in^r ,o His Majesty 's Sloop of 
 
Sir George Prevoist. 
 
 87 
 
 consisting of a detachment of the 13th Regiment, under Chap. 
 Lieut. Colonel Williams (of that Regiment) second in com- V. 
 mand, and some companies of the 100th and 103d Regiments, 
 under the respective commands of Lieut. Colonels Taylor and 1813. 
 
 Smelt, commanding the right and left wings of the expedition, 
 
 ■with some Artillery, under Captain Gordon, and a few of 
 the embodied militia as batteaux men, the whole under the 
 command of Colonel John Murray, Inspecting-Field-Olhcer, 
 moved from Isle-aux-Noix for Lake Champlain. The expedi- 
 tion j)roceeded up the Lake with much order, and on the 
 SIst landed without opposition at Plattsburgh, from 
 whence General Moore with a considerable body of men, 
 (re]>orted at about fifteen hundred,) had previously retired 
 on the approach of the British. Here, Colonel Murray 
 having previously embarked all the warlike Stores, of which 
 a considerable quantity was found in the Arsenal, and hav- 
 ing destroyed such as he could not conveniently take away, 
 set fire to the enemy’s Arsenal, public buildings. Commis- 
 sariat Stores and Barracks, recently erected and capable of 
 accommodating from four to five thousand men. While the 
 troops were thus employed during that day and the whole 
 of the night, Captains Everard and Bring, in the Growlerand 
 Eagle, with a gun-boat, proceeded to Burlington where Ge- 
 neral Hampton lay encamped with four thousand men, and 
 threw that place into the utmost consternation. Having 
 captured and destroyed within sight of the enemy’s forces, 
 four vessels, Captain Everard returned to l^lattsburgh 
 w here the troops were re-embarked and j)roceeded to Swan- 
 ton. Colonel MuiTay while on the w^ay thither sent a de- 
 tachment to Cliamplain, for the pur])ose of destroying the 
 BaiTacksand a Block House at tliat post. The main body 
 having visited Swanton, and effected thepumose of the ex- 
 pedition to the fiillest extent of His Excellency’s orders, 
 returned to Isle-aux-Noix, where they arrived on the fourth 
 of August. 
 
 The anmy acting upon the extensive line of operations 
 along the frontiers of Lower and Upper-Canada, (at the 
 lowest computation, one thousand miles from Lake Cham^ 
 plain to Michilimakinac) was by the able an*angements of 
 the Commissary General, Sir \V. II . Robinson, and the un- 
 wearied exertions of the Department under his directions, 
 copiously supplied at every point with provisions and com- 
 missariat stores of all descriptions. The small post at La- 
 chinc w as converted into a deputy and placed und«- the 
 
 M 2 super- 
 
88 
 
 Administration op 
 
 CtfAP. 
 
 18 i^. 
 
 A fTair at 
 Goose Creek. 
 
 snporintendonce of John Finlay, Esquire, Dy. Asst. ComiHiV- 
 sary (ieneral, from whence the whole su})j)lics forthe Upper- 
 Province, were, by that Gentleman forwarded to Kingston 
 with the most indefatigable diligence. To intercept the 
 convoys ot battcaux with provisions from that post to Kings- 
 ton, the Americans had sent several cruisers and j)rivateei*s 
 from Sachet’s If arbour to the vicinity of Prcscot, and 
 among the Thouaaml Islands, On the 20th July the ene- 
 my having succeeded in surprising and capturing at day 
 break a brigade of battcaux loaded w ith provisions under 
 convoy of a gun-boat, wdth which they retired several miles 
 up Goose Creek, on the South of the St. Lawrence, belo\y 
 Ciananocpic, three gun-boats under the command of Lieut. 
 Scott of the Royal Navy, were despatched from Kingston 
 williadetachmentof the lOOth Kcgiineat under ( apt. iVlanin, 
 with a view of intercepting them on their return to Sac* 
 ket’s fiarbour. They proceededtothe lower end of Long Is- 
 land, w here having ascertained the retreat of the enenw, 
 they immediately pushed for that place, but before they came 
 in sigln of of the American vessels, the evening was loo 
 far advanced to make an attack w ith any prospect of suc- 
 cess ; it was therelbre determined to defer the attack until 
 the next morning. Another gun boat arriving in the course 
 of the evening with a detachment of the 4 1st Regiment, under 
 Major IVend, that Officer assumed the command, and at 
 three o’clock the next morning, proceeded up the Creek 
 >vith the gun-boats in the hopes of gaining the ene- 
 uiy’s position at the daw n of day. They proceeded until 
 ihe channel became so narrow that the gun-boats could 
 neither use their oars noy turn, sp as to bring their guns to 
 bear upon the banks, and it was discovered that the ene- 
 my had taken precautions to obstruct their further progress 
 by felling large trees across the Creek, In endeavouring 
 to remove these impediments they were fired upon by the 
 Amer ican ve sel-, and from a gun which they had landed on 
 the left bank, supported w ith musketry from the surround- 
 ing w oods. A few^ of the soldiers who had landed on the 
 right bank having re-embarked in the sternmost boats, leapt 
 into the stream and carrying their muskets on their 
 heads succeeded, after wading through the water and 
 swampy soil contiguous thereto, in effecting a landing on 
 the left bank, and led on by Lieut. Fawcet, of the 100th 
 RegiTnent,drovetheenemyingallantstyle,whoretreated\vith 
 precipitancy to their log intreiichment. This spirited ad- 
 Vance saved the gun-boats, the foremost of wliich (the only 
 
Sir George Prevost. 
 
 89 
 
 one that bore upon the enemy) exposed to a galling fire had 
 been disabled. Major Frend finding the enemy strongly 
 posted, and, from the impracticability of bringing the other 
 gun-boats into action, that a further perseverance must be 
 attended ^vith a greater sacrifice of lives than the nature of 
 the enterprise seemed to justify, I'c-cmbarked the troops and 
 r<‘tired from the unequal contest. In this affair Captain 
 Millies, Aid-de-Camp to the Commander of the Forces, was 
 mortally wounded. This gallant young officer, had acci« 
 dentally met Major Frend ininirsuit of the enemy, and im» 
 polled by a thirst of honor had volunteered his services to 
 assist in accomplishing his purpose. The enemy embolden* 
 ed by this momentary success continued to cruise with im- 
 punity in the same neighbourhood to the annoyance of the 
 Commissariat transport service, when a movement of troops 
 from the Lower to the Upper Province, afforded a moment* 
 ary ojniortunity of checking their temerity. Seven Compa- 
 nies oithe 100th Regiment und^r the command of Lieut. Co- 
 lonel Taylor, on their route from Isle-aux-Noix, to Upper-Ca» 
 nada, arriving in the middle of August at Prescot, Lieut. 
 Colonel Pearson in command at that Post, had previous orders 
 to form an expedition in conjunction with the detachment 
 under that Officer, and about eighty seamen that were to 
 have been there at the same time, (on their route from 
 Quebec, to Lake Krie, tp i«an the fleet on that Lake un- 
 der Captain Barclay,)* in order to dislqdge the enemy from 
 Cioose Creek, and to scour the Thousand Islands infested 
 by his Privateers. The seamen not arriving so soon as 
 expected, and the urgency of the service in the Upper 
 Province, requiring the immediate advance of this reinfor- 
 cement of troops, there was no time for delay, and the ex* 
 pedition consisting of five gun-boats, w ith upwards of 400 
 men under the command of Lieut. Colonels Pearson and 
 Taylor, immediately sot qut for Goose Creek, which the enemy 
 precij)itately abandoned upon their approach. From thence 
 they cruised lor some time among the Thousand Islands^ 
 and visited Gravelly Point in the vicinity of Sacket’s Har* 
 hour. This excursion proved of material importance to 
 the security of thetitinsport of provisions and stores destined 
 for the Upper-Province, as the enemy’s cruisers did not for 
 the remainder of the present campaign infest these w^aters. 
 
 On Lake Ontario the two Naval Commanders strove witli 
 
 * It has been asserted that the Seamen m re alluded to, never reached 
 Lake Krie, as it was found expedient to dciain them at KJn^stoB for th# 
 •ervice oo Lake Oatam. 
 
 Chap, 
 
 ibia. 
 
90 
 
 AdMINISTRATIO!^ of 
 
 CiiAP. indofatifirable emulation for the dominion of the Lake. Com-* 
 V . modore Chaiincey after the capture of Fort George, returned 
 
 to Sachet’s Harbour to await the eauipment of his new ship 
 the Pike, while his adversaiy air James Yeo, scoured 
 the I^ke, and supplied the British army in the neighbour- 
 re^cesonSe of kort (k*orge, with abundance of Stores, In the early 
 Ontario. part ot July, Sir James Yeo litted out an exjiedition of 
 boats for Sachet’s Harbour, with a view of cutting out their 
 new ship, then almost rigged and ready to appear on the 
 Lake. He arrived unobserved at the vicinity of that Port, 
 and would probably have effected his purpose had not the 
 escaj^e of two deserters from his party, which had landed 
 for relieshment, and in order to remain concealed until 
 night should favor the enterprise, given the alarm to the 
 enemy. This unlucky incident incluced him to relinquish 
 the undertaking and return to Kingston. Towards the end 
 of July the American fleet a^ain appeared with augmented 
 force upon the Lake, and Commodore Cliauncey having 
 received a company of artilleiy, with a considerable number 
 of troops under Colonel Scott, proceeded for the head of 
 the Lake, with a view of seizing and destroying the Stores 
 at Burlington heights, the principal depot of the army on 
 the Niagara Frontier, then occui)ied by a small detach- 
 ment under Major Maule. The design of the enemy against 
 this depot being su^ected, Lieutenant Colonel Battersby, 
 Commanding the Glengary Regiment, upon being notified 
 to that effect by Lieutenant Colonel Harvey, Deputy Adju- 
 tant General, moved forward from York, and by a march of 
 extraordinary celerity arrived with a reinforcement in time 
 to save the depots which the enemy, on finding the British 
 prepared to receive them, did not (leemit prudent to attack. 
 Commodore Chauncey on learning that York, by the ad- 
 vance of Lieut. Colonel Battersby to Burlington Heights, was 
 left destitute of troops, seized the opportunity and bore 
 away for that Port, which he entered on the 31st July. 
 Here the Americans landed without: opposition, and ha- 
 ving taken jx)ssession of the small quantity of stores found 
 at that place, they set fire to the barracks and public store- 
 houses, and having re-embarked their troops, bore aw'ay for 
 Niagara. It is a coincidence of circumstances worthy of 
 notice, that on the same day in which the American Coni- 
 mander was ein ployed in burning the barracks and stores 
 at York, Lieutenant Colonel Mun'uy was not less actively 
 employed on the same business at Plattsburgh. The British 
 fleet sailed from Kingston on the last day of July, with 
 
 gup- 
 
Sm GEoncE Prevost. 
 
 91 
 
 ^applies for the army at the head of the Lake, and on the 
 eighth of August looked into Niagara, where the enemy’s 
 fleet lay moored. The latter hove up, and bore down 
 upon the British fleet, with which they manopuvrcd until 
 the tenth, when a partial engagement ensued, in which two 
 small vessels, of forty men each, (the Julia and Growler,) 
 were cut ott' and captured by the British. Commodore 
 Chauncey somewhat disheartened with the loss ol’these, and 
 two other small vessels, the Scourge of eight, and Hamilton 
 of nine guns, upset by a press of sail to escape the British 
 fleet, with the loss of all hands, except sixteen men picked 
 up by the British, bore up for Nia^ra, from whence he 
 sailed almost immediately for SackeCs Harbour, where he 
 arrived on the thirteenth of August. Here he provisioned 
 his fleet, and instantly made sail for Niagara, where he 
 remained at anchor until the British fleet aj>f>eared ofl' that 
 Harbour, early in the morning of the seventh of September, 
 when the American fleet again weighed and bore down 
 upon the British, with which they manoeuvered until the 
 twelfth, when the latter retired into Amherst Bay near 
 Kingston. During these five days, but few shots were ex- 
 changed between the larger ships, without any injury to 
 either side. The Americans however had much the advan- 
 tage in weight of metal and long guns. The fleets again 
 met on the 28th September otf York, when an engagement 
 ensued for near two hours, in which the Wolfe, command- 
 ed by Sir James Yeo, lost her main and mizen top masts, 
 and would probably have been captured, had not the Royal 
 George, commanded by captain Mulcaster, run in bet- 
 ween the Wolfe and the Pike, taking the lattei* in a raking 
 position, so as to alford the Wolfe an opportunity of hau- 
 ling olf and clearing away the wreck. This alfair tennina- 
 ted in the retreat of the British fleet under Burlington 
 heights, whither the enemy did not think proper to pursue it : 
 a resolution, which if adopted by the American Commander 
 might probably have been fatal to the British fleet on Lake 
 Ontario. On the first of October, the American fleet set 
 sail from Fort George with a convoy of troops for Sacket’a 
 Harbour, where an expedition was preparing, whose desti- 
 nation was as yet unknowui. The British fleet left their 
 anchorage under Burlington Heights on the next day and 
 came insight of the enemy, but no attempt was made to 
 bring on a general engagement. The American fleet in 
 their way to Sacket's Harbour fell in with, and captured 
 five small vessels out of seven, w ith upwards of 250 men of 
 
 De 
 
 ClI Al*% 
 
 18U- 
 
92 . Administration oif ‘ 
 
 .Chap*. De WatteTiIle^S Regiment from York, bound for King!?** 
 V. ton, where an attack was apprehended. This loss though 
 apparently trifling in itself, was severely felt, by reason of 
 the few forces in the Upper- Province. For the remainder 
 of the season nothing of moment occurred on this liake, 
 and indeed the Naval Commanders appear to have considered 
 the question of too great importance to their respective 
 Governments to stake the fate of the war in Uppev-Caiiadt^ 
 apon a de^isivo naval engagement* ' 
 
 i 
 
 \ 
 
 < 
 
 i- 
 
 CRAP- 
 
SiiK Georg R Prevost, 9^ 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 T he campaign towards the autumn assumed a move Cm ap. 
 
 systematic and menacing chavactci% At the begin- \ E 
 ning ot* September, the forces at Burlington ( \ erniont) iin- 
 der General Hamjubn, moved across tiakc ('hamj^laiii to 18 Id, 
 Plattsburgh, ^vith a view of penetrating into the di-'trict of 
 Montreal, while (lenerhl Wilkinson with 10, 000 men ct 
 Sacket's Harbour, was preparing under tin:* immotliato di- 
 rection of Gcnernl Armstrong the Secretary ofw'ar, a nu- 
 merous llotilla of battcaux and Durham boats, for an expe- 
 dition Suppo-ed to be destined either ilgainst Kingston or 
 Monlrehl. Gcnefal Harrison with an army of eight thou- 
 sand men on the Miami river, only wMited for t1ie equip- 
 ment ofthe American Hect fitting out under Corumodor;^ 
 
 Perry at Presqu’Islc, to move his forces against Detroit, and 
 to caiTv on olfensivo operations agalhst tlic British in the 
 neighbourhood of f/ake Krio. Captain Barclay, wlio had 
 early in the summer, assumed the command of the British 
 squadron on Ijake Erie, blocktulcd the American fleet, so 
 as to prc\ent their crossing the Bar at Presqu' Isle (which 
 theoneuly could not effect without unshipping their guns,) 
 until toward the conclusion of August, when having occa- 
 sion to bear away for Long Point, the enemy seiz^ii tlio 
 moment of his absence and crossetl the Bar. Finding ok 
 his return the enemy ready for the Lake, and too powerful 
 for his small squadron, he bore away for Amliorstburgh, t(^ 
 await the equipment of the Detroit recently lauuclie.L 
 Commodore Perry sailed shortly after him for the head of 
 the Lake, and appeared at the commencement of Septem- 
 ber, for several days successively off' Amliorstburgh, in de- 
 fiance of the British squadron, retiring every evening 
 his anchorage at The British forces in tlie 
 
 Michigan Territory, and its neighbourhood, falling short of 
 supplies for wdiich they depended solely upon tlie 
 Captain Barclay had no other alternative than to risk a 
 general engagement. With this resolution, he made sail 
 from Amherstburgh on the 9th September, manned w'lth 
 only fifty or sixty seamen, (including a small reinforcemeac 
 of thirty-six men from Lake Ontario) and Detachmems 
 f: til ' f i-it, and Royal Vcwfoiindland Regiments, as n a- Uifv 
 
 fines. On tee tenth in the morning the eneiiiy'*6 Meet w 
 
 N ' 
 
84 
 
 ADxMINISTRATION op 
 
 CirAP descried at anchor in Put-in-Baf/^ whidi immediately 
 
 VI. weighed and bore down upon the British squadron, while 
 
 the wind blowing a gentle breeze fi-oin the South West, 
 1813. veering round to tlie South East, gave the enemy the 
 w eather gage. At a quarter before twelve, the British com- 
 menced tiring, wliich was in ten minutes afterwards return- 
 ed by the enemy who bore up for close action. The enga- 
 gement continued wdth unabated fury until half past 
 tw o, w hen the enemy’s principal ship, the Law rence, being 
 rendered unmanageable, Commodore Perry left her in cliar- 
 ge of his first T^ieut. Yarnal, and hoisted his Pendant on 
 board the Niagara. Soon after this Officer had left the 
 Lawrence her colours were struck, but the British from 
 the weakness of their crews and the destruction of their 
 boats were unable to take possession of her. It was at this 
 anxious ami interesting juncture, that the fate of the day 
 seemed to ])oise in favor of the British ; and Commodore 
 Periw even despaired of the victory, wdien a sudden breeze 
 revived his hopes, and turned the scale in his favor. This 
 fortunate Commander linding the Niagara had suffered 
 lightly in the engagement, made a desperate effort to retrieve 
 the fortune of the day, and taking advantage of the breeze, 
 shot {^head of the Lady Prevost, Queen Charlotte and 
 Hunter, raking them with her starboard guns, and engaged 
 the Detroit, which being raked in all directions soon be- 
 came unmanageable. The Niagara then bore round ahead 
 of the Queen Charlotte, and hauling up on the starboard 
 tack, engaged that Ship, giving at the same time a raking 
 fire with her larboard guns to the Chippawa and little Belt, 
 w'hile the smaller vessels closing to grape and canister 
 distance, maintained a tremendous and most destructive fire. 
 J liis masterly, and but too successful manoeuvre decided the 
 contest. Captain Barclay, being severely and dangerously 
 wounded, Captain Finnis of the Queen Charlotte, killed, 
 and every Commander, and Officer second in command 
 either killed or disabled, the Detroit and Queen Charlotte, 
 perlect wTccks, after a (lesperate engagement of upwards of 
 three hoin s, w as compelled to surrender. By this decisive 
 action, the whole of the British squadron on Lake Erie 
 was captured by the enemy, who now became uncontrollable 
 masters of that Lake. The enemy lost in this action twen- 
 ty-seven men in killed and ninety six-men wounded. The 
 British lost three officers and thirty-eight men killed, and 
 nine officers and eighty-five men w'ounded. 
 
 The 
 
Sm Geouoe Prevort. 
 
 95 
 
 C1IAP4 
 
 VI 
 
 The Prisoners were landed at Sandusky and treated 
 with the greatest Immaniiy by ilie the American Conuno- 
 doie, who paroled Captain Barclay, ami treated that gaU 
 lain Oliicer witli all the kindness and attention which his 
 uiisiiccessfal bravery deserved. 
 
 The army in possession of the Michigan Territory and in 
 the neighl)ourhood of Detroit, by this di^astrous defeat 
 were now' de])riveil ofevery prosj)Cct ol obtaining future sup- 
 pin's trom Kingston by way of liuke Ontario, and a speedy 
 evacuation of Detroit and a retreat towards titeheadot that 
 l^ake, became inevitable. Commodore Perry, as soon af- 
 ter the engagement as circumstances would admit, trans- 
 ported tile American forces under the command of Gen^'ral 
 ffarrison, from Portage Biver and h'ort Meigs, to Ptif-ui- 
 h-ny, from whence they were conveyed to the neighbourhood 
 of Ainlierstburgii, which they occu} ied %on tin* evening of 
 tlie of Se[/tember, General Proctor having previously 
 falien back upon Sandwich after setting tire to the Navy 
 Yard, Barnict<.s and Public Stores, at the former place. 
 (JiMteral Proctor seeing the enemy determined to follow up 
 Ins lirst success, by an immediate march upon Detroit, 
 found his troops void of resources, too reduced in mimbe*s 
 to make a stand and dispute the occupancy of that Po t 
 agiunst the overwhelming ibrce of the enemy. He tlieretore 
 determined to retreat along the river 'fhames toward tlie 
 lu'jid of l.ake Ontario. (>n Se])tomber ‘i'tith l;e evacuated 
 Detroit and Fort Sandwich, and conum need his retreat 
 toward the 1'hames, having entirely destroyed the public UndAi. 
 stores at lliose posts. In this reverse of fortune tlie Indians 
 under Colonel Flliot of the Indian Department, w ith Te- 
 enmseh, still adhered to his staUvdard witli unshaken hde^ 
 lity, and covered liis retmu. Harrison occupied Sandw ich^ 
 on the following day (the ^J7th Sept.) and on tiie second of 
 October marched in quest of tlie shattered remains of the 
 British Forces nmler General Proctor, escorted bv a num- 
 ber of baitenux, and three gnn-boats, under the immedi- 
 ate diret lion of (\unmodore Perry. On the 4th of Octo- 
 ber, he came up w’ith the rear gunril of the British, and 
 fmcceeded in capturing the whole of their ammunition ajid 
 stores. General l^roctor, under this second reverse of for- 
 tune, by which he was left destitute of the means of sub- 
 sistence nnfl defence, found himselt compcUi'd to slake the 
 fate of iIjC remnant of his small army on a general engage- 
 ment. lie accordingly assumed a position on the right 
 
 N 2 
 
 
r"Ap 
 
 VI 
 
 Administration pf 
 
 h'lnk of the TIinmes, at the Moravian I'own fan Indian 
 village,) the left of his line, resting on the river and su|> 
 a field piece, liis right on a svvainj), at the tli$- 
 18ij. tance of near ^'()() yi^rds from the river, ajid hanked by the 
 whole Indian force altaciicd to the division. The interme- 
 diate ground covered with lofty trees, was dry and some- 
 W'hat cle\atqd. In tlii,^ position he wailed the ap))ioach of 
 the enemy, wl.o, having on the morning of the .:tii of Op- 
 toher, j)assed tlie river at a rapid, 12 miles below the Mor 
 ravian village, by means of two or |:h»Te boats and a few 
 Indian canoes found on the ^j)ot, and by crossing a 
 number of infantry behind the horsemen, came up with 
 the British in tlie afternoon of that inglorious day. Gc- 
 ■ neral Harrison drew uj) his men in two lines, and se- 
 
 cured his left liank wliicli was opposed to the Indians, by 
 a Division tlirown back m Potnicc^ and without any pre- 
 vious engagenieiu by fnfantiw, ordered his mounted Ken- 
 tuckiajis (accustomed from their boyhood to ride with ex- 
 traordinary dexterity ihroiigli the most embarrassed woods) 
 to ciiarge at full speed njmii tlie British, wliich they elloct- 
 V} discharge their third fm*. 
 
 h\,r \ iiy\ do- this - cavalry charge of the enemy, the troops worn 
 1 .*. r.viic- pown with fatigue and hunger, and dispirited by the un- 
 iroctor. promising appearance of the campaign, beca;np totally 
 lonted, and for the most part, surrendered themselves ]iri- 
 soners, vyhile the Gi'ueral, and his personal Stalls sought 
 their safe ty in flight. The Indigns m the mean time car- 
 ried on the contest w'ith the left of the American line, with 
 furious petormination ; but these faithful allies, finding all 
 hopes of retrieving the day to be in vain, vielded to^hc 
 overwhelming numbers of the enemy, and reluctantly left 
 the lick). Tliey how^eyer remained in the neiglibourhood, 
 and harrassod the enemy on his retreat to Detroit and 
 4 andwK'h, whitlier he returned immediately after the <ic- 
 tion. 1 he British are saicl to have lost tw'clve killed anil 
 twenty-two wounded. The Americans stated their own 
 loss at seven killed and tw^enty-two wounded. Tliirtv- 
 three Indians \y ere found dead on the field; among tlicm 
 tlie flimoiis cliief and warrior 7'^^camseh, not less cole- 
 biated for his hiimaniiy, a virtue little known among In- 
 dians in a slate of wmr, tlmn by his bravery, his eloquence, 
 and his influence among oiir Indian allies. Upwards of six 
 hundretlof llio British, including twenty-five officers, were 
 made prisoners of war. They who escaped, made the best 
 o tiieii way to Ancustcr, at the head of the Luke Ontario, 
 
 ex- 
 
Sift G FORGE PrEVOST. 
 
 97 
 
 opposed at an inclement season, to all the horroi'S of a 
 dreary wildornos, of hunger and of taniine. On the seven- 
 teenth of October, they Rnidezxoused that place to the 
 number of two Inindred and forty-six, including the Ge- 
 »oral and seventeen officers.* 
 
 This disaster of the British arms in that quarter, seemi 
 not to have been palliated by those precautions, and that 
 prtsence of mind, which, even in defeat, reflect lustre 
 upon a Commander. 'I'he bridges and roads iii the rear of 
 tiie retreating army were left entire, while its progress was 
 retarded by an useless and cumbrous load of baggage. W he- 
 ther the neglect sjuung from an erroneous contempt of 
 the enemy, or fioip disobedience of the orders of the Com- 
 manding Officer, is not well understood : but the def\at 
 led to the harshest recrimination, and involved the divi- 
 sion of the brave troops that had hitherto served with 
 honor in tlie Michigan territory, in undeserved disgrace. 
 
 Notwithstanding these events the British still retained, 
 possession of Michilimackinac, which secured our influen- 
 ce over the Indian Tribes of the West, and though Gene- 
 ral Harrison, contemplated an expedition against that 
 
 post. 
 
 * The Amr'riran oflirial statement of the nnniher of priconers fak**r a 
 thh iiUair almonr exacil^ coiiicitle> with t.-e Bi tibl) acrtuint-. f>n*»ral liar- 
 r^on in his OHiciai Oe.patrh, say , I left ho array before an offi -lal re- 
 Uirii of the prisoners, aiul that of the and woun<lcd made ont. 
 
 It })pwever a-rerrain»'d that (he former ajnounfod to six handled and 
 one retraiars, inclmlin^c twenty-live officers. Otw loss is seven kilbd :jad 
 twaofv-two wminded, tivcof whieli died since. Of the British troops, twt.ve 
 re killed and Ovenfy-Iwo wounded. The Indian.- <.ulVorpd mosi---th^r,y- 
 threo of them haviitfc been found upon the ground, besides those killed oa 
 
 Tilt* Brili-li loss ran be ascertained from (he follow ing extract from the 
 G • eral Order of (In' Coinman ler of the Force? of the ‘ihh of \ovem:>er 
 1813, relative to General Proctor’s defeat on the 5di of Oclober, lH13. 
 
 Xi/ted. wouruled, and mhuns in the retreat and in the action of the 5th Oc- 
 ’ toher, 1813. 
 
 jissembUd qt Ancafder on the \lth October^ 1813. 
 
 1 Maior-Geneial, I ^^'ijor of li i^ade, 1 Aid-de-Carap, I SraflT Adjutant, 
 3 Captains, 5 Lieutenant , 2 Fiisigns, I ArtjnlanV ^ 
 
 tt^(ant Surgeons, 15 Serjeants, 9 liruinnieiM, 204 Rank and l ile, 53 Hor»ei. 
 
 Tolal strength of the Right Division on the \m of September, 1813 
 1 Major-Geaerrd, 1 ln-:peeting-Fi ‘Id-Offieer, 1 Major of Bripide, 1 De- 
 
 r l(y-\^-»aan( Ouarler-M; *?^r- 'Cneral, I Aid-de-Camp. 1 Stall- ^diM^^nt, 
 l ort-Aaiutant, I Uovpiuil-.Ma« , Lieu,. Colojul, 9 ( aptains, 20 Lieu 
 an , 5 Ensj^rns, ! Pav-AlasTer, : ■ Ijumn:, I <.>»arfer-Ma-trr, 4 AssisuibG 
 4 i^r^coos; 57 Serjeants, 2^ Drinxiinv.rs, 991 Ruak uud iile, V 9 Hones, 
 
 Chap, 
 
 
Administration op 
 
 
 Chap, post, lie found the season too far advanced to undertake the 
 VI. enterprise with any prospect of success. For this reason, 
 and ifom a belief, that the Garrison of that Post, cut otf 
 front all resources must necessarily tall of itself, he aban- 
 doned the project, not aware that it might, though with 
 some pains be copiously supjdied by way ol’ York or the Oi- 
 tawa lliver. His disposeable forces were i hereto! e convey- 
 ed from the head ol Lake Frie to Butlaloe, from wliciice 
 they were forwarded to Niagara and J ’ort George to su}>- 
 
 ! :>»y the detachments which had moved from thence to Sac- 
 wet’s Harbour. 
 
 The Commander of the Forces, whose Head- Quarter* 
 ^ycre at Kingston, having cause to suspect an attack ai that 
 P<;int. by the armament pre})aring at Sackel’s Hai^jour,. 
 re-called Major (general De Kottenbuigh with a pan of tils 
 force troni (he Niagara frontier, leaving Major (jeneral 
 Vincent to continue llie investment of fort (uwge. +\o. 
 sooner had these onlers been tarried into ellect Ibi the se- 
 CKirity of Kingston, than General V^incent asceiuiinetl 
 several successive expresses from General Proctor, his re-’ 
 tr^at from A mherstbuigh, and his total discomiiuire at the 
 Moravian Village. So circumstanced, he judged it expe- 
 dient lor the succour of the broken remains of the right di- 
 vision retreating towards the head of the Ontario, as well 
 as for the salety of iiis army, to raise the investment of I'oit 
 Cieorge and to fall back and concentrate his huxes at lliir- 
 lington Heights, lest Geneml Harrison by a boltl anti rapid 
 inarch, or by a sudden descent in the fleet from Anihcrst- 
 bmgli, should pre-occupy that important jjosition, which 
 if eitectod by the enemy/ would place him betw een the two, 
 hostile armies. 
 
 To retire w ith order and safety at a moment when the 
 enemy eiuboldened by recent triumphs, and the advantage 
 of superior numbers, might bya decisive stroKe, liavedisjieis- 
 od our forces on the Niagara frontier, was a movement of the 
 utnjost consequence to the security of U])pcr-Canada. 
 
 The riritish line extending in front of Fort George from 
 the Four- Mile (’reek on Lake Ontario, to the cross roads 
 and St. Davids, was so extremely weakened by sickness as 
 to be scarcely able from throe or four thousand men to ex- 
 IiiMl one third of that number of effective firelocks in case 
 oi eme,gency : but the buperior advantages ol decision pjkI 
 • picthod 
 
Sir George Prevost. 
 
 99 
 
 method in effecting the retreat amply provided for the safety Cn A1», 
 of the movement. Early in the morning of the 9t!i of Oc- V'l. 
 tober, the main body with the baggage tell back in silence 
 and with good order, while the picqnets remained at theit 
 Posts in front of Fort George, in order to engage the atten- 
 tion of the enemy, who were not aware of the retreat iiritil 
 the evening, when tlte picqnets fell back upon seven compa- 
 nies of the lOOth l^egiinent under the command of Lient. of F. George* 
 Colonel Taylor, which were selected tor the occasion, and 
 with the light company of the 8th Regiment and a few In- 
 dians^ the whole attached to the com\nand of Colonel Miir^ 
 ray, constituted the rear guard, and covered the retreat of 
 the main body. This small but elfective force, and which 
 during the investment had participateil in all the fatigue* 
 and privations incident to that service, proceeded in ilie* 
 rear of the army by slow and deliberate marches, an ! 
 though closely pressed for several davs by a Brigade of I VK) 
 men under Brigadiei's Geneml McClure and Porter froiri 
 Fort George, so effectually checked their pursuit as to af- 
 ford time to General Vincent to collect the rcmaitis of the 
 right division under General l^roctor and to prepare him- 
 self against an attack at Burlington Heights. 
 
 A fter a few days march and constant manceuvring with 
 McClure’s division, tlie rear guard finally assumed a posi- 
 tion at the already celebrated Stoney C^reek, from which 
 the enemy did not think it prudent to attempt to dislodge 
 them. 
 
 The Commander of the Forces havinir left Major Gene- 
 ral De Rottenburgli in charge of the Civil and Military 
 commands in Upper- Canada, returned to Montreal tow- 
 ard the end of September, to meet the invasion with which 
 the enemy threatened the Lower Province. General Hamp- 
 ton after Iniving transported his force across Lake Cham- 
 plain, lay encamped for some days at Cumberland Head 
 near Plattsburgh. On the 20th of September, he entered 
 I^wer-Canada, (his advanced guard having surprised a 
 small Piquet early in the morning) at Od^town, at the 
 lower extremity of liake Champlain, with upwards of live 
 thousand men. The road leading from thence to PAca- 
 die and the open Country in the neighbourhood of Montre- 
 al, lies through a swampy wood of upwards of hye league® 
 which had been cut up and rendered impracticable by 
 abbatis since the preceding campaign, by ilic Voltig^i'^'* 
 
 undev 
 
100 
 
 Admini?»tration or* 
 
 I8U. 
 
 under Liouf. Coionel Do Salaberrv, and was now g\iavf!rtf 
 by ^ few of tiie Frontier TJ^ht Infantri/^ and ?ome Indians 
 under the direction of Captain Mailloux. These were im- 
 naediately reinforced by the Hank companies of the 4ih Bat- 
 talion of Embodied M ilitia under Major Penuult, and the 
 Canadian Voltigeurs under Lieut. Colonel De Salaberry 
 who commanded the advance. Had Hampton immediately 
 sent forweird aboily of Hiflemen through the woods, ho might* 
 without much difficulty, have obtained a footing in the open 
 Country near St. Johns : which if he could have succeeded 
 til occupying, must have led to the surrender of the fsly^anx* 
 Noix. lie however seems not to have been aware of oirr* 
 weakness, or to have placed little reliance in the discipline 
 and perseverance of his troops. On the 2^d September, he 
 evacuated Odeltown, and moved with his wliole force west- 
 ward, toward the head of Chatcauguay Hiver, under pretext 
 of the impracticability of advancing througli the Odeltown 
 road for want of water for his cavalry, and cattlcj owing t# 
 the extraordinary drouth of the Season. 
 
 At this momentous crisis, the Commander of the Forccf 
 issued au animating Proclamation, calling for the exertion^ 
 of the people in repelling the threatened invasion ; and the 
 militia in the district of Montreal, turned out with the 
 same ardour and alacrity as in the preceding cainjiaign. 
 
 ^ I^iout. Colonel De Salaberry, with the Canadian Volti-* 
 attacifs on ascertaining the route the enemy had pursued, 
 
 moved in like manner to Chateangnay, where he was or- 
 ®^"dered by the Comma:nder of the Forces, to proceed to die 
 enemy’s camp at Four Corners^ at the head or the Chateau- 
 guay, in order to create an alarm, and if possible dislodge hirm 
 by a surprise. To effect this service (the accomplishment 
 vvhich appeared quite impracticable to Lieut. Colonel 
 D ' Salaberi’y, with the very limited force under his com- 
 mand) he proceeded through the woods along the Ciiateau- 
 giiay, with one hundred and fifty of his Voltigeurs, the 
 Light Company of Canadian Fencibles, and about one 
 h indred Indians, under the direction of Capt. Gaucher; 
 and on the afternoon of the first of October, arrived, iin-* 
 observed, at the vicinity of the enemy’s camp. By the in- 
 discretion of one of his Indians, who liad discharged his 
 piece, an alarm was created, when Lieut. Colonel De Sala- 
 berry finding himself discovered, i!niii diatelv collecterl lifiy 
 pf his V^oltigcurs, with which, and his iiidiams, he pushel 
 
 ini^ 
 
Sir George Prevost. 
 
 101 
 
 them for a considemhle distance, until perceiving the main ^ 
 body of the enemy making movements to circumvent him, 
 he tell back, and took up his former position at the skirt 
 of the woods; I' rom this point Lieut. Colonel De Sala- 
 berry again made another charge, but the alarm being now 
 universal in the camp, and the Indians having lullen to the 
 rear, his men were obliged to retire, leaving him and Cap- 
 tains Chevalier Duchesnay and Gaucher, with a tew trusty 
 Voltigeurs, who skirmished w ith the enemy until after dark. 
 Of the Americans, one ofticer and one man were killed, and 
 only one wounded, by their own statement ; though other 
 more probable accounts, state their loss at twenty-live 
 killed and wounded. This aflair, though of inferior mo- 
 inent^ deserves onr attention, as it allbrd'ed an occasion 
 . to Lieut. Colonel De Salaberry, of leading his Voltigeui-s 
 .for the tii’st time into action, and probably gave him a just 
 confidence in the valour of his countrymen, which a few 
 days afterwards they so nobly exemplified under their gal- 
 lant lioaderat Chateaiiguay. After this rencounter he return- 
 ed to Cliateaugnay, taking the precaution of breaking up 
 the road in his rear, and acquainting himself with the 
 ground over which Hampton was expected to make his 
 way into tlie Province, and finally assumed a judicious 
 position ill a thick w^ood, on the left bank of the Chateau- 
 .giiay river, at the distance of two leagues above the Fork 
 or confluence of the English and Cliateaugnay rivers, where 
 he threw up temporary breast works of lo^s, covering 
 his front and right flank by extended abhatis while his 
 left was secured by the river. 
 
 Here he resolved to await the enemy and maintain hls 
 ground with a handful of Canadians, against the whole 
 strength of the invading army. In his rear there was a 
 smalf rapid where the river was fordable : tliis he cover- 
 ed with a strong breast work and a guard; keeping at the 
 Same time a strong picquet of the Beauharnois militia ia 
 advance on the right bank of the 1 liver, lest the ene- 
 my approaching under cover of the forest might cross the 
 Ford, and dislodge him from his ground. Ihe occupancy 
 of this position, Hampton justly considered of the fiist 
 importance to the ulterior oDject of the campaign, as the 
 country from thence to the mouth of the Chateaiiguay, being 
 principally open and cultivated, afforded no strong poiius 
 
ADJlINTfiTRATION Op 
 
 to check his pr^ress to the St. Lawrence, and prevent hk 
 junction with General Wilkinson’s division, wliich in 
 
 fact was not yet in readiness to move* 
 
 General Hampton in the mean time, to distract and di- 
 vide the attention of tlie British, directed Colonel Clark 
 to carry on a petty warfare on the Eastern side of Lake 
 Champlain, and that ruthless Depredator accordingly in- 
 • fcsted the settlements in Missiskoui Bay, where he plun- 
 dered the inhabitants in the most wanton manner. 
 
 On the 21st of October, General Hampton again en- 
 tered Lower-Canada, having early in the morning of tha- 
 day dispatched his light troops and a Regiment of the Line unt 
 der Brigadier-General Izard, to dislodge a small picqiiel 
 of sedentary militia, and a few Indian warriors, at the junc- 
 
 tion of the Outarde and Chateauguay rivem, where the 
 mail! body arrived on the 22d. On the 24tli, having op- 
 
 enedand completed a large and practicable road from hii 
 position at Four-Corners, (a distance of 24 miles,) throuot 
 woods^ and morasses, which Lieut. Colonel De Salabeny ior 
 returning from Four-Corners, had broken up and einbaj' 
 -rassed with abbatis, the whole of his artillery (lOfieldpieces 
 and stores were brought forward to his new position, aboui 
 seven miles from Lieut. Colonel De Salaberry’s post. 
 
 V f'o?* point lie dispatched Colonel Purdy with a 
 light Brigade, and a strong body of Infantry of the line, at 
 an em*ly hour in the night of the 25th, with orders to gain 
 tiie Ford, and fall on the rear of Lieut. Colonel De 8ala- 
 beiry s position ; wliile the main body were to commence 
 the attack in front. Purdy’s Brigade proceeded, but were 
 misled and bewildered in the woods, either through the 
 ignoiance or trea-chery of the guides, and did not gain the 
 paint of attack as directed by the Commanding Officer. 
 General Hampton however advanced next morning (26th 
 ct.) under the expectation of hearing the intended at- 
 tack at the Ford, and at ten o’clock made his appearance 
 With about three thousand five hundred men, under Gene- 
 ral Izaul on tlie higli road, leading to and drove 
 
 in a small picquet of twenty-five men, wlio falling back 
 upon a second picquet made a resolute stand, and maintain- 
 a smart fire upon theenemy. Lieut. Colonel De Sala- 
 
 * 1 ^^ * promjHly advanced with 
 
 tile light company of the Canadian Fencibics, command- 
 ed 
 

 Sir George Prevost. 
 
 ICS 
 
 e<ll)y Captain Ferguson, ami two companies ot ms v oi- i 
 tigeurs commanded by Captains Chevalier and L. Juche- 
 rean Duchesnay. The first of these companies he posted 
 on the right, in front of the ahbatis^ in extended order, its 
 right skirting on the adjoining woods and ahhafis^ among 
 which were distributed a few Abenaqui Indians. Cap- 
 tain Chevalier Dnchesnay’s Company of Volti^eui*s in ex- 
 tended order, occupied the ground from the left of this 
 company to the River Chateaimuay, and the third company 
 under Captain L. Juchereau lJuchesnay with about thirty- 
 five sedentary militia, under Captain liongtain, were thrown 
 back f w along the margin of the river, for the pur- 
 
 iK)se of Hanking, or preventing a Hank fire from the enemy 
 111 tlie event of his appearance on the opposite side of the 
 •river. The enemy in the mean time advanced with steadi- 
 ness in open column of sections to w’ithin musket shot, 
 when lAeut. (xilonel I)e Salaberry discharged his rifle as 
 n Mgnal to commence firing, at which a mounted officer 
 w'lis seen to fall, ^riie Rugles sounded and a quick file was 
 - immediately opened upon the enemy who wheeled up into 
 and commenced a fire in Battalion voUies, which from 
 the position of their line was almost totally thrown to the 
 right of the Canadians, and of no elli ct whatever. They 
 liov.ever soon changed their front parallel to their advcisa- 
 ries, by facing to the right, ami fyling iq) with speed, when 
 the engagement became general. The retreat ol a few skir- 
 misheiV^rather advanced in the centre of the line, being 
 mistaken by theenemv for afiight, an universal shout ensued, 
 which was re-echoed by the Canadians, and the reinforce- 
 ments in reserve under liieiit. Colonel McDonnell, while 
 Lieut. Colonel De Silabcny as a ordered the 
 
 basil's placed at intervals, in the abbntis to sound an advan- 
 ce ” this had the desired effect and checked the ardour ofthe 
 euemv, who susjtected that the Canadians were advancing 
 in irreat numbers to circumvent them. The noise of the 
 oiv^a'Tement brought on Colonel Purdy s division on the 
 opposite side of the river, which havin<vdriven in the picquet 
 of the sedentarv militia tinder Captain IJrugtiier, w;^ere pres- 
 sing on for the Ford, at which Lietit. Colonel De Salaberry 
 ordcretl the light company of the 3 d. Battalion Embodied 
 Militia, under Captain Daly, to cross and lake up the 
 pround abandoned by the picquet. Captain Daly with his 
 company crossed at the Ford, and having advanced fell in 
 with, ami drove hack the advanced guard ot the Americans 
 upon the main body, which still pressed forward and com- 
 
 02 
 
101 
 
 Administration 
 
 Cft ap. polled him in his turn to fall back. Having repulsed Gap- 
 VI. tain Daly’s Company, they were moving on in ovcrwhel- 
 ming n\imbers with eagerness and speed close on the bank 
 181J. of the river, until opposite to Captain L. Juchercau Da- 
 chesr ay’s Company, which hitherto lay concealed, and now 
 at tile word of command from Lieut. Col. De Salaberry 
 opened so unexpected andelTectual a fire upon the enemy, 
 as to throw him into the utmost disorder, and to occa- 
 sion a tumultuous and precipitate retreat. 
 
 General Hampton finding his a>Tangcracnts discpncfrtcd 
 by the total route of the division on the right bank, with- 
 drew his forces in good order at half past two in the after- 
 noon, without having made a single afibrt to carry the gb- 
 and entrenchments at the point of the bayonet, leav- 
 ing Lieut. Colonel De 8alaberry with scarcely three hun- 
 dred Canadians masters of the field ofaction. Towards the 
 dose of the engagement, Sir George Prevost, with Major Gc- 
 neral De Watteville, arrived on the ground, and w itnessed in 
 jierson, tin judicious arrangeri’>ents and successful exertions 
 of liieiit. Colonel De Salaberry and his gallant, comrades 
 and countrymen, whose jirowess on the" occasion called 
 forth the warmest encomiums of the Commander of the 
 f orces, and gave them a just claim to the disinterested and 
 impartial applause of history. 
 
 Captain Daly, while leading on his men, received two 
 severe wounds. L p wards of forty of the Americans were 
 found dead on the field. The loss of the Canadians amount- 
 ed to five killed and twenty in wounded and missing.* 
 
 General Hampton having re-occupied his late positioii, 
 called a council of war, where it was determined to fall 
 back and occupy the former position at Four-Corners, to 
 secure their communication with the United States; from 
 thence either to retire into winter quarters or to be ready 
 to re-enter Lo wer- Cana da. Pursuant to this determination 
 tlie army retired to Four-Corners, while the Canadians 
 liung u]ion their rear and harrassed their retreat. 
 
 * The Commander of the Forces was pleased to arknowledee the disliq- 
 g.sishcd supi>ort which Lietit. Colonel |)c Salaberry experienced from the 
 zeal and exertions of Captain Ferguson of the Canadian Fencibles, and from 
 the Caplaius Chevalier and F.. Juchereaii Duchesnay, from Adjutants O'Sui- 
 Jivan and Hebden, and Captain Lamoite of the Indian warriors. Sir Ceorgie 
 Jrevost, in his o!Hcia‘i despatch on this occasion, solicited from the Prince 
 K»*^cnt, as a ma^kof hb gracious aiiprobaiion of the embodied Battalions of 
 
 Colours, for the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4tb and 5ili 
 
 frooi 
 
Sir George PrevosI'. 105 
 
 From tile Ruigues and privations experienced by tins di- Chap 
 vision exposed ibr several weeks to the inclemency ot the sea- VI. 
 
 son, the enemy’s troops soon assumed the native rawness of 
 recruits, and tliey were no more capable of co-operating ibl^ 
 with Wilkinson’s division in the combined movement 
 against Montreal. Tliey shortly after fell back upon Platts* 
 burgh and retired to winter Quarters. 
 
 The plan of the campaign adopted by the American Gov^ 
 ern men t, as subac'quently developed by the publication of _ 
 
 ‘‘ Sundry Documents submitted to Congress in obedience 
 to a resolution of that Body of the .!>lst December 181 ^, 
 tending toexjilain the causes of the failure of the American 
 arms on the Northern Frontier,” was, by hastily withdraw^ 
 ing their forces from Fort George to Sacket’s Harbour, to 
 make a sudden descent upon Kingston, before the British 
 forces could be called in from the Niagara frontier ; vvliile 
 Hampton was to make a simultaneous movement on Lake 
 Champlain, indicating an intention ot attacKing Montreal 
 and its dependencies, and really to attack them if to rein- 
 force the Upper Province, these posts should be materially 
 weakened. I'hc lingering progress of the armament at 
 Sacket’s Harbour afforded lime to call in reiufoi cements to 
 Kingston, and after some discussion between General VV il- 
 kinson and the Secretary of war, it w^as deterniined^t the 
 instance ol‘ the laiter, to leave that post in the rear and pro- 
 ceed down the St. Lawrence for Montreal. The American 
 forces to about ten thousand men accordingly rendezvoused 
 towards tlie end of October on Grenadier Island, in the 
 neighbourhood of Kingston, where General De Rottenburgli 
 confidently expecting an attack, was jirepared for the event. 
 
 From this point, after experiencing muclrfoul weather, 
 Wilkinson commenced his movement under cover of the 
 American fleet, and on the ^'d November siipt into the St. 
 J^awrence with a flotilla of upwards of three hundred boats 
 of various sizes, escorted by a division of giin-boats. He 
 proceevlcd to within three miles of Prescot and landed his 
 troops on the American shore, who proceeded downwards 
 by land to a Bay or Cove, two miles below that post, ia 
 •rder to avoid the British batteries, while the flotilla passed 
 them in the night of the sixth, without sustaining any ma- 
 terial injury in their passage by the cannonade. 
 
 The movement of the flotilla dowm the St. Tiawrence be- 
 ing ascertained at Kingston^ General De Rotteaburgh de- 
 
 tached 
 
in- 
 
 ro6 
 
 Administratio.v op 
 
 Ibiy, 
 
 TJattlc of 
 f'hrystler^s 
 
 Farm. 
 
 tadied a small force from that post, consistmir of the 49th 
 liegirnent. commanded by Lieut. Colonel Plenderleaih, 
 the 89th Regiment and some V'oltigeui’s, which when rein- 
 forced by Lieut. Colonel Pearson with a party of the Cana- 
 dian Fencibles from Prescot amounted to about ^00 rant 
 and file, the whole commanded by Lieut. Colonel Momson 
 of the 89th Regiment and accompanied by the Deputy Ad- 
 jutant-General. This Corps of observation proceeded un- 
 der the escort of a small division of gun-boats, commanded 
 by Captain Mulcaster R. N. in pursuit of the enemy, and on 
 rile eighth came up with them at Point Iroquois. Gone- 
 val Wilkinson had on the preceding dav directed Colonel 
 Macomb to land on the British shore with 1900 men in or- 
 der to clear the coast down to the head of the Long Saiilt, 
 of the militia collecting along the shore from various parts 
 oi the Country. On tne 1 8th tliis division was reinforced 
 by Brigadier General Brown’s Brigade, with a body of 
 Di*agoons fi'om the American shore. On arriving at the 
 bead of the Ijong Sault, the whole of the eft'ective men ex- 
 cept such as were required for navigating the boats down 
 tile rapid, were landed under the ordei*s of Brigadier Gene- 
 ral Boyd, who was to proceed down by land in the rear of 
 General Brown s division to the fi)ot of the Long Sank. 
 On the tenth, Lieut. Colonel Morrison with the gnn-boata 
 visited the American post at Hamilton whore he landed and 
 took possession of a considerable qnantitv of provisions ard 
 stores belonging to tlie American army with two pieces ofOr- 
 dnance. Lieut. Colonel Harvey in the mean time follow- 
 ed up the enemy, who in the evening were obseiwed advan- 
 ing from the woods in considerable numbers witli a bodv of 
 cavalry, but ufion receiving a few rounds from tliree field 
 pieces, and jjrobably finding their pursuers belter prepared 
 than tliey expected, fell back for the night.* On the en- 
 suing day, Lieut. Colonel Morrison pressed so closelv upon 
 the rear of General Boyd’s divison as to compel him to con- 
 centrate his forces and give battle, a description of which 
 cannot be more accurately conveyed than by quoting T^ieut. 
 Colonel Morrison’s official despatch on the occasion. d'lie 
 enemy’s force, consisting of two brigades of Infantry, and 
 a Regiment of cavalry, amounting to between three and 
 four thousand men, moved forward about two o’clock in 
 the afternoon from Chrystler’s Point, and attacked onr ad- 
 vance, which gradually fell back to the position selected for 
 
 * Some smart cannonadieg in the mean time took place between tivc 
 gpQn-boats, ^ 
 
 the 
 
 
Sir George Prevost. 107 
 
 the detachment to occupy, the right resting oh the river, 
 and the left on a pine-wood, exhibiting about seven hun- 
 dred yards. The ground being open, the trooj^s were thus 
 disposed. 
 
 The Flank Companies of the 49th Regiment, the detach*- 
 mem of tlie Canadian Regiment, with one field piece, un- 
 der Lieut. Colonel Peai*son, on the right ; a little advano 
 ed on the road — Three companies of the 89th Regiment, 
 under Captain liarnes, with a gun formed in echellon with 
 the advance on its left, supporting it. The 49th and tlie 
 89th thrown more to the rear, with a gun, formed the main 
 body and reserve, extending to the woods on the left; which 
 were occupied by the Voltigeum, under Major Herriot, and 
 the Indians under Lieutcimnt Anderson — At about half 
 past two the action became general, when the enemy en- 
 deavored by moving forward a Brigade from his right, to 
 turn our left, butwas repuhed bv the 89th Regimeiu fbf- 
 niing en potevee with the 49th llegiment, and by moving 
 ft)rward, occasionally firing by platoons; his efforts wei>c 
 next directed against our right, and to repulse this move- 
 ment, the 49th Regiment took ground in that direction, in 
 Echellon, followed by the 89th. When within half mus- 
 ket shot, the line was formed under a heavy but irregular 
 fire from the enemy — 'Fhe 49th was directed to charge then* 
 guns, posted opposite to ours, but it became necessary- 
 wdien within a short distance of them, to check this forward 
 movement, in consequence of a charge from their cavaliy 
 on the right, lest they should wheel about, and fall upon 
 the rear, but they were received in so gallant a manner by 
 tlie companies of the 89tli niuler Captain Barnes, and tlie 
 well directed fire of the Artillery, that they quickly i-e- 
 treated, and by a charge from those companies, one gun 
 was gained. — The enemy immediately concentrated tliehr 
 force to check our advance, but such was the steady coun- 
 tenance and well directed fire of the troops and artillery, 
 that about half past four, they gave way at all points from 
 ai\ exceeding strong position, emieavoiiring by their light 
 infantry to cover their retreat, who were soon driven a- 
 way by a judicious movement made by Lieut. Colonel 
 Pearson. The detachment for the night occupied the ground 
 from which the enemy had been driven.” 
 
 This, (called the battle of Chrystler’s Farm from the 
 ground on which it occurred,) is in the estimation o4 
 
 roili- 
 
 Chap. 
 
 Vf. 
 
 iHJUi. 
 
108 ' Administration op 
 
 Chap, military men, considered the handsomest affair dnrincr tlw* 
 VI. late war, from the professional science displayed in the 
 course of the action, by the adverse eommatiiders ; ami 
 
 1813. when we consider the prodigious preparatives q 1 the A- 
 merican government for that expedition, with the failure of 
 which their hopes of conquest vanished, the balile of 
 Chrystler’s Farm may be classed as an event ot the first 
 importance in the defence of these provinces.* t 
 
 The American division after leaving the field, re-embark- 
 ed in haste, while the dragoons, with five field pieces of 
 light artillery proceded down towards Cornwall, in the rear 
 of General Brown’s division, who, unaware of the battle 
 had continued his inarch for that place. The enemy lost 
 an able officer in the pei*son of Brigadier General Coving- 
 ton, who, while animating his men to the charge, receiv- 
 ed a mortal wound, which he survived only two days. The 
 , -loss of the enemy by their own official statements, amount- 
 ed to three officers and ninety-nine men killed, and sixteen 
 officers and one hundred and twenty-one men wounded. 
 The loss of the British amounted to three officers (Captaiji 
 Kairne of the 49th Regiment and Lieutenants Lorimier and 
 Armstrong,) and twenty-one men killed, and eight officers 
 •and one hundred and thirty-seven wounded, and twelve 
 *xnissing. 
 
 General Wilkinson, who, during the action, lay confin- 
 ed to his barge, from a protracted illness, in his oflicial 
 despatch to his government, beai's faithful testimony of the 
 loyalty of the inhabitants on the Canada side of the Saint 
 Lawrence, and of the bravery and discipline of the troops 
 he had to contend with at Chrystler’s Farni. 
 
 * I.iput. Colonel Morrison concludes his despatch by the followin|r feslimo-^ 
 
 nv, of the zeal and bravery manifested by the officers! and men under hit 
 command. 
 
 * “ llis now my pratefnl duty to point out to your Hbnor, the benefit the 
 
 .Service has received from the ability, judgment, and active exertions, of 
 Lieut. Colonel Harvey, the Deputy Adjutant General, for sparing whom 
 to accompany the detachment, I must again publicly express my acknowledg- 
 incntB. To the cordial co-operation and exertions of Lieut. Colonel Pear8»»u, 
 commanding the detachment from Prescot, Lieut. Colonel Pleuderleath, 
 ,4P.}| Regiment, Majc»r Clitford, 89th Regiment, Major Herriot, of thc 
 Voliigeurs, and Captain Jackson, of the Royal Artillery, combined wiia 
 the gallantry of the troops,, our great success may be attributed; every maa 
 did his duty, and 1 believe, I cannot more strongly speak their merits Raa 
 in mentioning that our small force did not exceed eight hundred rank and file. 
 
 “ To Captains Davis and Skinner, of the Quarter Master Gcnertirs I>e- 
 parti!ient, f am undr r the greatest pbligatioos for the assistance I have recei- 
 ved from them ; their zeal and activity, have been unremitting.— Lieut. Ila- 
 g' lmanofthe Militia, and Lieut.Airdervon of the li dian Department, ha>t 
 aUo tor their services deserved my public acknofvlcdgments.'^ 
 
Sfn Gkorge Prevost. 
 
 10<> 
 
 The dny after tlie engagement, the ■'^merican fiotllla pro- riiAJ*. 
 deeded down the Long Sault and joined near< oniwall, the V F. 
 divir>ion wliicii liad moved on under (ienerai Bi ovs ri, to- 
 wards that place; wliore General Wilkinson confidently 
 expected to hear of the arrival of General Hampton on the 
 Djiposite shore, to whom lie had written on the (ith, to 
 that effect, not being then acquainted with his late defeat. 
 
 Hc*rc to his uns]>eakable mortification and siirpri.se, he re- 
 ceived a letter from ( General Hampton, informing him that 
 the division under his command was falling back upon 
 Lake (^hamplain. This information, with the countless dif- 
 ficulties momently crowding upon the American army, ef- 
 fectually blasted every prospect of further success. So cir- 
 cumstanced the .\merican Commander immediately held a 
 council of war, in which it was unanimously resolved Tha t 
 the attack upon Montreal should be abandoned for the 
 present season, and that the army near Cornwall siionld 
 immediately be crossed to the American shore for taking up 
 winter quarters,” which, on the ensuing flay, was ac- 
 cordingly carried into effect, by their proceeding tor Salmon 
 lliver, where their boats and batteanxwere scuttled, nnd ex- 
 tensive barracks for the whole army were erected with ex- 
 traordinary celerity, and surrounded on all sides by abbatis^ 
 so as to render a surprise impracticable. 
 
 Wilkinson’s intention was to have landed on tlie Isle 
 Parrot, which is se])arated from the Island of Montreal, 
 by a small channel, over w hich he intended to throw a 
 bridge of boats, and from thence to fight his way tor the 
 City of Montreal. 
 
 Every appearance of danger having subsided, the Com- 
 manderofthe Forces dismissed the Sedentary Militia by 
 a General Order of the 17th November, with acknowledg- 
 ments of the cheerful alacrity, with which they had repaired 
 to tiieir Posts, and the loyalty and zeal they had manifl st- 
 cd at the pros}>ect of encountering the enemy. 
 
 With these operations terminated the Campaign of 
 in the Lower Province, but new tritimphs still awaited the 
 B iiish arms in the Province of Upper- Canada. 
 
 Major General Do Uottenburgh was relieved in the com^ 
 mand of Upper-Canada, early in nocemher, by L’cnt, 
 
 General Drummond, who proceeded front Kingston' 
 
 f York, 
 
\ 
 
 
 f,: 
 
 
 
 no 
 
 1813. 
 
 Americans c 
 vnniate Fort 
 Georffc. 
 
 Administration 
 
 York, and from thence to the head of the Lake, where the 
 army again rosnmed an offensive postnre, with a view t« 
 regain possession of Fort George* General McClure, who 
 on the breaking np of the investment of Fort George, had 
 issued a Proclamation, in which he affected to consider 
 I ^ pper-Canada as abandoned by the British army, and of- 
 fered the friendship and protection of his Government to 
 the People of that Province, on the approach of the Bri- 
 tish under Colonel Murray, precipitately evacuated that 
 
 Post on the I2th Oecember, and retreated across the Nia- 
 
 gara, having pursuant to the 
 Secretary of war. 
 
 directions of the American 
 most inhumanly on the lOth of Decem- 
 ber, set fire to the flourishing Village of Newark, contain- 
 ing about one hundred and fifty houses : which were redu- 
 ced to ashes, leaving the WTetched and forlorn inhabitants 
 wdth upwards of four Imndrod women and children exposed 
 to the accumulated horrors offamincand the inclemency of 
 a Canadian w inter. The British under the command of 
 Colonel Murray, scarcelv amounting to five hundred men, 
 
 including Indians and Militia immediately occupied Fort 
 (Jeorge. The barbarous nolicy of the American Govern- 
 ment in destroying New arK, exaspemted the army as well 
 
 as the inliabitanis on the Frontier, of whose impatience for 
 ^ ^ ’ vaile ’ ' ‘ 
 
 retaliation. General Drummond promptly availed himself 
 after the occupation of Fort George, bv adopting the re.so- 
 lulioii of carrying the American Fort Niagara by surprise. 
 
 Tfaving only two batteaux at his disposal in the Niagara 
 river, he deferred the attack until a sufficient number of 
 batteaux could be conveyed over land, several miles, 
 from Burlington at the head of the Lake, which w'as effect- 
 ed by the exertions of Captain Elliot, of the Quarter 
 Rritis?) siir- Master Cieneral’s Department. Having made every ne- 
 
 tlire Furi^Nl- arrangement, thc batteaux were lannclied, and the 
 
 agara. 
 
 troops were embarked on the night of the 18th December 
 consisting of a small detachmom of Royal Artillery, tlie 
 gionadicr company oi* the Royal Scots, the flank com- 
 paiues of the 4 1st and JOOth Regiment, amounting in the 
 W ide to five hundred and fifty men, under tlie immediate 
 Command of C>olonel ?dniTuy^ This small force having 
 cfossr'd the river assisted by the Provincial Corps, as boat- 
 men, landed w'ith the utmost silence ami good order at the Five 
 Mifr Affariows, distant four and a half ‘miles from the I'ort. 
 From tni^ point, Colo?nd "MuiTav moved towards the Fort 
 luiMng prcvioaply detached the advance of his division, uii- 
 
 d^ 
 
Sin Geotige Prevost. 
 
 Ill 
 
 Apt Captain Fawcett and Lieut. Dawson of tlic lOOtli Cuap. 
 Ki ^iment, w!\o gallantly executed the orders entrusted to VI. 
 tliem, by cutting oi‘ two of the enemy’s pictpieis, and sur- 
 prising the Centimes on tlie Glacis and at the (late, from IblJ. 
 whom the watch word was obtained, and the entrance int») 
 tl\e f'’ort, thereby greatly facilitated, which was rapidly ef- 
 fected througii the main gate, ladbre tl-e enemy had time to 
 sound the alarm. The assailants Imving obtained pOfin(s- 
 si( n of the w orks, the enemy made for some time a feeble 
 resistance, but finally surrendered at discretion, 'fhe vi - 
 lour of the troo]>s engaged on this service particularly of 
 the 100th Uegiment, tinder Lieut, (’olonel iiainilton was 
 liicrhly conspicuous. Th(' loss of the Ih itish amounted to 
 only one officer (fiieut. Nolan,) tnul five men killed, and 
 two officers (one of them Colonel Murray, by a musket 
 shot, tlirough the wrist,) and three men wounded. The 
 loss of the enemy in slain amounted to sixty-five men. (all 
 with the bavonet,) and two officers and twelve rank and 
 file in wotiiulcd. Tlie prisoiuTS amounted to more tiian 
 threi' hundred eifeclivc men of the regular anny of tfie I'ni- 
 ted Slates. An immense quantity of Commissariat Stores 
 with upwards of three tiiousand stand of anus, a great 
 number of rifles and several pieces of ordnance, of w hich 
 I'veuty-i^even ofdirferent calibres were mounted on the worus, 
 
 1. -i uiio tlie kfiuds of tue victors. Major General Uiall, 
 w.;o iuul crossed over i umediately after Colonel Murray, 
 
 W’itii the whole bovly (-i we>icrn Indians, and tlie 1st liatta- 
 lion of Koyal Scots', and list Kegiment, in order to siip- 
 }' 0 »: the attack, upon asccitaining its success, immediately 
 in irched along the ivev upon Lewistown, where theeiuiny 
 IvUesiaobshed a force and had erected batteries with ire 
 avowed pn,vpo^*e of’ <lesiroyiug the Iowa of Q leenstovva 
 situated directly opposite. The enemy upon the ajijuoach 
 of this division abandoned their position leaving tw o guns, 
 a twelve, andasix pounder w’uich thll into tlie bands of the 
 British, with a considerable quantity of small arms and 
 Srores. In retaliation for the cynfiamation of New^ark the 
 indiirnant troops and the auxiharv liulians were let loose 
 iqionthe enemy’s frontier, and Lewistovyn, ^lanche^ei and 
 t'le circumjacent conntrv w'ere laid in ruins. General 
 Drummond determined to follow^ up these successes, wlucli 
 bn could not deem complete until he had cb.ased the tmt'tiiy 
 from the whole frontier, and taken anqde vengeance lor lus 
 ^ ^h ; tow^ard the inhalKtants o# NevvarK. He therefoi*e 
 pip^a his forces up to Chippuwa where he lixed hts Head 
 * ^ l> 2 Quarters 
 
Abjiinistration ok 
 
 ns 
 
 CirAP. Quarto's on tlie December, and on the following davj 
 approached to within two miles of Fort Erie, \yhere haviii<r 
 ' reconnoitred the enemy’s posipion at Black Rock, he deiei” 
 
 ISlj. mined to attack him in the course of the night. He accord- 
 
 ingly directed (ieneral Hiall to cross the river with tour 
 couipanics of the King’s Kegiincnt and the liglit company of 
 t ie 89th. under Lieut, ('olouel Ogilvy : two hundred and 
 liliy men of the 4 1st, and the grenadiers of the lOOih Hcgi- 
 inent, inulor Major Fremt, together with about fifty Miiitia 
 Volumeers and a body of Indian warriors. This division corn- 
 pleted its landing about niidnight, two miles below Black 
 [lock, its advanced guard having surprised and captured the 
 greater part of a picquet of the enemy and secured the 
 bridge Qver the Conguichity Creek, lioin which the ene- 
 my made several attempts to dislodge them. The boats 
 and batteaux after haying crossed lus division were 
 tracked up as liigh as the foot of the rajuds below Fort 
 Erie, in order to cross the Royals under T.ieut. Colonel 
 Gordon, who where destined to land above Black Bock, 
 lor the p'urpose of turning the enemy’s position, while 
 he should be attackc'd in front by the troops who haj 
 landed^ below. The delay occasioned by the ground- 
 ing of the boats whicli detained them until morning, 
 and exposed them to the open lire of the enemy, caused the 
 Royals some loss, and prevented them from effecting a land- 
 ing in sufficient time to fully accomplish the object inteud- 
 'V Major General Riall moved forward; the 
 
 King’s Regimentaudthelight company of the 89th leading, 
 and the 4 Island Grenadiers of the 100th forming the reserve. 
 On gaining the town, a very spirited attack was made upon 
 the enemy who were in great force and strongly posted, and 
 on the arrival of tlie reserve, the action became Freneial. 
 The enemy maintained his position with obstinacy for some 
 time, but upon the advance of the British he was compelled 
 to give way, and was driven through his batterif's in which 
 were a twentv-four pounder, three twelves and a nine poun- 
 der, J' roTu Black Rock, the fugitives were pursued to the 
 town of Buflaloe, about tw’o miles distant, where they ral- 
 lied and shewed a large body of infantry and cavalry, and at- 
 tempted to oppose the advance of the British by the fire 
 of a field piece, posted on a height commanding the road: 
 finding this ineffectual, they retreated in all directions, 
 leaving a six-pounder brass field piece, one iron eigh- 
 teen, and one iron tiix-poundcr, and betook themselves to 
 the w oods. 
 
 Ge% 
 
Sir George Prevost. 
 
 11,9 
 
 Gancral lliall having dispei*sed tliis force, immediately Chaf. 
 diHiiched ( aptaia Rooiusou of tlie King’s Regiment, with V I 
 two coaijiames, to destroy three vessels of the enemy’s 
 lake squadron, a short aisiaiice below the town, with theLr i^i^% 
 stores, which he efiectuaily accom})lished. 
 
 The Americans in this affair, were not less in numbejf 
 than 2,500, and are supposed to have lost in killed and 
 wounded, from th^ee to lour hundred men. Only one hun- 
 jlieij aiul thmy men were maile prisoners, and among them 
 Colonel Chapin. The British lost oi men killed, and lour 
 oiHcers and sixty-eight men wounded, and nine men mis- 
 sing. The small towns of Bulialoe and Black Rock having 
 bt en deserted by the inhabitants, were, with ail the pub- 
 lic stores, containing considerable quantities of cloailung, 
 spuitsand Hour, wnich could not be conveniently brought 
 av.uy, set on tire and entirely consumed. 
 
 These decisive and retaliatory measures almost entirely 
 crushed the power, and destroyed the resources of the ene- 
 my on the N iagai a fioiUier, and although victims of the re- 
 tributive vengeance brought on their heads by the barbari- 
 ty of their own Commanders, tlie w retched inhabitants i » 
 
 are said to liave acquiesced iu the justice of the measures 
 pursued by the British General, 
 
 Such were tlie rapitl successes that attended the British 
 arms in the Canadas, and cheered the hopes of the pco- 
 j)le at the close of the campaign, which a few weeks pre- 
 viously, threatened the total subjugation ot tliese provinces. 
 
 Ample vengeance having been taken by the spirited and 
 judicious promptitude of lAeul. General Dnnnmond, upon 
 tlie Niagara frontier, for the wanton conliagiation and the 
 cruel outrages committed upon the defenceless inhabitants 
 of Newark, the Commander of tlie Forces, on the l2th 
 of January, 1814, issued a Proclamation, in which he 
 strongly deprecated the savage mode of warfare to which 
 the enemy, by a departure from the established usages of 
 war, had compelled him to resort. He traced with faithful 
 precision and correctness, the conduct that had marked 
 the progress of the war on the part of the enemy, and con- 
 cliuU‘d by lamenting the necessity impossed' upon him of 
 relaliaiing upon the subjects of A im rica, the miseries in- 
 flicted upoi> the iidiabiuints oi ISewark^ but at the same 
 
 tune 
 
tii 
 
 Administration of 
 
 Chap, time declared it mt to be li s inicmion further to pursue a 
 VI. system oi'wanare so revoliiii^ to his own f< elin^s a.ai so lit- 
 lie conge -ial to the Bniish character, unless he should bd 
 Ibi;;. so compelled by the fiuuie nicasuves oi the enemy. 
 
 
 -f 
 
 
 ’h 
 
 '-r-tii. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
K 
 
 Sm Georgb Preyost. 115 
 
 CHAPTER vri. 
 
 O N the thirteenth of January, the Legislatttre met for Chap. 
 
 the dispatch of public business. The Governor con- V^Il. 
 gratulated tlie Parliament on the detcat of the enemy at 
 Chateauguay, by a handful of brave Canadians ; and on IbU. 
 the brilliant victory obtained by the small Corps of oiiserva- 
 tion on the banks of the St. liawrence, over the tbnuidable 
 armament commanded by Major General Wilkinson. 
 
 The Govemor, in a secret and confidential message to 
 the House of Assembly informed that body, tliat in order 
 to carry on the public services he had found it indisper.sa- 
 bly necessary to direct an issue of Army Bills to a greatf r 
 amount than five hundred tJiousand pounds (the Sum au- 
 thorized by the late Army Bill Act) and recommended to 
 the immediate and serious consideration of the House, the 
 expedience of extending the provisions of the Army Bill 
 Act. The House accordingly took the subject into consi* 
 deration, and passed a Bill extending the issue of Army 
 Bills to fifteen hundred thousand pounds. The Militia 
 liaws underwent some discussion but were not altered, the 
 Legislative Council not concurring with some clauses which » 
 
 it had been found exjiedient to introduce into the Bill, sent 
 up for their concurrence. A Bill to disqualify the Ciiief 
 Justices and the Judges of the Courts of King’s Bench in 
 tlie Province from being summoned to the Legislative Coun- 
 cil or sitting or voting therein, was introduced, and having 
 passed the Lower House, was sent up to the Legislative 
 (’ouncil for their concurrence. Here it was unanimously 
 resolved tliat the matters contained in the Bill were unpio> 
 liamentary and unprecedented, and intrenched upon the 
 prei'ojraiive ol the Crown and the rights and privileges of 
 the I louse ; and it was therefore also unanimoHsly resolved 
 to proceed no further in the considd*ation of the l>ill. Tlie 
 House of Assembly upon finding it to have been laid aside, 
 appointed a Committee to search tlie Journals of the Legis- 
 lative Council, to ascertain ofiicially what proceedings had 
 been taken with respect to the Bill in question. The Com- 
 mittee luiving taken infornuition on the subject, reported 
 the fate of die Bill as collected from the Jouvnalsof the L(‘gi- 
 slativc Council, and the House among oilier counter resoUi-,, 
 
 tlons, 
 
 I 
 
 i. 
 
 i; 
 
 P 
 
 i’’' 
 
 j 
 
 W- 
 
lie 
 
 AmilNISTllATION OF 
 
 Chap, tions, indispiantly resolved ^Hhat the Legislative Council by 
 VII. their refusal to proceed on that Hill had excluded from their 
 consideration a measure highly meriting the attention of the 
 1814. Legislature of the PrcAutice and had therefore a Horded addi- 
 tional evidence of its expedience.” A Bill was alrto intro- 
 dticed as in the preceding Session “ to grant to his 
 ly a duty on the Income arising from Civil Offices, and on 
 Pensions, to be applied for the defence of the Pmvince in the 
 ipresent war with the United States of America.” This 
 liill was rejected by the Legislative Council. The Bill for 
 the appointment of an Agent in Great Britaiii was also sent 
 up to the Legislative Council, where it was laid aside. 
 
 The House of Assembly unaninioiisly passed a vole of 
 thanks to Lieut. Colonel Dc Salaberry, and the officers un- 
 der his command for their distinguishedexertionson the 
 October 1813, in the action on the Chateauguay river, and di- 
 rected the Speaker to signify the same to Lieut. Colonel I)« 
 Salaberry and the oflicers present oiuhat occasion, and that 
 the House highly felt and acknowledged the distinguished 
 valour and discipline conspiciously displayed by the non- 
 commissioned officers and private soldiers and niiliiia-ineii 
 of the little band under liis immediate command in tlie sig- 
 nal defeat of the American army under General Hampton 
 at Chateauguay. To Lieut. Colonel Morrison of the 89th 
 Kegiment and to the officers and men under his coiunmnd a 
 similar vote of thanks was passed for their exertions on the 
 1 1 th November 1813, at Chryst lot ’s Farm in the defeat off 
 the American army tinder General Wilkinson. 
 
 The House of Assembly at an early period of tlie Session, 
 on motion of Mr. J. Stuart, resolved that it would take into 
 consideration the power and authority exercised by the 
 Courts of Justice, in this Province, under the denomina- 
 tion of Rules of Practice, and the Clerk of the Court of 
 Appeals, as well as the Prothonotaries of the Courts of 
 King’s Bench for the Districts of Quebec and Monueal, 
 were respectively ordered to lay before the House, certitied 
 copies of the Rules of Practice of those Courts. On the 
 4th of February, the subject having been previously dis- 
 cussed in Committee, the House adopted-several resolutions 
 concerning those Rules of Practice, which it considered ra- 
 ther in the sense of Legislative enactments, and therefore 
 an encroachment upon the Privileges of the Legislature, 
 than as simple rules or regulacious for the guidance of jucii- 
 
StR George Prevost. 
 
 iir 
 
 ual proceedings. The rules in question had first been fratnetl 
 and introduced into the Provincial Court ol’A}3peals (where 
 the Chief Justice of the Province, and the Chief Justice of 
 Montreal, alternately pre.side) in tlanHary 1809, and in the 
 sam(5 year, the Courts of King’s Pencil at Quebec and Mon- 
 treal followed the example or the Court of Appeals, under the 
 sanction of an Act of the Provincial Legislature giving to the 
 dillerent ^^Courts of .ludicature in the Province, power and 
 authority to make ami establish Orders and Rules oi 
 Pmctice in the said Courts in all civil matters, touch- 
 ingall services of process, executions and returns of all 
 “ Writs, proceedings for bringing causes to issue as well in 
 term time as out of term, and other matters of regulation 
 within tlie said Courts.” It was however, now' maintain- 
 ed in the House of Assembly, that these rules affected the 
 civil rights of His Majesty’s subjects, and wer^ contrary to 
 and subversive of the Law's of the Province : that they ren- 
 dered the enjoyment of liberty and property altogether inse- 
 cure and precarious, and gave to the Judges an arbitrary 
 authority over the persons and property of His Majesty’* 
 Subjects in the Province. For these, and other speciiic poli- 
 tical high crimes and misdemeanors, alledged to have been 
 committed in the coui'sc of the late Administration of the 
 Colonial Government by Sir J. H. Craig, tending to mi»- 
 lead and deceive that officer in the exercise of his authority, 
 to oppress the people and alienate their minds from His 
 Majesty’s Government in order (as it was contended) to 
 favor the progress of American influence in the Province, 
 the two Chief Justices were formally impeached by the 
 Commons ol Lower-Canada. 
 
 Mr. J. Stuart was appointed Agent for the purpose of pro- 
 secuting the Impeachments with effect, on behalf of the 
 Commo'iis of Lower-Canada, who, in a money Bill, ap- 
 propriated the sum of two thousand pounds, in order to en- 
 able him to proceed to England, in consequence of which 
 the Bill was rejected by the Legislative Council.* The Im- 
 peachments having been digested into seventeen different 
 heads against the Chief Justice of the Province, and into 
 eight hSids against the Chief Justice of Montreal, charg- 
 ee? among other things, with promoting and advising cer- 
 tain criminal prosecutions atMontreal, and sitting m judgment 
 upon tliem ; and with having refused a W rit of Habeas C orptH 
 
 • T*'is Bill contained a grant of ^ 20,000, for tit® MiUtia, and a Uko 
 fl)r the snpportof the War. 
 
 Q to 
 
 Chap 
 
 VII 
 
 18U 
 
118 
 
 Administration op 
 
 Chap to persons le^lly entitled thereto, the House of Assem* 
 VII. bly on the 3d of March, went up to the Castle with their 
 Speaker, and presented an Address to the Governor, pray- 
 1814. ing him to transmit the Impeachments, with an Address 
 to the Prince Regent drawn up for the occasion, to His 
 Majesty^s Ministers, to be laid before the Prince Regent. 
 They at the same time suggested the propriety of suspend- 
 the Chief tfustices from their public functions until the 
 Prince Regent’s pleasure should be known. 
 
 The Governor replied that he would take an early op- 
 portunity of transmitting the Address, with the articles of 
 accusation against the Chief Justices, to His Majesty’s Mi- 
 nisters ; but that he did not think it expedient to suspend 
 the Chief Justices from their offices upon an Address to that 
 effect from one branch of the Legislature alone, founded on 
 articles of accusation, on which the Legislative Council had 
 not been consulted, and in which they had not concurred. 
 This answer gave umbrage to the House, which upon re- 
 turning from the Castle among other resolutions, resolved 
 ‘‘ that His Excellency the Governor in Chief by his answer 
 to the Address of the House had violated the Constitu- 
 tional rights and privileges thereof.” On the seventh of 
 March, the House, probably influenced by a sense of justice 
 towards the Governor, whose conduct it had so recently 
 censured, in mitigation of its late resolution again resolved, 
 that notwithstanding the wicked and perverse advice giv- 
 en to His Excellency on the subject of the Constitutional 
 rights and privileges of that House, and the endeavours of 
 evil disposed advisers to lead him into error and to embroil 
 him with his Majesty’s faithful Commons of this Province, 
 the House had not in any respect altered the opinion it had 
 ever entertained of the w isdom of His Excellency’s Adini- 
 nistration, and that it was determined to adopt the mea- 
 sures it had deemed necessary for the support of the Go- 
 vernment and the defence of the Province.” 
 
 The House also drew up an Address to the Prince Regent 
 on the state of the Province, and tiie progress of the w ar 
 w ith the United-States, in which the exertions of the peo- 
 ple and the urgency of early assistance were briefly ex- 
 pressed.* 
 
 * The Rfrcncrth of the six battalions of Canadian Embodied Militia o- 
 monnted in the month of December, 1813, according to a return submitted to 
 ''the House of Assembly, to men, exclusive of the Voltigenrs, the 
 
 Frontier Light Infantry and other Militia and Provincial Corns.. 
 
 SucTi 
 
Sm George PRFvofnr. 
 
 119 
 
 Snell were the princijial aftkirs that occupied the atten- Chap 
 tion oi’tlie House of A ^isembly during the present Session, VII. 
 \Mucli on tlie seventeenth of March was prorogued by the 
 Governor. 
 
 It has been already mentioned that among the prisoners 
 taken at the battle of QueenstoAvn in the autumn of 181^, 
 iweni y-tluee men were recognized as deserters, and British 
 bom subjects. As traitors to their country, the Command- 
 er ot‘ the 1 'orces iiad sent liiem to England for legal trial. 
 
 This circumstance being made known to the American go- 
 vernment bv the American Commissary of prisoners at Lon- 
 don, (ieneral Dearborn was ordered by his government, to 
 put an etpial number of British soldiers into close conline- 
 meiu as Uosiagcs, tiir the firmer. In consequence of tliis 
 measure, the Conmiander of the Forces, by a General (^r- 
 (iei of the -^Ttii of October, 18L;, made it known that he 
 bad receivt'd tlie commands of the Prince Begem to })ut 
 t(Mty-si\ American Oiheers and i\on-Comnhssioneii Of- 
 fice intt> close coniinemenl as hostages, tor the twenty- 
 t!uee soldieis conlincd by the American government. He 
 a the same lime apprised that government, that if any 
 oi’ itie Biuish solilieis sliould sutler death by reason of ilie 
 go lit and exocnlioii of the traitors found in arms against 
 t ieir country, who liad been sent to England for legal 
 trial, he was instructed to select out of the American Of- 
 ficers and Nou-('omm!ssioned olficers detained as hostages, 
 double the number of the British soldiers who might be 
 80 unwarrantably put to death, and to cause them in le- 
 taliaiion, to suifer death immediately. In transmitting 
 this information to the American Government, the ( om- 
 inander of the Forces also notilied them, that the Com- 
 niauders of His Majesiy’s armies and tleels on the coast of 
 A merica, had receiveil instructions to prosecute the war 
 V ith unmitigated Severn v aga.nst all cities, towns and vil- 
 lages belonging to the Lmited States, and against the in- 
 hanitants ihereot, if after that information should have 
 reached the American government, they should not be de- 
 terreii tVom putting to death any of the soldiers detained as 
 hosiages, 
 
 On the 10th of December, the Commander of the Forced 
 received a communication from Major CJeneral Wilkinson 
 bv (^olonel Macomb, ot* the United States army, bewaring a 
 flag of truce, staling, that the government of the United 
 
 (^2 States 
 
Administration of 
 
 AP. 
 
 ±. 
 
 States adiiering unalterably to the principle and puq^ose- 
 (ieciarecl in the coiniminicalion of General Dearborn, on 
 the subject of ilie twenty-three Ainericiiii soldiers, prison- 
 ers of war, sent to England to be tried as criminals, and 
 the conlineinent of a like number of British soldiers, pri- 
 soners, selected to abide the late of the funner, had, in con- 
 sequep.ee of llie step taken by tlie British government, or- 
 dered forty-six British Ofticers ir.to close confinement, and 
 tliat they sliould not be dischargeil thei t iroin until it should 
 be known that the forty-six American Oflicers and uoji- 
 conviiissioned officers in question, were no longer coihm- 
 ed.” in consequence of this, the Governor ordered all 
 the American Ofitcers, prisoners of v/ar, without exception 
 of lank, to be immediately j laced in close cuniinement as 
 hosiagrs, until the ninnbi'r of forty-six were comj)leted over 
 and above those already in confinement. In pursuance of 
 this order. Generals VVinder, Chandler and ^Vhiichester, 
 were copiveyed from their (piartcrs in the country at Beau- 
 port, to a ju ivale house in Quebec, where their eonfim inent 
 was rendered as little inepuyenient as their situaiipn could 
 admit of. 
 
 On the fifteenth of April following, after some negocia- 
 aiion between Colonel Baynes the Adjutant-General, and 
 Bngadier-Goneral Winder, on the jiart of the American 
 government, a convention was entered into at Montreal, 
 by which it wa§ mutually agreed, to release the hostages 
 and make an exchange of })risoncrs, the American govern- 
 nient relinquishing its pretensions to retaliate for the pri- 
 soners sent to England, for legal trial as traitors to tlitnr 
 country. This convention was ratilied in July at Cliam- 
 jaain, near the lines, by Colonel Lear, deputed for that 
 purpose by the American government, and by Colonel 
 Baynes and Mr. Brciiton, on the part of the British Gov- 
 ernment.* 
 
 The most active exertions were made during the winter 
 to be prepaied for the ensuing campaign. Stores of all des- 
 criptions wore forwarded to Kingston, from Quebec and 
 Montreal on sleighs at prodigious cxpence. 'J'hc second 
 Battalion of tlie Sih Begimcnt, commanded by Lieut. Co- 
 lonel i^oberton, marclied liirougU the w^oods from Frede- 
 
 * The :-e^oriafion W.1S opened at ihe solicitation of (he American ^ro- 
 Tej iiui lU in a lei'cr tumi tlie S' creiary of State, to Sir (icor^e i*revoj>t, who 
 Con enterl to the cxchaLgc of Brigadici -General Winder for the purpose of 
 negociating. ^ ^ 
 
 ricktoo • 
 
121 
 
 
 Sir EOR6E PnEVOST. 
 
 nekton to tlio St. Lawrence in the montlt of February. A Chap 
 rtiiif’orcement of two hundred and twenty seamen tor the V'^H. 
 Lakes came by the same route. To expedite the progress 
 Qt these reinforcements, the Legislature of New-Brunswick 1814 
 ▼oted three hundred j)ounds, and the City of St. Jotm’s 
 gave a similar sum to defray the expence of conveying theia 
 •n sleighs, as far as the nature of the roads would permit. 
 
 In the month of March an Embassy of Chiefs and ^Var- 
 liors horn the Ottawas, Chip[)awas, Shawnees, Delawares, 
 Mohawks, Saiks, Foxes, Kickapoos and Winabagoes, ar- 
 lived at Quebec to visit anVl to hold a Council with the 
 Commander of the Forces. His Excellency on the fifteenth 
 of that month gave them an audience, and held a Ta/lc or 
 coiiierenco with them at the Castle of Saint I^w is. Their 
 «}>eeches were principally complementary and expressive of 
 their joy on beholding their Father and meeting him in 
 Council. Tiicy expressed their poverty and requested that 
 peace might not be concluded with the American govern- 
 nuiu, untd they should recover the ancient bounds of the 
 territories of which the enemy had deprived them by fraud, 
 and by violence. They represented the loss they had ex- 
 perienced of their young men in the war, but expressed 
 llieir determination to persevere, and solicited arms for 
 their AVarriors, and clothing for tlieir w'omen and child- 
 ren, The Americans (said one of the Chiefs) are taking 
 ‘‘ our lands from us every day, they have no hearts, father: 
 they liave no pity for us, they want to drive us beyond 
 the setting Sun; but we hope, although we are few, and 
 ‘‘ are here as it were upon a little Island, our great and 
 mighty father who lives beyond the great liake, will not 
 forsake us in our distress, but will continue to remember 
 his faithful red children.” The Governor in answer, 
 strongly exhorted them to persevere in the contest against 
 the common enemy, in order to regain the territory lost in 
 the last campaiijn. He e^mressed his sorrow for the losg 
 ot one of their Warrioi*s (Tecumseh) and for that of many 
 other valiant Chiefs during the war. He charged them upon 
 all occasions, to spare and shew mercy to all women, chil- 
 dren and prisoners that should fall w ithin their power, an 
 injunction to which the listening Chiefs unanimously mur- 
 mured approbation. After some days residence at Quebec - 
 they were loaded with presents, and despatched for the 
 per Province in their way homewards, to prepare their 
 bribes lor the approaching campaign. 
 
 On 
 
122 
 
 Admtnistratio.v op 
 
 Chap. On ilie Uvonty-sixtli of March, His Excellency issued a 
 MI. r. encral Order expressing the approbation of the Pnnce 
 
 Kegout of the afiair of Chateanguay and liis peculiar 
 pleasure at (inding that His Majesty's Canadian Subjects 
 had at length had the o]>portiinity of refuting by their own 
 brilliant exertions in defence of their Country,the calmnnioufi 
 charge of disalfection and disloyally with which the enemy 
 had prefaced his first invasion of the Province.” 'fo ifieut. 
 Colonel DtiSalaborry in particular and to all theoflicers and 
 men luider his command, the sense entertained by ilis 
 Koyol Highness of their meritorious and distinguished ser- 
 vices was made known. The Ctimmander of the Forces at 
 the same time acquainted the militia of the determination of 
 Ills Royal Highness to forward ('olours for the live liaUa- 
 lions of Embodied Militia, feeling that they had evinced 
 an ability and disposition to secure them from insult which 
 gave them tlie best title to such a mark of distinction. So 
 fiattering a testimony of the Royal approbation could not 
 fail to raise the honest prirle of the Provincial Mililui, but 
 tiiey were disappcinteil in their hopes, and the promise still 
 remains to be accomplished. 
 
 A movement of the American forces in the ncighhonr-* 
 hood of Lake Champlain towards the conclusion of 
 March, gave room to expect an Invasion of the Districi of 
 Montreal. Brigadier General Macomb with a division of 
 the American lorces from Plattsburgh crossed Lake Ciiaui- 
 plain ujion.the ice, and entered 8 1 . Armands, where he re- 
 mained some days without molestation, while (leneral Wil- 
 kinson prejwetl for an attack u])on tlie outposts ol'Oclel- 
 tinvn, and tile La Cole Mill, a stone building which had 
 been couvei ted into a Block house. On the morning of the 
 Uiirtieth of .March, ((ieneral Macomb having suddenly 
 withdrawn his division from St. Armands and rejoined the 
 main body) the American forces consisting of five thousand 
 men, commanded by General Wilkinson in person, entered 
 Odeltown. Major Handcock commanding at the Mill, rc-» 
 ceived intelligence at eight o’clock in the morning of the ap- 
 proach of tile enemy and immediately sentoll a despatch to 
 tiie Isle-auxrNoix for a reinforcement, from whence a pic- 
 quet of the l^tli Regiment under tlie command of Captain 
 Blake, marched towards Odeltown and took post about two 
 miles from the Mill. The enemy halted for a short time at 
 the Yillage,aiMl then ma/le a demonstration upon Burtonville 
 with a pan of their force, lireir advauce in that direction 
 
 was 
 
Sir George Prevost. 
 
 12.3 
 
 Wafl checked by part of the grenadiers of the Canadian Fen- Cir a p. 
 cibles under Captain Cartwright, and a few of the Frontier VII. 
 Light Infantry under Captain Barker. Captain Blake’s 
 picquet hearing the firing, concluded that the whole of the ibii:. 
 
 enemy’s force had taken that road, and in consequence 
 retreated to the mill, from whence they again advanced 
 and took post in advance. The enemy shortly after apj^ear- 
 ed in considerable force; the picquet fired three volliesand 
 retreated to the mill. At one o’clock the enemy was seen Atfarknpoa 
 deploying in the wood, with the intention of suiToiinding 
 the mill ; a fire was immediately commenced which they 
 did not return for some time, but appeared determined 
 to can'y the place by assault, as they advanced cheering 
 one another: the heavy fire obliged them to relinquish their 
 
 f )lan and retreat to the wood, where they were complete- 
 y sheltered. A twelve pounder was brought to bear upon 
 the mill, but so badly served, that during a cannonade 
 of two hours and a half, only four shots struck the build- 
 ing, the gun being within the range of musketry tiie 
 artillery sulfered severely, and in fact were unable to take 
 aim with any degree of precision. A gun-boat from the 
 Isle-aiix-Noix, commandc‘d by Lieut. I licks, R. N. kept 
 up an incessant fire upon the spot where the American army 
 was posted, but from the distance and the height of the 
 intervening woods little or no execution was done. The 
 two flank companies of the 13th Regiment arrived from the 
 Isle-aux-Noix at half past two o’clock, and were immedi- 
 ately ordered to charge the enemy in front — they advanced 
 as far as the wood in line, but the difliculty of marching 
 through the snow with a galling fire in front, and on the 
 left flank, checked the rapidity of their progress, and soon 
 com|>elled them to retire to the Block house. The grena- 
 diers of the Canadian Fencibles and a company of the V'ol- 
 tigeurs just now arriving from Burtonville, Major Hand- 
 cock ordered them to support the flank companies of the 
 l3th Regiment in a second charge, to which they advanced 
 in colurmi of sections.* The Americans had now concen- 
 trated their whole force close to the gun, but did not at- 
 tempt to fire till the British had advanced to within t\ven- 
 ty-five yards of their centre, and were completely flanked 
 on both sides : the first discharge of the enemy w as so ef- 
 fectually destructive that these companies were entirely brok- 
 
 * The force in the Mill when attacked, was 160 men. The reinforce- 
 ments which arrived durinj^ the action, amounted to about two huntireil 
 men. Some accounts (which have been coniJidered probable) state the A- 
 jncricaii loss at 13 killed, and 123 wounded and 30 missing. 
 
 eh 
 
124 
 
 Mdministuation op 
 
 ( 
 
 .'i' - 
 
 •*' f 
 
 f ' 
 
 i 
 
 f*HAF. en and com|>elled to retreat from the woods in the greatest 
 Vfl. disorder. All attempts to rally them were inefteciual, and 
 they were recalled by the bugle to the Blockhouse. It is con- 
 1814 . jectnred that the gun was spiked by the enemy during the 
 first charge, as it was not made any use of afterwards. The 
 Aniericans exhausted with cold and fatigue, and findingJit 
 impossible to carry the place without heavy artillery which 
 from the state of the roads, could not be brought forward, 
 withdrew their forces ini good order from the contest at five 
 o’clock in the afternoon without being pursued in the re- 
 treat — The British loss amotinted to ten men killed and 
 four men missing, and two Officers and forty-four inem 
 wounded. The American loss though considerable, has 
 not been precisely ascertained. Having failed in the at- 
 tem))t to cariw a Block house scarcely deserving the ap- 
 
 pt ilation of a military post, the enemy fell back upon 
 Champlain town, from whence they soon retired to Platts- 
 burgh. General Wilkinson after this abortive attempt to 
 retrieve his military fame, seems to have been removed frora 
 bis command, or to have sought a voluntary retirement 
 from a service in which he had experienced but disappoint- 
 ment and reverses. 
 
 ■ » 
 
 CItAPi 
 
 
Sir George Prevobt. 
 
 J125 
 
 chapter vin. 
 
 I N Upper-Canada the occurrences during the winter were Cn A p 
 ofsnuill importance, being principally confined to in- VMI 
 cursions reciprocally practised by the troops in advance a- 
 long the frontiers with various success. One of the most 1E14. 
 successful enterprises effected in the course of the present 
 season, was planned and executed by Captain Sherwood, 
 of the Quarter- Master-General’s Department. That officer 
 w ith a subaltern, and a small detachment of twenty rank 
 and file of the Marines, and ton men of the embodieil mi- 
 litia, under Capt. Kerr, proceeded over the St. l.awrence, 
 on the night of the (ith of Feburary, from Cornwall in IJp 
 per-Canada, to Madrid, on Grass River, fourteen miles be- 
 yond the village of Hamilton, and brought away a consi- 
 derable quantity of merchandi/.e (having pressed all the 
 horses and sleighs he could find, for that purpose) plun- 
 dered from British merchants near Cornwall in Octo- 
 ber preceding, when on their route to Upper-Camida. These 
 eflects were to have been sold on account of the United 
 Slates government, notwithstanding an agreement for their 
 restitution entered into on the lOth of November, by Judge 
 f)gden and Mr. Richardson on the part of the United 
 Suites, and Lieut. Colonel Morrison and Captain Mulcas- 
 ter, (Royal Navy,) on the part of the British Government. 
 
 The Inhabiunts made no opposition to the seizure and 
 transportation of these effects, nor did they experience any 
 molestation from the party, who, at two o’clock on the en- 
 suing dav returned to their quarters w*ith the most valuable 
 of tlm Merchandize for which they had proceeded to Ma- 
 drid. 
 
 A sliirht loss was experienced in an unsuccessfiJ 
 effort n?ade by a detachment consisting of the flank 
 companies of the Royal Scots, and the light company 
 of the 89th Regiment, under the command of Captain Bars- 
 den of the 89th, for the purpose of dislodging a strong par- 
 ty of the enemy who had taken post at liongwood in the 
 advance at Delaware town. The enemy had secured them- 
 Si'lves on a commanding eminence behind log intrenchments, 
 and wei'e attacked at live o’clock in the afternoon of the 4tlk 
 
Administhation op 
 
 CfFAP. the right, of a company of militia Rangers under Captain 
 VIFI. Caldwell, with a detachment of the Kent Militia, and a si- 
 niilar movement by a party of Indians to the left. After se- 
 1814. veral repeated but unsuccessful eflbrts to dislodge the ene- 
 my in a Sjurited contest of an hour and a half, the troops 
 having sulTered severely, were withdrawn. The enemy ^oon 
 afterwards abandoned the position. The British lost two 
 oflicers and twelve men killed, and three officers and forty- 
 nine men wounded including an officer and six men of the 
 Kent Militia Volunteers, who distinguished themselves oa 
 the occasion. 
 
 The campaign was opened in Upper Canada by Sir Gor- 
 don Drummond and Sir James L. Yeo, under the most 
 cheering auspices. Tlie American forces along the Lake 
 Cliainplain, after leaving small garrisons at Plattsburgh, 
 Burlington and Vergennes, moved early in the Sprin<r to- 
 wards Lake Ontario and the Niagara frontier, with a vi^ of 
 resuming offensive operations against the Upper Province, 
 as soon as the fleet at Sacket’s Harbour (considerably aug- 
 mented during the winter) should be in a state to to-oj^ 
 rate with the land forces. The principal Naval Stores for 
 the equij)ment of the lleet were forwarded to Sacket’s Har- 
 bour by the way of Oswego, and as the British Naval force 
 at Kingston, strengthened by two additional ships, the Prince 
 Regent and J^rincess Charlotte, w'cre ready to aj)pear on the 
 Lake earl y in the season, it becamean object of importance to 
 intercept the enemy’s supplies and by that means retard his 
 preparations for invasion. An Expe<lition against Oswego 
 was therefore determined upon, and General Drummond 
 having embarked a considerable force consisting of six com- 
 De Waiteville’s Regiment, the liglit company of 
 the Glengaries, the second Battalion of the JFoyal Marinesy 
 with a detachment of Royal Artillery and two field pieces^ 
 a detachment of a Rocket company, with a few Sappers 
 and Miners, set sail from Kingston on t her fourth of iMuy, 
 and at itooa on the following dav, made* the port of Oswe» 
 go, when a lieavv gale from the North West sprung up, and 
 obliged the squadron to gain the oiling. On tlie morning 
 of the sixth, a landiitg was ellf^cted by about one Imiulivd* 
 and forty of tlu^ troops under Lieut. Colonel Fischer ; and’ 
 tewo Imndrcd seamen, armed with pikers, under tlie coin- 
 inaml of Captain Mulcaster, R. i\. in front of a heavy^ 
 discharge of round ami grape Iroin die battery, and of inus-: 
 ketrj^ from a dctaclmieal of about tierce huudred iiueu of ilia 
 ^ .k Americt^n 
 
Sir George Prevost. 
 
 127 
 
 Anioncan army, posted on the brow of the hill, and in the 
 skins of the neigUbourinjij wood. Tlic British, on landing, 
 pressed up tlie lull towards the enemy’s buttery, which the 
 Anjericans (upon huding the Biiiisii determined to carry it 
 t)N storm) relinquislied, leaving about sixty men, principally 
 wounded. 
 
 Chap, 
 
 vm. 
 
 Ibii. 
 
 The Uind and Naval Commanders having taken posses- 
 sion (»f the stores found in tiip Inirt and in its neighbovu- 
 ‘liood, ami liaving dismantled the fortili cations, and destroys 
 e l the barracks, re-embarked on the seventh oi May, and 
 re aimed to Kingston, 
 
 The loss ol the British troops amounted to one Captain 
 (IKmawuy of ilie Marines) and eighteen men killed, and 
 two OHicers and sixty men wounded. I'liat of the Navy 
 amounted to three men killed, and four Oflicers and seven 
 nu*n wounded, ('apiain Mnlcu^ter, while enteiing the 
 I'ort. ol the head of Ins men, received a very severe and 
 danfeious wound. Captain l\>pham was also seveiely 
 AUhongh the service derived much beuoiii Irom 
 
 -this 
 
 >accomplislieiL the principal part 
 
 •BOV d bv ihe eiuMUN, \vlu> had takiu tlm i.r^taimon ot do- 
 po.umg fhcm at ine Calls, some miles from Oswego, up the 
 river. 
 
 Oil*. lieu. . . I 
 
 fis expedition, the mam object m contemplation was not 
 jcomplislied, the principal part ot the N.<val stores being 
 
 T'ue tloiilla al llic Iblo-aux-Noix, under the coinmaml 
 of I ai'taiu I’rinsr. procmied up tlu- Lake ('liaiuplam, ou 
 tite muili of May with a tleiathiuent ot Mamies, ibr the 
 purpose trt tapnniu-' or destroying the new vessels recently 
 lannotied ai V'eiueimes, or of mierceptmg the stores and 
 wpphes iiUended tor their armnineiU and equipment. On 
 the J4tii. ('apt. I’ling reached liis destination at Ouer 
 Creek, but iiiiding the ciiemy prepared lor his reeeplioii, 
 he judged it oxjiedieiU to abandon his iiiteuded plan ot 
 -Ruai:k,”and reinmeii U) Uie Islvaux-Noi.x. 
 
 The British squadron having for the present a decided 
 •ascendency on Uke (Ontario, blockaded Sackei s Harbour, 
 in order to intercept the supplies which might, roin time 
 ■to time, be forwarded from Oswego, ti.r ‘■T'd''''.'’"; 
 
 . the American lleet. On the morning of me i.hh ol May, 
 a boat laden with two poimders and a large caolo 
 for one of the Auicntau shi^H^l war, was capluted 
 
 . J 
 
m 
 
 Administration cp 
 
 •1814. 
 
 xv«ay to Sachet’s Harbour from Oswego, from whence itlia^ 
 sailed in company with fifteen other boats loaded with 
 naval and military stores. This intelligence induced the 
 Naval Commander to dispatch Captains Popham and Spils- 
 bury, with two gun-boats and live barges, in quest of tlie 
 enemy’s boats, whicii, these officers ascertained to. have tak- 
 en shelter in Sandy Creek, whither they proceeded with the 
 resolution of capturing or destroying them if the attempt 
 should be found practicable. Oi\ the morning of the 31st 
 of Hay, the boats from the British squadron entered the 
 Creek, and Captains Popham and Spilsburv, having re- 
 connoitred the enemy’s position, determined on an immedi- 
 ate attack, which although aware of the hazard of the en- 
 terprise they determined to risk, as the stores in possession 
 of the enemy were of tlic utmost importance to the arma- 
 ment of their squadron. The boats advanced cautiously 
 up the Creek to within half a mile of the enemy, when pai> 
 ties were landed on either bank, wlio advanced on tlie 
 flanks of the gun-boats, to a turning which opened the 
 enemy’s boats full to their view — It was at this juncture, 
 when, by some accident, a sixty-eight pounder carronade 
 in the bow of the foremost gun-boat being disabled, it be- 
 came necessary to pull her round to bring the 24 pounder 
 in her stern to bear upon the enemy. The Americans mis- 
 taking this movement for the commencement of a retreat 
 advanced with their whole force, consisting of one hundred 
 and fifty riflemen, near two hundred Indians, and a strong 
 body of militia and cavalry; who after a short though des- 
 perate contest, from which it was impossible to effect a re- 
 treat, overpowered the British party, consisting of about 
 two hundred men, ol which, it is saitl, eighteen weix? kil- 
 led and fifty wounded. Captain Popham in his official des- 
 patch to Sir James B. Yeo, on this ailair, acknowdedged 
 with the warmest gratitude, the humane exertions of the 
 American Officers of the Rifle Coiqis commanded by Ma,jor 
 Appling, in saving the lives of many of the officers and 
 nien, whom the American soldiers and Indians were devot- 
 ing to slaughter. 
 
 The American forces concentrated at Buffaloe, 
 
 da. 
 
 tJppcr-Cana- Rock and other places on the Niagara frontier, under the 
 command of Major General Brown in momentai’y expecta- 
 tion of the co-operation of the sqiiariron on Lake Ontario, 
 were ready at the end of June to invade Upper-Canada. 
 On the morning ol the third July, the enemy cnibarJced^in 
 
 boa^j 
 
 
 
Sm George Prevost. 
 
 129 
 
 t)oats and battoaux and effected a landing on the Canada CftAP. 
 
 ?ide without opposition, with two strong brigades under VIII. 
 Brigadici's Scott and Ripley, at two points on the 
 fikvH'c above and below Fort Erie, each about a mile ilistant 1814. 
 from that post, then under the command of Major Buck of 
 the 8tli Regiment. That Officer had been active in putting 
 Fort Erie into a state of defence, and with a small detach- 
 4uent of about seventy men was left in charge of it, more 
 with a view of causing a temporary check to an invading 
 Torce, than for the purpose of defending it agtiinst a regular 
 •siege, which w'as not intended. It would indeed have been 
 impossible to maintain Fort Erie for any length of time a- 
 ‘ gainst the overwhelming strength of the enemy, but a I'e- 
 'sistanceof even a lew hours might have been of material coii- 
 •e(|uence and have enabled General Riall to have re])elled 
 the invasion at the outset. The able dispositions which 
 had been made of the forces under that Officer, along 
 •the Niagara line by the direction of Lieut. General 
 Drummond, who had anticipated an invasion at the 
 point where it commenced, w’ere such, that the least impeiii- 
 ment to the progress of the invaders would have enabled 
 General Riall to have concentrated his troops, and to 
 tad upon and disperse the enemy before they could have time 
 to be prepared for an elfectual resistance. Under these cir- fanfare ef 
 cumstances, it is much to be regretted, that Fort Eric W’as Fort kne. 
 tamely surrendered to the enemy without firing a shot or 
 making evena shew of resistance. — The Americans, alter the 
 acquisition of this important post, advanced with conlidence 
 in the afternoon of the ensuing day to the Plains adjacent to 
 Cliippawa, and were making preparations to carry that 
 post, when General Riall, to anticipate their design, 
 having collected his forces, marched on the evening of the 
 fiftii from his lines and gave them battle. The enemy had 
 much the advantage in numbers and fought with determin- 
 td bi-avery. His right rested on some buildings and or- street's Greek, 
 chards on the brink of the Niagara and was strongly siq)- 
 ported by artillery. His left was skirted by a woocl with a 
 considerable body of Indians and Riileuicn in front. The 
 Militia and Indians engaged the enemy’s riflemen, who, at 
 ^ first checked their advance, but being supported by the ar- 
 rival of the light tr(K)ps consisting of the light companies 
 of the Royal Scots and 100th Regiment, with the 2d Lin- 
 cpln militia, under Lient. Colonel Pearson, tliey w^re dis- 
 lodged after a very sharp contest. Two light twenty-four 
 pound^srs and a howitzer were brought into action against 
 
ArmNISTRATION OF 
 
 13 © 
 
 CuAP. the enemy’s ri<rht, which was also engaged by the King’# 
 V Hi. Hegiineiitj while the lioyal Scots and 10(hh l^egimeni, aiu r 
 ploying with the utmost steadiness, opened a heavy lue 
 ibl4. upon his left and advanced to tlie diarge, with the most in- 
 trepid galiantry, under a destructive iiie. In this attempt 
 they sudered so severely tliat it was t’ound necessary to 
 •withdraw tiiem and desist trom a contest, which from the 
 gieat superiority of the enemy’s numbers, must have been 
 unavailing. General Rial! accordingly lell back upon (diij>- 
 pawa in the evening, and to prevent the enemy from oc- 
 cupying Burlington Heights by a ibreed march (as he in- 
 -^‘uded) lie threw such reinforcements as he coulU spare in- 
 to ions George, Niagaia and Missi>saga, and reared to 
 Twenty-Mile (heek, on the route to Builington, wiiere ivo 
 prejiared (in* a vigorous stand against the pi ogress of il«e 
 ciu*:ny to that jiost. The American scpiadroi. was not l:o»v> 
 cvcT ready to ajjpear upon the J>ake during these occurren- 
 ce's ; a circumstance jxxuliarly fortunate, as their ap|*ear- 
 nucQ would have so ('inboldencd their army, (arsu)jeru>i m 
 numbers to ihe British, as proi^ably to have led to i‘ie re- 
 duction of f orts (jreorge and IViagara 'fhe uiiiiua uncer 
 • Jeeut. (’oUm^^l Hickson, (who was wounded) behaccii v^iLh 
 gauantry. Tlie British lost sixOiheers and one iiundicd 
 P.nd ibrty-tsvo men killed, and iwcnly-six < 'Hicers (among 
 tiiem Limn, ('olonel the Marquis of 4'weedale, severely > and 
 two Imndred and ninety-five men vvouiuled, and one Olli- 
 cer and forty-five men missing. Ttie enemy stale then loss 
 at seventy men killed, and nine Officers and tw’o huiidied 
 and forty men wounded, and nineteen missing. 
 
 The enemy after this afliiir, gradually advanced along the 
 Niagara, and occupied Queenstown, from whence he made 
 demon St rations upon Kort George and iMississaga, butiiiid- 
 ing [iiem. Colonel Tucker who had been left in command 
 tA' those }K)sts, on the alert, and d('termined to make a re- 
 solute defence, he desisted from further attempis to carry 
 them. 
 
 (iencral Brown finding a stouter resistance then he ex- 
 pected, fell back upon Queenstown,* from w'lience on the 
 
 * Thi> it wo’Od ';eom howpvor, was conlrarv ih#* orvlorsanH insfrurtion of 
 
 <T»r ^<*nrr;il rnmnt<4n(liii^, who in ^'.*m*ral or^rrs, ex|irc»srd his i(i^plea?nrf at 
 Uiv vircujo»vfii;Ct,% ;uul Lieut, t’oUmel Stone, cpmniandir^ at th^it 
 
 V lia^e, to retire from the arm v in coii-eq hence of his cor.iluct. T is i flicer 
 ^t-'-’aPrnvar.lJ th h'»*vc • nh acemini of thiv bU'inc\«, wijhouta 
 
 licnr.Oii.-r-Tiic viiibsc at Loi*g Toiui, wa^aiau reduced lu usacb by these i«- 
 cciidiai ieij. ‘ ' * ' ' 
 
Sm George Prevo^t. 
 
 m 
 
 ?5tli of July, he retreated with his whole force upon Chip- 
 pa wa, having previously set fire to the village of Saint Da- 
 vid’s. General liiall immediately put his advance in mo- 
 tion, and was moving on to support the advance of his di- 
 vision, when the enemy wheeled about with a view of over- 
 powering his forces before they could be assisted by the 
 reinforcements which were expected to join them. 
 iieral Drummond, with Lieut. Colonel llarvcy, had tl^iit 
 morning arrived at Fort George, frpm York. 'Hie ynoceed-* 
 ingswliich immediately succeeded his arrival caiu^ot be ntore 
 concisely and clearly explained than in his ownoflicial des-^ 
 patch, after the battle of laindy’s Lane, which is quoted 
 as the best relation to be found, of that hard fbugliL actiuiiw 
 
 I embarked on board His Majesty’s schooner Netley,^ 
 at York, on Sunday evening the 24th instant, and reach-% Laur- 
 
 ed Niagara at day-break the following morning. Find-* 
 ing from Lieut. Colonel Tucker that Major (xeneral Riali 
 was understood to be moving towards the Calls of Niaga-* 
 ra to support the advance of his division, which he had 
 pushed on to that place on the preceding evening, 1 or- 
 “ dered Lieut. Colonel Morrison, with the S9th Uegimeiit^ 
 and a detachment of the Royals and King’s, drawn (roiu 
 Forts George and Mississaga, to proceed to the sanm 
 point, in order that, with the united ibree, I might acl 
 against tlie enemy (posted at Street’s Creek, with his ad-* 
 vance at Chij)pawa) on my arrival, if it sliould be found 
 expedient. 1 ordered Lieut. Colonel I'uckcr, at ttio 
 same lime, to proceed on the right bank of the rivery 
 with three hundred of the 4 1st, an<l about two hundred 
 of the Royal Scots, and a body of Indian AVarriors, sup- 
 ported (on the river) by a party of armed seamen, \m- 
 dor Captain Dobbs, Royal Navy. Tlie object oi this 
 “ movement was to disperse or capture a body oi tlie ene- 
 “ my which was encamped alLewislowu, Scune iiiiavoi(i{V» 
 ble delav liaviug occurred in tlie march of the troops up 
 “ the right bank, the enemy had moved oil previous to 
 “ Lieut. Colonel Tucker’s arrival. I have to express my- 
 self satisfied with the exertions of that olficer. 
 
 “ Having refreshed the troops at Queenstown, ana iiav-’ 
 ing brought across, the 41st, R ovals, and Indians, I 
 “ sent back the 4 1st and 100th Regiments to Ibrin the gar- 
 “ risons of the la)rts George, Mississaga, and Niagara,’ 
 
 under Li ‘Ut. Colonel Tucker, and moveth with 
 
 ' HV.d 
 
 Cif Al^i 
 
 V HI. 
 ibliL 
 
um 
 
 % 
 
 133 
 
 Admimstration «f 
 
 :Si 
 
 
 
 PUAF. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 ibl4. 
 
 and detadimonts of the Royals and King’s, and liglit- 
 company of the 4Jst, in all about 800 men, to join Ma- 
 General Riall's division at the Falls. 
 
 When arrived within a few miles Of tliat position, I 
 met a report from Major General Hiall, that the enemy 
 was advancing in great force. I immediately pushed 
 on, and joined the hea^ of Lieut. Colonel Morrison’s co- 
 liimn, just as if reached the road leadingtowards the Bea- 
 vor Dam over thfe summit of the hill at Tiiindy’s liaiie.. 
 Instead of the whole of Major General Riairs division, 
 which I expected to have found occupying this position, 
 I found it almost in the occupation of the enemy, whose 
 columns were within 600 yards of the top of the hill, 
 and the surrounding woods filled with his light troops. 
 The advance of Major (JeUeral Riall’s division, consist- 
 ing of the Glengary Light Infantry, and Incorporated 
 ]Militia, having commenced their retreat Upon Fort 
 George, I countermanded these corps, and formed the 
 89th Regiment and the Royal Scots detachments, and 
 4 1 St light companies, in the rear of the hill, their left rest- 
 ing on the great road ; my two twenty-four pounder brass 
 field guns a little advanced ill ffont of the centre on the 
 summit of the hill ; the Cilengary Light Infantry on the 
 right, the battalion of Incorporated Militia, and the de- 
 tachment of the King’s Regiment on the left of the 
 great road; the squadron J9th Light Dragoons in the 
 rear of the left, on the road. I had scarcely completed 
 this formation, when the whole front was warmly and 
 closely engaged. The enemy’s principal eftbrts were di- 
 rccted against our left and centre. After repeated attacks, 
 tlie troops on the left were partially forced back, and 
 “ the enemy gained a momentary possession of the road. 
 This gave him, however, no material advantage, as the 
 troops which had been forced back formed in tlie rear of 
 the H9lh Regiment, fronting the road, and securing llie 
 flank. It was during this sliort intcival that Major Gc- 
 neral Riall, luiving received a severe wound, was inter- 
 cepled as he was passing to tl\e rear, by a party of the 
 enemy’s cavalry, and made prisoner. In the centre, the 
 ^ repeated and determined attacks of the enemy were met 
 “ by the h9lh Regiment, the detachments of the Royals 
 and King’s, and the light company of the list Regiment, 
 “ with the most perfect steadincf^s ami intrepid gailantry, 
 and the enemy was constantiy repulsed with very heavy 
 
 “ loss. 
 
 
 
Srn Georoe Prevost. 
 
 \S3 
 
 ^ Tn so dpterrr.inerl a manner were ih^^e attacks di- CriAF’ 
 
 reeled against oar gnus, that our artillery nun^ were bayo- VIII 
 neted by the enemy in the act oHoading, and the muzzles 
 of the enemy’s gnns were advanced within a few yards of 
 oar’s. The darkness of the night, during this extra- 
 ordinary conflict, occasioned several uncommon ipci- 
 dents : our trob])s having for a moment been pushed 
 back, some of onr gnns remained for a few minutes in 
 the enemy’s hands; they were, however, not only quickly 
 recovered, but the two pieces, a six ])Oundcr and a Uve 
 and a h^lf inch howitzer, which the enemy had brought 
 up, were captured by us, together with several tumbrils; 
 and in limberitig up our guns at one period, one of the 
 enemy’s six pounders was put, l)y mistake, upon a lim- 
 ber of our’s, and one of our six poundei*s limbered on 
 one of his; by which means the pieces were exchanged; 
 
 “ and thus, though we captured two of his guns, yet, as 
 lie obtained one of uur’s, we have gained only oqe gun. 
 
 About nine o’clock (the action having commenced at 
 six) there w’as a short intermission of firing, during 
 which it ap|X'ai*s the enemy was employed in bringing 
 up the whole of his remaining force, and he shortly at- 
 lerw'ards renewed his attack with fVesh troops, but waS 
 
 ‘‘ every where repulsed with equal gallantry and success. 
 
 About tliis period the remainder of Major-(ieneral Riall’s 
 division, which had been ordered to retire on the ad- 
 vance of the enemy, consisting of the lO^d Regiment^ 
 under Colonel Scott; the head-quarter division of tho 
 Royal Scots; the head-quarter division of the 8th (oi* 
 
 King's;) flank companies lOkh: some detachments of 
 militia, under Lieut. Colonel Hamilton, Inspecting FieLl- 
 Odicer, joined the troops engaged ; ami I placed them in 
 a second line, w ith the exception of the Hoval Scots, 
 and flank companies I04th, with which I prolonged my 
 front line on the right, where I was apprehensive of the 
 enemy’s out-flanking me. The enemy’s efforts to can-y 
 thehill were continued until about midnight, when hehad 
 suffered so severely from the superior steadiness and disa 
 cipline of his Majesty’s troops, that he gave up the con- 
 test, and retreated with great precipitation to his camp 
 beyond the Chippawa. On the following day he aban- 
 iloned his camp, threw the greatest part of his baggage, 
 camp-equipage, and provisions into the Rapids r and hav- 
 iriix set hre to Street’s Mills aiicL destroyed the bridge at 
 
 ^ ^ s Chip- 
 
!3l 
 
 - Administration op 
 
 Ck ap. Chippawa, contirmod his retreat in /rreat disorder fo^ 
 
 VIII. wards Fort Erie. My light troops, cavalry, and Indians, 
 
 ‘‘ are detached in pursuit, and to harass his retreat, which 
 1814. I donbt not he will continue until he reaches his own 
 shore. 
 
 The loss sustained by the enemy in this severe action 
 cannot be estimated at less than fifteen hundred men, 
 including several hundreds of prisoners left in our hands; 
 his two commanding Generals, Brown and Scott, are 
 said to be wounded ; his whole force, which has never 
 been rated at less than five thousand, having been en- 
 gaged. Enclosed, I have the honour to transmit a re- 
 turn of our loss, which has been very considerable. 
 The number of troops under my command did not for 
 the first three hours exceed sixteen hundred men ; the 
 addition of the troops under Colonel Scott did not iu- 
 crease it to more than two thousand eight hundred ofc- 
 very description.” 
 
 In this action Major General Riall having been severely 
 wounded, was, while retiring intercepted, and made pri?- 
 soner by a party of the enemy’s cavalry who had obtained 
 a momentai’y possession of the road on the left of the Bri- 
 tish line, by which the General was retiring. 
 
 General Drummond received a severe wound in his neck, 
 from a musket ball. He however concealed the circum- 
 stance from the troops, and remained on the ground, cheer- 
 ing on his men until tl>e close of the action. Lieut. Co- 
 lonel Morrison of the 89th Regiment, Lieut. Colonel Pear- 
 son, Captain Robinson, of the King’s Regiment, (com- 
 manding the militia,) with several other officers of merit 
 were severely wounded. The bravery of the Militia on this 
 occasion, could not have been excelled by the most resolute 
 Veterans. General Drummond, and other Oflicera of rank, 
 have been known to express their astonishment and admi- 
 ration at the determined resistance which they for some 
 (line maintained, against the overwhelming force of the ene- 
 my. — Nothing could have been more awful and impressive 
 than this mid-night contest. The desperate charges of the 
 enemy were succeeded by a dead silence, interrupted on- 
 ly by the groans of the dying, and the dull sounds of the 
 stupendous Falls of Niagara, while the adverse lines 
 were now and then dimly discerned through the moonlight. 
 
Sir George Prevoot. 
 
 155 
 
 by the dismal gleam of their arms. These anxions pauses 
 were succeeded bv a blaze of musketry along the lines and 
 by a repetition of the most desperate cliarges from the ene- 
 my, which the British veceivea with the most \inshaken 
 firmness. I'lie American loss, by their own statement, 
 a*nounted to one hundred and sixty rank and Hie killed 
 including tw^elve ollicers; ami five hundred and seven- 
 teen wounded, including Hllv ollicers, among them Gener- 
 als Brown and Scott, 'The commaml of the American 
 forces in the absence of Generals Brown and Scott, who re- 
 tired lor the recovery of their wounds, devolved u])on 
 (Jeneral Ripley, the enemy retreated on the ^27th, with his 
 whole force to Fort Erie, and threw up intrenchments 
 ill the neighbourhood of that Fort to secure himself against 
 tlie British, who immediately invested their works. General 
 ricdnes. in the mean time, proceeded from Sacket’s llai- 
 bour and assumed the command at Fort Eric. 
 
 On the 1st of August the American fleet sailed from Sac- 
 ket’s Harbour, and after looking into Kingston, sailed 
 for the head of the !.ake: from whence he soon ret urn- 
 e.l to port, upon limling the army far from being in a stole 
 to co-operate, coo|>ed up at hhie, ami incai able of l oid- 
 fng any direct coiimiunicgliou with the naval loiceon Lake 
 Ontario. 
 
 ' Tlio successful resiill of an enterprbe by Captain Dobbs^ 
 of the »o,al Navy, in vapumnu in the nialit of the I'ill) 
 of Au fustl with his giff and souie baiteaux, (conveveil over 
 l uid lro‘U Vue Niagaia river,) two ol tho eiieiuy s schooners, 
 iue Oluo and Somers, lying close to I (Ui Erie for the pur- 
 ti iseoC iianking the approaeiies to the I'ort, each ntouuimg 
 three loivr twelves, witli eoniplements of thirty-live nieii, 
 cave spirU to the armv. Cieneral Drurnmond, alter haMi.g 
 reconnoitred tire eiieiny’s uosiiion determined to storm the 
 American intrenchments. He accordingly opened a batteiy 
 on the morning of the thirteentii. and oii the ensuing day 
 fmdiiKT that a material ctlect had been produced upon tbeir 
 works^ be made the necessary preparat ons tor an assanlt. 
 Three columns were in il*e night of the tonrteenth^ 
 
 movement: one tinder the counuaiulot I iiciit.(olonell isdier 
 
 of .Or fFiittivilU's Uegiment, consi.sting ot 
 J), n nlli rilh's Hegimcnls, the tlank conipanies of the t .Hh 
 and lOOth llegiments, with a detachment ^ /'il 
 
 noiher under Lieut. Colonel Orummoiid, oi the J’ ' 
 
 ClIAP) 
 V II. 
 
 Ibi. 
 
 A«b*’U npon 
 Foil 
 
 J 
 
X'yfr AoMiNisTnATioN ep 
 
 conysting of the flank companies of the 41st an3 
 ill. JOtih Ico^iuicMits;. and a body of seamen a,nd marines, under 
 ✓V-jw Capiain Dobbs, U. N”. and tiie third uiuler Colonel Scott 
 lol l, ol liie IG.'vd Regiment, consisting of his own Regiment, 
 snnported by two co!ii]:anies of the Royals. The hrst of 
 these columns was ordered to attack and turn the left of 
 the enemy’s intrenchment on the side of Snake Hill, while 
 the two other columns were to attack the Fort and the 
 1 iglil of their inp'enchments. (’oloncl Fischer’s eolumu 
 b ul gained the point of attack two hours before day- 
 lighj, arid the head of the column luul actually gained pos- 
 session ot the enemy s batteries, but the column of support 
 in marching too near the Lake, entangled themselves be- 
 tween tlie rocks and the water, and were, by the repulse 
 ol the Hank compatiies of the King’s flegiment, (which, lor 
 \yant of timely support were compelled to retire u})on them,) 
 thiowm into utter contusion, and suffered mostseverely by the 
 liie of theenemy. I he tw'o other columns advanced as soon as 
 the firing upon Lient. Colonel Fischer’s coliium was heard, and 
 at th^ same moinent sgormed the Fort and intrenchmeius on 
 tae light, and after a desperate resistance succeeded in mak- 
 ing a lodgment in the Fort, llirongh the embrasures of the De- 
 im Bastion. Theenemy took to a stone building which 
 tiiv*y maintained with determination for upwards of an 
 liom and a half, against the guns of the Demi-Bastion, 
 Avliich the Biiiish had turned against them, until some 
 ammunition under the j)latfbrm on which the guns were 
 placed, taking fire (whether accidentally or by design, is 
 Jiot well understood) a most tremendous explosion cnsutd| 
 b* winch, almost all the troops who had entered the fort, 
 •weie dreadfully mangled. An immediate panic was coin^ 
 i^unicatrd among the troops wlio could neither be ralli(‘d 
 by llie surviving officers nor be persuaded that the explo- 
 sion was accidental. The enemy after having rcimlsed 
 Lieiit. ( olonel Fischer’s column had ordered reintbice- 
 nuMits from the loft and centre of their lines, to the assis- 
 tance of the fort, who taking advantage of the darkness 
 ^ncl confusion of the moment, pressed forward with a heavy 
 and destructive fire, and compelled the assailants to retire 
 irom the works they had so gallantly carried. 
 
 the loss of the British was most severely 
 felt. Colonels Scott and Dnnninond, fell, while storming 
 the vvorks. at the head of their respective columns. Four 
 » Uiltccis aixd fifty-four meu were returned as killed, an4 
 
 ^ twenty- 
 
Sir George Prevost. 
 
 137 
 
 t^vonty-four Officers and two hundred and eigl. tv-five men Chap. 
 vuiiiuled. The missing were reported at nine Oincers and 
 five hundred and thirty men, Jifterwards ascertained to have 
 1 been urincipally killed. 'I'he American statement of their 
 own loss, makes it eighty-four in killed^ wounded and 
 missing. 
 
 General Drummond was reinforced a day or two after 
 tl i." ar^sault by the arrival of the f)th and 8^2d Regiments^ 
 
 I from Lower- Canada, 'rids reinforcement was however no 
 more tlian barely sufticiem to supply the recent casualties^ 
 a : I (jeneral Drummond did not with the small force under 
 his command deem it expedient to hazard a second attempt 
 to recover Fort Erie, but by continuing its investment he 
 cut olfall communication with liie adjacent Country, and 
 in compelling tlie enemy to draw his resources from his 
 ovvii tc>uiury rendered the occupation of that Post for the 
 remainder of the campaign of no service to the invaders. 
 
 ^Tichillimakinac contrary to the expectation of the enemy 
 had, eaily in the Spring, been reinforced with a detachment 
 •f troops and seamen, under Lieut. Colonel M‘DoualL 
 This O nicer proceededby way of the \ottawasaga River, and 
 alter having for several days struggled against the ice, and 
 tempestuous weather which at tiiis season agitates l^ike 
 11 ui on, arrived at his destination on the JSth of ]V!ay^^itU 
 his o})en canoes loaded with Provisions and Stores for tlie 
 teiiei of the garrison. 
 
 From Michillimakinac, Lieut. Colonel M‘Donall dis- 
 patched Lieut. Colonel M^Kay of the Indian Department ^ 
 
 at the commencement of «fuly, w ith a force ofsLx hundred 
 a id fifty m-Mi (of which L^O were Michigan Fencibles, Ca- 
 nadian V olunteers and Oftieers of the Indian De|>artnient, 
 the remainder, Indians) to reduce the Post of Prairie du 
 Chit a on the Mississipi. Lieut. Colonel M‘Kay arrived at 
 that place on the I7th July. Dere he found tlie enemy iH 
 occvipation of a small Fort situated on a height, with'twO 
 lilock-Honses mounting six pieces of cannon, and in il c 
 t'hddle of tlie Mississipi immediately in front of the Fort, a 
 large gnn-hoat movinting fourteen pieces of small artillery, 
 
 Iheut. Colonel M‘Kav sent a flag of truce, demanding an 
 immediate surrender. I'his being rf'fnsed, he opened a fire 
 from one gun upon the enemy’s gni -boat with such elhct 
 after an action of three hours, as to compel her to cut 
 
 cable 
 
Administration of 
 
 1^8 
 
 cable and run down the stream, where she took shelter un- 
 der an Island. In the evening of the I9th, I^ieut. Colonel 
 M^Kay having thrown up his breast works at the distance 
 ot four hundred and Hfty yards, was prepared to open a can- 
 nonade upon the enemy, with a single gun wliich he had 
 mounted lor the purpose, when the enemy hoisted a white 
 flag and sent an Oflicer to acquaint the besiegei's of their 
 surrender, who immediately took possession of the gar- 
 rison. The enemy’s force consisted of three Officers 
 and 71 men. The reduction of this Rost which was 
 effected without the loss of a single man was of the utmost 
 imjiortance to the British Traders and efieetuallv secured 
 the Britishinliucnce over the Indian tribes of the West, 
 
 The enemy upon ascertaining that Michillimakinac had 
 been reinforced fitted out an l^xpedition which was put 
 under the command of l^ieut. Colonel Croghan. A de- 
 Bxpeditiona- tachment of this force under the command of Major Holmes, 
 ^n!ick?r.ac by proceeded to Saint xMarie's where 
 
 the Americans after plundering the whole of the stores belonging to the. 
 
 iS orth West Company, they reduced the buildir.gs to ashes. 
 The main body after it had been joined by this deiachivient 
 consisted of about nine hundred men, This force effeetj d 
 a landing near the Fort of Michiliinakinac on the 4th of 
 August ill the forenoon, but the spirited oj)posilioii whidi 
 It experienced from the handful of men under Ijieut. Colo- 
 nel ADDouall was such as to compel them to re-einbark, 
 leaving seventeen men dead on the shoi-e, among them Ma- 
 jor Hoimes, 
 
 I Though the enemy had failt^d in this attempt to cari*y 
 
 Michillimakinac, they kept their small cruisers in the neigh- 
 bourhood so as to intercept all supplies destined for the gar- 
 rison. Two of these vessels the Tigress and Scorpion w-cie 
 carried (the former on the evening of the .‘;d, and the latter, 
 in the morning of the 5ih of September) by a small paiiy of 
 St amen under Lieut. Worsley K. N. and a party of Sol- 
 diers under Lieut. Bulger of the Royal Newfoundland Re- 
 piment. 4'hey carried each a long 24 pounder on a Pi- 
 vot with complements of thirty-two men. After their cap- 
 ture, Michillimakinac was left unmolested. 
 
 i 
 
 * It IS related amon^ ofher traits of their cruelly, that these Brijijands having 
 made use of a horse all day in carting the plunder, tied him wh Ut haro^sr. 
 led in ihe cart to adwt lli. g Uou-e, which they set on fire, and amused them-i 
 selvrs in admit ing Uip uiiavaiUng ciToi ts of tile uooraiiimul to exinciUe its-if 
 
 fttim the . ' - 
 
 t— Durng- 
 
 Cl! AF. 
 VIII. 
 
 1814. 
 

 Sir George Prevost. 
 
 
 , PiirinjT these events in Upper Canada, Tiientenant Gene- Chat. 
 ral Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, tlren Lieutenant Governor VIH. 
 in Nova Scotia, was successfully eniJ^agcd in reducing a 
 very populous and extensive portion of the enemy’s teiTito- 1814. 
 ries adjacent to the Province of New- Brunswick. He de- 
 tached a small force from Haliiax, under Lieut. Colonel 
 Pilkington which, with the Kamilies, commanded hv Sir 
 Thomas Hardy, took possession, on the 1 Ith duly of IVloose 
 Island in Passamaquoddy Bay, the garrison at Fort Sul- 
 livan consisting of six Officers and eighty uien under the 
 command of Major Putnam surrendering themselves prison- On«>rafinn§ 
 ers of war. On the Sdth of August, Sir .Fohn C. Slier- bv sir John 0. 
 brooke having embarked at Halifax, tlie whole of his dis- 
 poseable forces on board of ten Transports, set sail accom- 
 panied by a small squadron, under Rear Admiral Griffiths 
 for Castine on the Penobscot River, where he arrived on the 
 1st September and took possession of the Batteries at that 
 
 E lace ; the enemy finding it impossible to retain the post, 
 aving previously blown up the Magazine and retreated 
 with the field pieces. The United States’ Frigate Adams, 
 had some days previous to the arrival of the British at Cas* 
 tine, run into the Penobscot and for security liad gor.e 
 up as far as Hamden, where her guns had been lauded and 
 a position taken, with a view of protecting her. Capt. Barrie 
 of the Dragon with a suitable naval force, and f)00 luck- 
 ed men, under the command of Col. John of the (iOth Regt. 
 were detached up the River for the purpose of obtaining 
 possession or destroying the Adams. The enemy w ho at first 
 offered a spirited resistance, after setting fire to the Frigate, 
 fled in all directions upon finding the British resolutely 
 advancing against their positions. Several pieces of cml- 
 nance and three stand of colours fell into the hands of the 
 British whose loss amounted to no more tlian one man kill- 
 ed and one Officer and seven men wounded. 
 
 After the capture of Castine, Lieut. Colonel Pilkington 
 was dispatched with a brigade of troops for Machias which 
 was taken possession of on the 1 1th September by that Offi- 
 cer; the detachment in Fort 0‘Brien having on the ap- 
 proach of the British, precipitately retreated from the For t,^ 
 leaving tw^enty-six pieces of ordnance with a quantity ot 
 small arms and ammunition. Lieut. Colonel Pilkington 
 was on the point of marching into the interior of the Coun- 
 try when he received a coinninnication from Lieut. General 
 Brewer, coiuinanding the Dibtrict; engaging that the miliii^ 
 
 forces 
 
 
140 
 
 ABMmiSTRATlOH 
 
 Chap, foi'ccs %vith!n the County of Washington should not Tbe»r 
 VIII. arms or serve against Kis Oritannic Majesty dtiring the war. 
 
 TliiSj with a similar ofl'er made by the Civil Officers atid 
 1614. principal inhabitants of the County, brouglit on a cessation 
 of a rms. By these judicious measures a populous extent of 
 territory stretching one hundred miles along the sea coast, in- 
 cluding a valuable tract of Country partly separating New- 
 Brunswick from Lower-Canada, passed utider the dominion 
 ol‘ the British arms without effusion of blood or the least 
 waste of treasure. 
 
 Among the casualties in advance along the Lines on tht? 
 Montreal frontier in the course of the present Summer, live 
 •death of Captain Mailloux deserves to be lomembeivd. 
 This brave Canadian had been remarkably vigilant and was 
 of essential service in watching the movements oftheene^ 
 my. He fell wdiile on a reconnoitring party, into the hand# 
 of the enemy, who had laid in ambush for him — ^He receiv- 
 ed several balls through the body of which he languislied 
 some days, receiving however the greatest attention from 
 the American Surgeons, as well as from those of the Bri- 
 tish, wlio were allowed by the enemy to cross the lines t^ 
 aitend him. The body after his decease was sent to the 
 lines escorted by a party of the American Military with the 
 honors of war, and every mark of respect for the memory of 
 the deceased. 
 
 The arrival of a strong reinforcement of near sixteen thou* 
 •and men from the Garonne, of the Duke of Wellington^ 
 army in July and August determined Sir George Prevost 
 to invade the state of New-York by wav of Lake Chain- 
 plain. The flotilla at hle-nur-Noir was necessary to co- 
 operate wnth the land forces, and the Commissaiy GenemI 
 and Quarter-Master General in order to expedite the ne\f 
 Frigate tthe Confiance) were directed to suspend every o- 
 fher branch of the public Service which interfered with its 
 erjuipment. Sir .Tames L. Veo was urged bv tlie Comman- 
 derofthe Forces fearlv in August) to put this division of 
 his command‘into an effective state, for the contemplated 
 Service. In answer to tins, he was acquainted by the 
 Commodore, that the squadron on Lake Champlam was al- 
 ready ninety men over compleat, and immediately supersede 
 ed Captain Fisher, who with innch exertion had aU 
 most v>repared the flotifla for active service, appointing Cap- 
 tain Downie fiom tbc.Lake Ontario squadron in his ste«d> 
 
Sir George Prevost. 
 
 T!ie Comnmnder of the Forces disappointed in not receiving 
 a reinforcement of Seamen from Lake Ontario, applied to 
 Admiral Otway and Captain Lord dames 0‘‘Brien then at 
 Quebec who furnished a strong reinforcement from tlieir 
 respective Shii)s (the Ajax and VVarspite) tor the service of 
 the Flotilla. 
 
 Sir Georg(^ Provost having sent to Upper-Cnnada, a bri- 
 gade of troops under Major-General Kempt, wlio was au- 
 thorized to make a descent upon Sacket’s Harbour belorc 
 the dose of the Season, if such a measure should be 
 thought practicable, concentrated his army between Ira- 
 pniirie and Fort Chambly, under the immediate command 
 of Major-General l)c Kottenburgh. Although the tlotiUa 
 was scarcely ready to co-operate, finding that a strong divi- 
 sion of the enemy's forex's under (Jeneral Izard, had march- 
 ed from Plattsburgh to reinforce the troops at Fort Erie, h« 
 in order to check the advance of this division, p\it his army 
 in movement and crossed the lines at Odeltown, on tho 
 first of September. (')n the third he advanced and occu- 
 pied Champlain Town, which the enemy abandoned tiporx 
 liis approach. 
 
 From this point th^ whole British force marched on tlie4tU 
 in tw'o ctilumiis, by parallel roads upon Plattsburgh through 
 a woody Country. The column advancing by the western 
 road, (more elevated and on drier grouhd than the road 
 next the lake, which was low and swampy,) com- 
 manded by Major Generals Power and Hobiiison, was 
 smartly opposed by the enemy’s militia. It however drove 
 t lie enemy back upon Plattsburgh on the sixtli, and open- 
 ed the way for the left Brigade, commanded by Major Ge-* 
 nend Brisbane by Dead Creek, a strong position upon the 
 border of Lake tHiamplain, which the enemy had occupied 
 ifi force, after (fostroyiug a bridge over the stream, vvnick 
 in ibis place was not fordable, having so distributed 
 their gun-boats, (ten in number, six of which carried each 
 one lo^g twenty-four, and an eighteen pounder carronade, 
 the others a long twelve each,) as to take the British ia 
 flank on their approach. The American ^uadron consisting 
 of tlie Ship Saratoga of ^6 guns. Brig E>agle, 20 
 Schooner Ticonderoga 17 guns, and the Cutter Preble of 7 
 guns, lay anchored in iheBiiy, then within reach of the pro- 
 tection of thr^'e batteries and redoubts, on a ridge of land on 
 the south of the Saranac Kiver. This position being turn- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
112 
 
 Administration op 
 
 ClIAP. 
 
 VUI. 
 
 1814. 
 
 \ 
 
 ed, the enemy fell back upon their redoubts beyond the 
 ranac, keeping a vigilant outlook upon the Fords of the 
 river wiili strong picquets of light troops. On the seventh 
 the heavy artillery being brouglit forward, eligible situations 
 were chosen to place them in battery, when it was observed 
 that the squadron had changed their position from that of 
 tlie preceding day, and were anchored out of reach of their 
 own, aS w'ell as ot the British batteries. The Commander of 
 fhe Forces had previously acquainted Captain Dowmie, 
 (who w^as moviiw gradually up the lake, with his flotilla, 
 himself in the Conflance rather unprepared for action, 
 with a crew entirely strangers to her officers) of the position 
 of the American squadron ; and that the attack by land and 
 Avater might be simultaneous, he deferred an attack ujioa 
 their works until the arrival of the squadron. This resolu- 
 tion (it is said) was adopted with the unanimous concurrence 
 of the General Ofiicers present. The escajie of the enemy’s 
 fleet to the narrow channels at the head of the lake might 
 render it impracticable to engage them w ith any prospect of 
 success: a final decision of the naval ascendency, on the lake 
 at the present juncture, was therefore of the utmost impor- 
 tance to the ulterior operations of the army, and the expedi- 
 ency of such a measure was universally acknowledged, parti- 
 cularly as the strongest confidence prevailed in the superior- 
 ity of the British vessels, their weight of metal, andintlte 
 capacity and experience of their officers and crews; and as 
 the Connuander of the forces was informed by an officer of 
 his Staff who had been dispatched to Captain Downie, that 
 he (Capt. D.) considered himself with his ow n vessel alone 
 (the Conflance,) a match for the whole American squadron. 
 At midnight on the 9th of September, Sir (leorge Prevost 
 received a communication from Capt. Dow nie, stating that 
 he was prepared for service, and proposed getting under 
 weigh with his squadron the same night at twelve o’Clock, 
 with the intention of doubling Cumberland Head (at the 
 entrance of Plattsburgh Bay,) about day break and enga- 
 ging the enemy’s squadron if anchored in a position to Jus- 
 tify such a measure. The troops at dawn of day w^ere un- 
 der arms, but there being no appearance of the fleet at the 
 exjiected hour, they were sent into quarters. Sir (Jeorge 
 wrote a note to Captain Downie, acquainting him that tlie 
 arm had been held in readiness that morning for the ex- 
 pected arrival, and expressing his ho]>es that the wind only 
 had tlelayed the approach of the squadron. The brave 
 Downie, who to the noble and manly virtues charac- 
 teristic 
 
Sm Georoe Prfvost. 
 
 113 
 
 «Uvl to liiive been fired witli indignation at the reflection con- 
 veyed in the note. No coininmncaiion snbseqvient to tiiatoi: 
 the 9th was, liowevcr, received from him at flead-Quartei’s. 
 At the dawn of ilay on the J Ith, ilie wind being observed to 
 be favorable tor the advance of the squadron, tiie troops were 
 p'lt under arms, and at seven o'clock its approach was an- 
 nounced by the scaling of thegnns of the Confiance, which 
 ronndect (hnnberland Head w ith a leading breeze, h'aving the 
 other vessels and gnn-boats far in her wake. At, 8 o’clock the 
 whole tire of the enemy’s squadron, moored in line, was 
 dnvcied upon the Confiance, which moved gallantly into 
 a. iion without returning a shot, (Captain l^ownie intend- 
 ing to lay his ship athwart hauseof the enemy’s largest ship) 
 until w ithin t wo cable lengths of the American line, w lu n, 
 h.tv» two anchors shot away and the wind balHir»g, she 
 came to anchor, and oj>ened a destructive tire upon the ene- 
 mv f'tie Linnet and Chub, some time after, took their 
 stations at a short distance, but the (’huh having had her 
 caoiv'S, bowsprit, and main boom sliot awav, became un- 
 manageable ami drilling w ithin llie enemy’s line was obliged 
 to surrender. Shoiily after the commcTk-ement of the lire 
 from the ( ontiance, her gallant commander fell, and the 
 command of tl.e squadron devolved upon (’upiain luring ol 
 tlie l^inuet. The ('onfiance, after tl\e lull of ('iq t. Downie, 
 fbuglit tor some lime most gallantly under the eoininai.d 
 of Lieut. Uobevtson, but was compelled to .sti’UvO lier colours 
 to ihe enemy’*’ ship, the Saratoga, which at (>r.<' moment had 
 slackened her lire, seveial ol her guns being di.-mounied : slie 
 however, cut her cable, winded her larboard broadside so as 
 to .H>ar on the Conhance, w Inch, being much sirnttered in her 
 liull ami injured in her rigging, endeavoured in vain to cilect 
 th»‘ same inamvnvre. ^fhe finch struck on a reef or rocks 
 to ihe eastward of Crab Island early in the action, and was 
 of no service ul the engagement. I he J^nnei only remained; 
 but Captain lh*ing fihdiiig “that the gnn-boats had shanio- 
 iully abandoned the object assigned to them, and were fly- 
 ing from the scene of action, while not a hope remained of 
 retrieving the dististers ot the tlay, his men failing fast, was 
 reluctantly comp'dled to give the painful orders to strike the 
 colours. The tire on both sides proved very destructive 
 from tile light airs and the smoolhnc.ss of the water : 
 the liritish lo.s.s in killed and w’ounded was 1^.^, of which 
 ^ ofticers and 38 men were killed ami one ofiicer and iO 
 men w ounded on board of the Confiance, 
 
 The 
 
 
 j 
 
5 AmiIM«TRATION OF 
 
 1 he batteries on bhore wore put into opemtion against the 
 enemy s line of ioviilicatioas, as soon as the enemy’s snips 
 comnionceil firing. As the approach to the front of lUeir 
 works was rough and exposed to a fire of grape and imiskei- 
 ry, well as to a i!aiik fire from a lilock- House, a column 
 Oi asstiult, under ATajor-General Robinson, was ordered to 
 move by tlie rear of their bivouacs, the better to conceal 
 their niovemeuts and cross a lord previously vccoiinoitreil 
 some clisiance uj) the Saranac ; thence to penetrate through 
 a wood to a cl^r space of ground in the vicinity of the ene- 
 my’s w here the necessary preparations might be 
 
 made to carry their works by assault on tlieir reverse front. 
 
 The second brigade under lUajor-General Brisbane, wasf 
 so (listribuled as to create a diversion in lavor of tiie coiuum 
 under Alajor (General liobinson, which, throvigh the mis- 
 taice of tlieguides, had been led upon a wrong path and miss- 
 ed the ford. Before the error was rectifictl by a coumennarch, 
 shouts onniz-^iih w ere distinctly lieurd by thiscoluinnin the. 
 direction of the Ameriran works. To have carried tlicse 
 toriiiiciuions would have been no dillicuU task for the brave 
 tioops cqmpobing this column, but their attainment after 
 the loss of the squadron could not have been attended with 
 •any permanent advantage. Orders were therefore^ sent to. 
 Gi^neral Rubinso.n (who upon hearing the shouts had halt- 
 ed and scut to Head-Quarters to ascertain the cause and to 
 receive such further orders from the Commander of the for- 
 ces as were necessary) to return with his column. The loss 
 of tlie squadron gave the enemy the means of conveying 
 their troops to. such points as might be deemed expedient, 
 and the numerous reinhircements which momently croudod 
 in, gave them a great disposeable force, whose superiority 
 in numbers was such that a delay of a few hours miglit 
 have placed the British in a critical situation. So cirenm- 
 stauced, tlic afmv indignant at being obliged to retire be- 
 fore an enemy their inferior in discipline and renown, fell 
 back nponChazy in the evening w ith little molestation from 
 the Americans. On the ensuing day they continued their 
 retreat towards tlie lines, bringing away such of the ord- 
 nance and commissariat stores as had not been injured by 
 tiio rain, w hich, from the commencement of the invasion and 
 during the retreat of the army, had been almost incessant. 
 
 'Idnis terminated the luckless and humiliating expedition 
 to Platisbiirgli, with the loss of the squadron^ (the Gury*? 
 
Sir George Prevo?t. 
 
 M5 
 
 "boats, owing to the misconduct of tlie officer in com- 
 mand, excepted,* ) and five hundred men oi’lhe land tbrces in 
 killed wounded and missing. 
 
 The unfortunate result of this expedition irritated the ar- 
 m\% which felt itself humiliated in being compelled lo re- 
 I tire before an enemy wliich they had b; en taught to disdain. 
 
 I The Naval Commander in the Canadas, in his otlicuil 
 . letter to the Admiralty efid not scruple to attribute the 
 I loss of the lake squadron to the misconduei outlie Comman- 
 der of the Forces. The opinion oi’ilmt officer remote from 
 the place ot’ act ion, and of which he had no local knowledge, 
 must necessarily have relied upoji the staieineuts of o- 
 ^ thers ; and when we consider the variance in the rehljion of 
 facts as given by those immediately concerned, 
 pei*son will paiuse in forming an oj/mion. In justification of 
 i!ie conduct of Captain Downie it has been said that he was 
 hurried into action before his ship was in a state to meet the 
 cjnemv and that the Commander of the Forces failed to 
 give liu-promiseti co-operation to the fleet, by not commenc- 
 ing an assault on tlie batteries upon a signal given by the 
 Confiance^ in consequence of which the w iiule attention of the 
 enemy w’as directed against the Fleet. Tiiat if the land 
 batteries lunl been assaulted in time, the American fleet 
 would have been compelled to leave the bay, when they 
 might have been attacked by tlie BiUish squadron on the 
 open lake to much better advantage. On tlie other hand it 
 has been urged that Captain Downie, so far from being hur- 
 ried into action, entertained the fullest confidence in the 
 superiority of his squadron, and that he felt equally cerlani 
 I of success whether he should meet the enemy on the open 
 j Lake, or attack them at anchor in Plattsburgh Bay. That 
 j there was no signal agreed upon between the Commander 
 of the land forces and Captain Downie : and that the circum- 
 stance oi Ui ^cal in^ the guns was considered by the former 
 
 I as no more than iTie usual precaution before the commence- 
 ment of a naval action. That the storming of the works 
 * on shore could not have been of any service to the British 
 I squadron, as the American ships during the action, were 
 I moored out of range of the land batteries, lhat it would 
 have been imprudent to have carried the American batteries 
 ! belbre tlie naval ascendency should have been decided, as 
 
 * ThisGcnrleiPan soon affrr his di^^prarefiil Hijjht from the naval action at 
 Plnttsburfch, di.<ippeared, nliiic under arrest, preparatory to his trial by a 
 Court JMarnaC 
 
148 
 
 Administration op. 
 
 the enemy’s squadron, after such an esent, by retiring to 
 tlie narrows in the Lake beibre the Butisii squaaruii should 
 have been otf Plattsburgh to intercept then letieat, iiiiglit 
 have secured themselves against eveiy tuiure ellbrt to attack* 
 them to advantage. Amidst the coirraOictory relaiions of 
 facts and diversity of opinions, which have oeen given lioin 
 respectable authority, spectators of the event, it is cUlhcult 
 to say what were the grand errors whicli occasioned liie iai- 
 lure of the expedition to Plattsburgh, or whether it may not 
 be considered its one of tliose inisforumes incidental to war- 
 fare vvhrtfTi human prudence can neitlitr foiesee nor prevent. 
 It is conlidently asserted ofCajitain Dow me, that he inuagnt 
 himself wh his single ship, tlie (mnuance, a maicli tor tiie 
 whole ATuerican squadron, and when we adven to liie cir- 
 cumscanco of his having gone as it were snu»ly into action, 
 while the Ollier vessels, particularlv Hie Gun-ooats, in his 
 5iquadron, were tar in liis wake, there is room lo believe 
 that this gallant oflicer fell a viciiiii to a laiiacious conh- 
 dence of success, which, after conscuaiing his lite to it, 
 we camiot but respect. 
 
 The decease of Sir George Prevost, before a Military 
 Court Mavtial could investigate the ciiarges [ueieriect a^aui>t 
 him, renders it impossible to speak wiin any decree oi cti- 
 tainty on the general propriety of ins condiiLt on that expe- 
 dition : but it seems to be generally adiuiiied by tnose .nuo 
 are supposed most capable of forming a correct Oj>inion 
 the subject, that after the loss of the squadron his situation 
 in the enemy’s country, must have been extremely juecari' 
 ous; andthat although he might without any great exeriiun 
 have carried all the enemy’s works at Plausoiirga, Uieir 
 momentary occupation, which would nave cost him some 
 blood, would have been ulteriy useless. 
 
 Fort The enemy at Fort Erie, on hearing the result of the ex- 
 pedition to Plattsburgh, and aware that the Bntisli m tueir 
 neiglibourhood had not been recently reinforced, made a 
 sortie in the afternoon of the seventeenth of September, and 
 ai tacked the British lines extending tnrougli a thick wood, 
 with their whole force consisting of* upwards of live thou- 
 sand men. At the onset they gained some advantage, ha- 
 ving from the thickness of the weather, (the rain jiouring in 
 torrents) succeeded in turning the right of the British line 
 of picquets without being perceived, and after a warm con- 
 test^ obtained possession of two batteries. As soon as Uie 
 
 alarm 
 
 Ch AF. 
 
 VIII. 
 
147 
 
 Sir George Prevost. 
 
 alarm was ^iven, reinforcements were s^nt forward, who 
 drove the enemy from the works, of which they had trained 
 possession, and pm-sued them to the glacis of Fort'’ Erie 
 whither they retired with precipitation, with the loss (by 
 tlieir own accounts) in killed, wounded and missing, of five 
 hundred and nine men, including eleven ofticers killed and 
 twnty-three wounded. The British loss amounted to three 
 offjcei-sand one hundred and twelve men killed, seventeen 
 officers and one hundr ed and sU .ty one men wounded, and 
 thirteen o fficer s and three hundrecT and three raissincr - 
 making a total of 609 officers and men. ® ^ 
 
 General Drummond, after this affair, finding his troops 
 encamped in a low situation, now rendered veiy unhealthy 
 by the late constant rains, gi'owing sickly, raised the invest- 
 ment of Fort Erie, and fell back upon Chippawa, on the 
 evening of the 21st of September, without molestation 
 by the enemy. 
 
 Sir James L. Yeo, after much exertion, completed the 
 Saint I^wrence, a new ship of 100 guns, and on the lOth 
 October, sailed from Kingston for the head of the lake with 
 a reinforcement of troops and supplies for the army. Com- 
 modore Chauncey having previously retired toSackel’s Har- 
 bour, on hearing that the British squadron was prepared for 
 the lake. General Brown finding the American squadron 
 incapable of co-operating with him, came to the resolution 
 of evacuating Fort Erie, which he accordingly did on thp 
 5th November, after calling in his out-posts and destroying 
 the whole works at that post, and retired across the Niaga- 
 ra to his own territory, leaving the wearied Inhabitants of ^ 
 the Upper Province once more to their repose. 
 
 The American army throughout the present cainpaigii 
 evinced a chawkewr 4 Uid an iinpri>v4icU^ate oTYliscijiline tar 
 beyond what might have been expected from such raw ma- 
 terials. The barbarous conduct of a few desperadoes who 
 occasionally made incursions into the western parts of Up- 
 per Canada disgraced however the reputation which their re- 
 gular army had acquired in the estimation of the British, 
 ever ready to acknowledge merit in a virtuous enemy. The 
 Villages ot Dover, and Port Talbot were destroyed by 
 these'’ ruthless barbarians in the course of the Summer; 
 but the devastation which marked the course ot a horde of 
 mounted Brigands from Kentucky, under Brigadier Geneial 
 
 >r Arthur, 
 
 Cn Ai^. 
 \ fll. 
 
 18U. 
 
MS 
 
 At'MTNISTUATION' op 
 
 Chap. M‘ArlT\nr, in tLc niontU of Novombor exce^(^od 
 
 Vni. thing. The CountiY through which they passed was giveh 
 up to indiscrimiuato plund^'v : the settlements wel'e rediiccd 
 
 1814. to ashes, and the miserable inhabitants were loft to |Hn'is!i 
 with cold and hunger. Titis band of rnffians was arreSteU 
 in its progress, on attempting to cross the Grand River by 
 a party oi the 103d Regiment and a few Indian Warriors, 
 and their sjieedy retreat before a party of the 1 0th Light 
 Dragoons sawBd-^rtrrTTrftnTh exeTtTplary chastisement. They 
 made gpocfuieir retreat to Detroit from whenr'o they had 
 set ont on this excursion. 
 
 The troops and embodied rftilitia in the Lower Province 
 ‘f^ere sent into winter quarters on the tentli (rf DecembcL 
 .General Drummond and Sir James L. Yeo, after the cam- 
 paign had ended in Upper Canada came down to Montreal 
 to concert measures with tlie Commander of the Forces for 
 the ensuing campaign, in the event that the uegociations tlieu 
 carrving on at Ghent sliould not terminate in a Peace. The 
 creation of a naval force’on Lake'lfifron in the ensuing §ea- 
 .son was determined upon by these Officers as a place affind- 
 ing much greater security for the construction of vessels 
 thauLake Erie, where the enemy possessing the dominion o6 
 -the Lake could at any time destroy them. 
 
 1815. The House of Assembly met on the 21st Januar 5 % Mr. 
 Pallet having been called up to the Legislative Council, 
 Joseph L. Papineati, Esquire, ^vas elected Speaker of the 
 Assembly. The militia Act was revised and amended by 
 admitting substitutes, A Grant of new Duties upon Tea, 
 fitrong Spirits, and on Goods sold at Auction was made to 
 His Majesty to supply the wants of the Province. One 
 thousand pounds were granted for the encouragement of 
 ^vacciire^TTfnrnlati/m, ujiwards of eight thousand poilnds 
 "Were appropriated for th.e~irfipro^tnfTit of the Internal 
 Gommunicalions of the Province, and a further Sum of 
 twenty-five thousand pounds for the purpose of opening a 
 Canal from Montreal to Ijachine. A Bill was also introdn- 
 €(’d to make a provision for the Speaker of the House of As- 
 sembly ami to grant him a thousand pounds per annum to 
 ’enable him to support the dignity of his Office. Tin BiH 
 being reserved for the Royal Sanction was confirmed during 
 ft subsequent Administration. 
 
 The Assembly among other things came to a resolution 
 
 tliai 
 
Sm George Prevost. 
 
 M9 
 
 tJial it was expedient to appoint an \gent in Groat Britain 
 ft>r tlie purpose of soliciting the enHcUncnt of Laws, ami for 
 transacting such public nuitters as might from li re to 
 lime be committed to his care for the good of tlie Province. 
 This resolution was commuiucated to the Legislative Coun- 
 cil, where, in opposition to the measure it was resolved, that 
 the (Tovernor of the Province was the only lit and constitu- 
 tional channel between the Legislative Bodies of Lower- 
 C'anada and His Majesty’s (tovernmem in Great-Biitain : 
 they tUeretbre did> itoL concur in the Message of the AiJ- 
 sembly. 
 
 The Lowerllouse, Upon receiving information of the dissent 
 of the Legislative Council, persisted in their resolution, and 
 presented an address to the (jovernor on the subject, re- 
 <picsting His Excellency to transmit to the Prince Regent 
 certain ^Addresses in that behalf, as well as an Address 
 relating to the Impeachments preferred at a Ibrmer Session 
 againsrthe Chief Justices, and ot which no notice had as 
 yet been taken by the British (Government. Whilst the at- 
 tention of the Colonial Legislature was engaged in these 
 concerns, news of the Treaty of Peace were oilicially announ- 
 ced to them on the 1st of March. 
 
 The Embodied Militia were immediately disbanded, and 
 as a gratuity, the Legislature granted eighty days ])ay to the 
 oflicers. An annuity of six pounds was provided for such. 
 Voltigeur.s and Militiamen as had been rendered during 
 their service, incapable of earning a livelihood. A suuiu 
 gratuity was also made to the widows ami children ol those 
 who had been killed during the war : and the Assembly in 
 an Address to the Prince Regent, recommended that a grant 
 of lands should be made to such Voltigeurs and Rfilitia, as 
 had served in delcnce of the Province during the late war. 
 
 The Assembly as a mark of respect for the character of 
 the Governor in Chief, voted him the sum of five thousand 
 pounds sterling for the purchase of a Service ot Plate. Hiis 
 measure met with the approbation of the Prince Regent v t 
 was not carried into elfect, the l^egislative Council iiavi g 
 refused their assent to a hill for that purpose, which was .scot 
 up for their concurrence in the course of the ensuing Session. 
 
 The business of the Session being concluded, the Gover-^ 
 l\or prorogued the Patiiaaien^ on the March, He i^ 
 
 ClfAF. 
 
 Mil 
 
 1815 
 
150 
 
 Administration of 
 
 Chap, formed the Assembly that he had received the commands of 
 V^III. His Fioyal Highness the Prince Kegent, to return to Eng- 
 land for the pur})ose of repelling accusations affecting his 
 1815. military character, which had been prefeired by the late na- 
 val Commander in Chief on the Lakes in Canada, — an op- 
 portunity which he embraced with eagerness to justify his 
 military reputation* 
 
 However intent (said he) on the subject which so nn- 
 expectedly thus summons my attention, be assured I shall 
 bear w^ith me a lively recollection of the linn support I 
 have derived from you, and I shall be gratified at an ear- 
 ly period in representing personally to His Royal High- 
 ness the Prince Regent, the zeal and loyalty evinced by 
 every class of His Majesty’s Subjects in British North- 
 “ America during my Administration, their attachment to 
 his August Person and to his Government, and most par- 
 ticularly the Spirit and devotion manifested by the People 
 of the Canadas, in the late contest with the United-States 
 of America.” 
 
 vSir George Prevost accordingly departed from Quebec on 
 the third or April, for England by way of St. Johns (New- 
 Brunswick) over the wild and uninhabited country between 
 the Saint Lawrence and the River St. Johns. On the day 
 of his departure he received farewell addresses from the 
 citizens of Quebecand Montreal, expressive of their satisfac- 
 tion with his Administration. He was succeeded by Sir 
 Gordon Drummond in the Government of Lower-(unada, 
 as Administrator in Chief, who arrived at Quebec on the 
 same day, a few hours after the Governor’s departure and 
 assumed the Command. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
rOSTSCRIPT. 
 
 I T is cliip (o tbn piihli.*. an ’ io the m^'mory of Si»- Georfifo Pre- 
 vost, to givo som!* vtatfmont of tin- prorecdings w lh respoct to 
 Ih t Officer 'ft( » l*i> r turn to F.ngLind, to account for his inilita- 
 rv t ' ip'uct at I latt'ibu gh in Sv. |)tcinbt r, IS14, a* the instance of 
 Siv J. li. V o. commander of the Naval Koictis on the Lakes in 
 ( anacla Som*- time after his arri'al at home h * was induced, hy 
 the pron.id^a* on of the sent^ nc.- of a N ival Court M irtial assem- 
 bled for tt» trial of C'aptain I ring and the offic«*rs tinder his com- 
 inai.d, f('r it e loss of ih lirdisii S ;uatlron on Lake ChamplaiM in 
 1 lattshnrgh B 'y, 5 ctlecting upon the conduct of the Comm -mler 
 of th Land 1‘o.ces, to ad Ircss a h tter on thesuhj ct, to ILis Kov- 
 al lii;hnps'* th * Duke of Voik. In t tis 1 ttv*r. In' ^tiotigly prot 
 eti avaint t . • deei>ion of tint C^ourt Mavtid sofa as it related to 
 b iMseft, s pr irature and unpi t ; his conduct and that of the ar- 
 r. y inwlrr i*is ( on mand not b ing propeily the snbje< t of 
 t ■ Ml eiKjuirv ; and bc» ause tucir opinion mn^t have principa^'y 
 r lied uDOTi the bare st tement and a'^s» rtions of the parti'*s 
 w os * :o .du t was in (jnestion, >\itiiout any other than ex putc 
 test.n ouy. M * complained of the peculiar injustice of tnis pre- 
 ju- ic tion ol Ins cou Hn t aigravatei* by the drlay of his accuser to 
 b* -UiX to wan! his accus. t ons ; and solir it^cMlie interposition of 
 ]lis t<oy ! iitghness wit;, i iis Maietty’s (lov- rnni! iit, to ceni|) I 
 Inni (e produc ‘ liis charg* > in du“ I g d form, and proceed upon 
 t!n*m in order tha* an opportunity ii>ig t he allurded him of vindi- 
 e ting liis charat t i .»nd c oin’u.t A copy of the charges (four mi 
 numb r) givt n in by Sir James L. Vco, in consequent' of tiiis 
 remonstrance, wa*‘, by th * At^jut nt (icne al ot the borces, trnnsw 
 r itte<l from rh*‘ lloi^I* (iinjidfl. on the IStii of St ptember, to Sir 
 (leoige I T.'vost ; and to allbrd time for tin* arrival of the nee* ssa- 
 ry witnesses from Canada, th ’ meiding of th* (L iieral (’oui t M-n- 
 tial was postpon'd till the twelfth of January, lSlt>. In the 
 mean tim , t;ie hcaft:. of Sir Ci:;^rgt^l naturally of a deli- 
 
 cate cast, an:' impaired in the conrs<‘ of service, b' Came seriously 
 alf ct**d iio M anxiety of mind, and tin' fatigue lie hafl rxpe i -need 
 in his journey on too* ov r the unin!;al)ited country, coier d W'tfi 
 snow, be tw een the Uivers Saint fy.iw rence and Saint Johns ; and 
 on tlie 5th January, he died in London, leaving a disc ii'olate fa- 
 mily to regret his loss, rendered doubly grievous by the r' ilections 
 to which liis memory was xpos d, from his not having had an oc- 
 casion of clearing up his conduct at 1 lattsburgh. 
 
 Colonel William Augustus Prevo^f, anxious for an oppor- 
 tunity to rclricYC the injured reputation ot his brother fiom 
 
 ^ U “ 
 
POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 th« obloquy 'ivliich the vfawt of an investigation of (lie char^ez 
 p ! • rr (! again^it Sir George i revost, previous to his decease, mu.-t 
 )uvc Cdbt upon his memory, in a lett. r addressed to II is Royal 
 iiigin.es'; tiiC Commaiuler in Chief, after stating in the stion- 
 gesi light, the di. tivssing situation in which the family and 
 r. : .tious of t.ie deceased >i-t‘re pl teed, requested that an in- 
 Test'g Jtion of hisco;>dint might be ordered before a Court of 
 En::ui y. Arefereme to the Judge Advoeute was made o»i the 
 subject, who was cf opinion, tliat such aji enquiry, could not be 
 prop, r y nude ; and irideed the objections to an investigation after 
 the death of a party, in such an instance as the piesent, appear to 
 
 insurmountable ; the evidence b» fore a Couit of Knquir^ not 
 b ing laLt n on o;th,,nor could any proceedings with a view to 
 a iord public satislaction, have ha<l the desired elfect, unless tae 
 R osecutors (who>e chara ters niust also have been considerefi to 
 a «t:iin d. gree stake) were allowed to come foiward wita the 
 w :ii;iu Weight of their evidence. 
 
 In consequence of tMs (] ‘termination, Lady Prevost addressed 
 a Pttor to tfve C ommanJer in Chi f, representing to liis Royal 
 irgnuess in the lorei hie terms, the painful dilemma in w iiich 
 she was placed. She dwtdt ‘strongly upon the injustice sustained 
 by tin* memory of an iiijured oilicLi w hose life had been devoC^d 
 to tne se vice of his country, and whose exertions in that service 
 had oeen nonored with the irequent and ufiqualitied approbation of 
 Lis Soiereign and bis C^ountry, — lionors, which, though the fruit 
 of long and acknowledged se vices, were now* in danger of being 
 blast d by unpioven and calumnious accusations. She therefore 
 soli it' d liis Royal liighiioss to extend his favor and protection to 
 h riull and family, and implored him to commiserate their multi* 
 plied afiiiclions, and to endeavour to obtain from liis Royal High- 
 ness the I nnce Regent, »i gracious consideration ot their claims for 
 such marks of distinctio.i as might be thought due to the memory 
 ol tile tloceased. His Royal Highness acknowledged the receijit 
 ot her Lady diip’s IcUcr, and a^su^ed her that he should be glad 
 to do any tidng caicuhited to alleviate her distress, but declined in- 
 terfering W itli the Lrrnre Regent on the subject, before whom, he 
 w as of opinion, it could only be regularly submitted by liis Ma- 
 jesty's xUiiiisUrs. 
 
 Lady Prevost accordingly drew up a memorial, which, with a 
 st.it 'm(*nt of the military occurrences at l^lattsburgh, she submit- 
 ted to th * i'rince Regent through the Ministers, liis Royal High- 
 ne^s having taken the same into consideration, was soon after- 
 wards graciously pleased, publicly to express the high sense he en- 
 tertained of the distifiguisiied services of Sir George Preyost, con- 
 ferringat the same time, as a mark of his approbation^ additional 
 Armorial bearings to Uic Arms of his i* amily. 
 
POSTSCRIPT, 
 
 Tlie Af’ministration of the Civil Govermnent T/Ower-Canada 
 «n u r Sir G orge Prevost, was mild, equitable, and unquestiona* 
 bly popular among the entire mass of the Canadian population, ia 
 whose loyalty from tlw? commencement, he plac ed the most im- 
 plicit conhdence. To their hdclity and to tlie prudent and con- 
 cihating policy of this Governor, Great- Britain is indebted for 
 the preservation of the Canadas, unavoidably left destitutii of mo- 
 ney and troops at th * outset of liostilit es with America, by rea- 
 son of tin* urgent demands of the war in Spain. The Provincial 
 L •gi‘^lature, by giving a currency to Army Bills and guaranteeing 
 their redemption, etfectually removed all apprehensions of a deli- 
 cit n' y in the financial resources of the Colonial Government. 
 'J’he organisation of a respectable force of Embodied Militia, and 
 the power d legated to the Governor, of turning out the whole of 
 the elVectivc male population of the I rovince, in cases of emer- 
 gency, enabled him to withstand the efforts of the United-States^ 
 during two successive campaigns with scarcely any other resources 
 tlian those derived from the Colony. They w ho had been partial 
 to the preceding Administration, and who probably may have been 
 instrumental in th • a bitrary measures w ith w hich it is rcproaciied, 
 were as might be expected, adverse to the policy of the present 
 Ciovernor, and spared no pains to represent in England the affairs 
 of the Colony in the falsest colours. The disappointments expe- 
 rienced at Saekel’s Harbour and Plattsburgh, gave occasion to 
 his enemies to discredit his milit ry character: hut whatever may 
 have been his capneity as a Geneml, (w hich we leave to the judg- 
 ment of military men) it must be admitted that as a Civil Gov r- 
 nor, at the head of a people irritated by arbitrary' measures under 
 tlie preceding Administration, he judiciously explored his way 
 through aperiod of unprecedented embarrassments and danger, with- 
 out a recurrence to Martial Law, or the lea«t exertion of arbitra- 
 ry^ power, llis manne rs are represented by those who were fa- 
 miliarly acquaint d witli him as unassuming and social. His pub- 
 lic speeches or addresses p rtook of even classical elegance. His 
 smooth and easy te»r per placed him beyond the ordinary passions 
 of men in power, and though aware of the intrigues of unprinci- 
 pl d and implacablt^ i^qemieii^lidjauruig at his destruction, and 
 loatled with the obloquy of tin* press, he is known to have har- 
 boured no res<'n<ment against the former, and to have reasoie d 
 w ith that coolne s and unconcern w ith respect to the latter^ w hich 
 Oau only spring from a virtuous and ingenuous mind* 
 
 
 AB 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 A. 
 
 Of thi‘i production wo insert the fo!lo;vin^ extract : the remainclel' 
 Oi it, buni^ directed ai^ain^t individuals, is suppressed : — 
 
 A THUS LES ELECTEUKS DU BAS-CANADA. 
 
 3fes Con*pafrioten^ 
 
 I,*FS ert'orts qup vous avpz fails ft la dernierp Elpction n’onl pas eii* inu'ilps. 
 
 UaChambrp d* A'M*mhlpp a e*i plus deforcpi u* 'llenVn av*.if jamai- pu. Le 
 p;jYcmpatde b. Listk Civile y a e»e propose av. c succds. Ma»s PeOM eo 4 
 4?»p terrible; car le Parlnn a»t a »*te eas.^(!, ct vous allez voir des Pbbri- iii- 
 Ci'pyaMes a In prucimine Flection pour faire abandonner les Repr;^spnicin • ii 
 <jiM vo.usaviez conbancc. Toot va ctre mis cn a uvre ; lowlps Ips liazPifcs jo?- 
 4» 'a cel|p de Qndbpc, son rmployceb; pi 00 a Piicorc nils imp iko vcIIp ^llr 
 P' d PM Francois. Tons Ips cn places pc ions cpux qui veoleot rn avoi; ^ont 
 Cl mouvomeni. Le co**). a idternhle jioureox, iF Toni scnnjn-qiic Ja 
 C^p dcs os ; mats quplqne cho.-e quMs fasseot, quelqupchosequc vous voyez^ 
 ttvfpz ferme, et soiuenez v«>» Rpprespnians. 
 
 On rniii le moment favorable. ()a p>pcrp vou.^ epouvantPr par la I.o p ' i- 
 Pique la prompt i* nde avec laquelle vonl sc fajre les Flection^, re vous 
 laj^^’cra pas le lPin*< d ’ la retir xioii. 
 
 Vans n’avcz point de rems ft perdre, allez vous informer an plus vfip a ceuic 
 en imi vou> avez crmliai'Ce, ei laitPs*vous cxpliquer rallaiie. 
 
 0«) \a vou> preclipr le mcnagcmciit dc voire bourse, op va ciieraux tiixes, 
 R' m »rquez bien qui sont ceux qui prcclient c< qui crieii- aipsi; si c • sont 
 CC'«\ qui out coutrme de purler dc inenag:' meiit el decner conlre les taxo. 
 
 Cps |>ersoiii)ps iie spsom pas rccridesde voiran^mriupr les D^pciises Civiles 
 Ions les ans; dies iie se soar pas recrie'. s li»r.-qu'on a propose de iin*iire des 
 taxes bur le> ierres il y a qiiplques aimdes. F iles ?e sont ronjours pardtVs j«s- 
 qif’ici de vous parlerde CPs cliOfees ; piles jctloicni les lianiscris ecs deriiierPsan- 
 f\ p> FTsqii’on pnblia un cample pour vous doiiuer coiiuuis^ancc dcs Uepenses 
 dc la Frovincp. 
 
 Ooypz qne cr n’est pas le dcFir dp mdna^er voire bourse qui les a^ile si fort, 
 «naisque c’esi him plnr6r le desir dVn avoir le inenagcinem eux-iuemcs, e:^ 
 ji’i'tre les maitips d’pu^^incmer ladcpeiise lani qu’ils voudroni. 
 
 Fii mil spjit cein quatre-viiijrt quinze la pirmicie fois que les coniptes ont 
 e»c cHvoyds ft la Chambre, la Ddjiense de la Province ne moiuoil qnVi dix- 
 Xicaf luuis; eii mil hint cent, pile inoii.oil a ircnte^dciix niille louis; et 
 
 cn mil hnit ceni -‘“’pr, qui cst la derniere annde doiit on ail lesconiptespu- 
 hlic's, pile montoii aqnarantc-lrois mille loni^. 
 
 II.- vous dinmt: nue vous Ittiporte qne la depense an^mente, ce nVst pas 
 vuii.s qui la payez toutc, 
 
 II e.st vrai qii'il y a une petite partie qne nous ne payons pas, et qu’on 
 irorde bieii de nous faire payer, afin de pouvoir direque nous n’avons pas le 
 di cjt iqf^ler de la depense. 
 
 Mais quafid la Depense se^a une fois au«;mrnuV autanl qu’il aura plu anx 
 
 S ens eii place, i! fau-^ra qm* quelqu'un soil cl»ai rd de la payer. Qu’est-ce qui 
 oit eii fctre charge ft la tin ? — La in^rc-pa’rie ida poim etiibli de tend pour la 
 payer; on tire ce quVile eri paye aciudlcmcnc, de la caisse milifairc ; C'’la 
 pourra continuer tant qu’il ne s’agira que de Bagatelles; maisquand less«.in- 
 Tiies seroiii dcvemics considerables, on nous diia; M e-'t raisonnublc qii’ii. e 
 Province liorls.-'ante comnie cel)c-ci, paye ses propres ildpenses ; la inerc-j.a- 
 trie esi assez chargee desfrais cle.vguerres qu’clle a eu ft su^ienir pour la pro- 
 tection de IVmpire; et ccla ^era raisonnable. 
 
 II sera teins alors, diseiit gens cn place-, de regler la depense ct on aura 
 If inf* me droit quVi prdsenf. — Ma*sq; an l la li'pens** .- ratroisou quatre fois 
 iramie ; il y aura treis cu quatre foF auiaai de gcus cd places, qui an- 
 
 roflt 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 iroil aiuant d’inaurncp et do pnic^anc#*, rt qni friorort 
 
 autant; et si actiiellemont on a dfja .ant do peine ) sVn 
 pourra-t^.n le fairc alor>? Fant-il .itten<|re quMs .o 
 I k ^*‘**'‘ p*^«*<*» soil impossible der^sister > 
 
 V tn e^. I J n‘iy soinines quM laudn)it payer, alin tfc vows »‘*p'»«- 
 
 J^es de it fa^taupnen er de Vivot-c.vq mili.e Ix>uts, Jw 
 
 c ajowrd hui on dit que c est qnarante millr. S’llfalloit se reeler s*tr 
 
 iV/,yPPf‘V’ Ja sommo scroit eirectivemeiu considerable ; mais ce nVsf pas Va- 
 
 i nl irJ! n '• Asspm!.lee se rpglcra, a moms que Ic iioiiibre dre gens 
 
 a places qui y seront, ne l emporte. *' 
 
 SmVfTiTi^i derniers comittes qni ont etd publics seroit de 
 
 M.IZE MILLL louis. De ce> seize mille louis, onze mille seioieiit uavds oar 
 I acte des prisons cn le contimiant, et il ne resteroit plusqm* eino milie ioui« 
 — -line couple de chelins sur le vin de Mudere ei \e viu de Poue et ou In le* 
 solssurle sucre blaiic produiroient hull mille louis, ce qui seroit une souiine 
 plus que sufiisante, &c. &c. &c. miuuhc 
 
 B. 
 
 A PROCLAMATION. 
 
 tVhereas divers wicked, seditions .and treasonable writin;^ b.ave been printed 
 publkhed and dispersed in this Province, with the care ami pivernmeut of 
 which I .am entrusted ; and whereas snch writiii;;s have been expressly calcu-. 
 lated to mislead His Majesty’s j;ood Subjects, to impress ilieir minds with d.s- 
 trnst and jealousy of His Maje«^ty's (Tovernment, to alienate their airections 
 from His Majesty s Per on, and to brief: into coiitenipi ami vilify the Admi- 
 nistration of Justice, and of the riovernineiil of the Country; and'where.a . in 
 the prosecution of these wicked and traiinrous purposes, their authors and ,i- 
 betiors have not st^ruplcd andacion<>Iy to advance the most f;ro«s and flarin'^* 
 falsehoods, w hilst the industry that has been emjiloved, in diaper iog and dis- 
 seminating: them at .1 very ;:rrat expense, but the source of which D not known, 
 strongly evinces ilic pcrseveruiice ami implacability with wdiicli it is intendeil 
 that these purposes snonid be pursued ; And whereas, eonsislen Iv with th 4 t 
 duty, which I owh to his Majesty, and that aOection ami regard wi:h which t 
 vievvthc welfare and prosperity of the Inhabitants of this Colony, it w.is iirf- 
 posslble for me any longer to disrt^.ird or snIlVr practices so directly tendinf^ 
 to subvert the Government of tlie former, and to des:r<»v the happiness of tne 
 I tter, I do therefore, hereby announce, with the advice and eonc irrence of 
 His Majesty Executive Council, that w ith the same advice and coneurrence 
 measures have been adopted, and that due inr«»nn:iti on having been given to 
 7'bree of Ilis Majesty \s ‘.aid Executive Oninxellors, W.irranis as by Eawan- 
 thori-ed, have brnm issued iimler which some of t!ie .authors, nrln;ef% ami pub- 
 lishers of th** writing'^ aforesaid, have been appreliended and secure:!. 
 
 Deeply impressed w ith a desire to promote, in all respects, the welfare .and 
 h.appiness of the most benevolent ail«l be>t of Sovereigns, whose fuMhfnl ser- 
 vant I have been for nearly as long a period as the oldest inhabitant has b< »oi 
 his subject, and whose lughest disjfleasurc I should incur, if I m;»d'*anN oilier 
 than that happiness- and wclfiire the rule of iny conduct, it would indeed be 
 With a very sincere concern, that 1 HhmiUl find reason to believe that the arts 
 of these factioU'and designing men had produced any cfTect, and that doubts 
 and jealousies should have found their way, and have established themselves 
 in the minds of dclmled IVr-ons. 
 
 To tlie^e, if any such tli^re be, and indeed to the public in general, I would 
 rec.ul the history ol the whole periotl during whieh they have liecn nmler His 
 Majesrv's GovernmiMit. I^'tiliem remember the state they were in when they 
 liecaine British Subjects; and let them bear in their recollection tlie pro-ir‘- 
 «>ive adNances they have iii.ide to the wealth, Imppiness, ^ecirity and unbound- 
 ed liberty w liich they now enjoy. During fifty years tint they have been un- 
 der the En-'lidi domniion, has one act of oppr<V“ion — has one in^ra ice of ar— 
 biliary impriuimiicnt — or of violation of property, occurred ? fbive you in 
 any oiie instance, or nmler anv one clTiimsfanc'e, been distu''hed m the free 
 iiud uucontroiib d enjoyment oV your Brligion — and lasily, while all I'.urope 
 has been delug'd in bliiod, .and while vririous of Hi, M i j ' t\’. o !ier c< loines 
 ami pl>^tsc^^u>lls have at tunes CApcricuccd ibc aoiruni of wyr, a.»d s<»me c\^ 
 
APPENDIX, 
 
 #in<<rr thp virlsslKidcs of that staff* have unrierfjone a d»*J)nTatioti of thr 
 tiinable happiness of living muter British Laws and Bnlish Government, by 
 becoming a prey to temporary conquest, have you not enjoyed the most'|>er- 
 fert security and tranquility under the powerful pniteclion*of that same Gu- 
 srernment, whose fostering and paternal care has been equally employed ia 
 promoting your internal welfare ? 
 
 What then can he the means used by these evil dispot.ed nncl w irked person* 
 by which they can hope to bring about their traiterous and ambitious design* 
 —by what argmnei)fscan they expect that a people, in the oujoymont of every 
 blessing that can contribute to happiness in (his world, shall renounce (hat 
 happiness, to er^brace their views ? By what argument can they expert that 
 a brave and loyal people, hitberfo impressed wim the wannest and sincerest 
 attachment to the best of Kings, whose whole reign has been one series of be- 
 netits bestowed on them, shall abandon that loyalty and berome monsters of 
 ingratitude, fit to be held up to the detestation of the worVd, to promote their 
 projects ? It is true, the most base atul diabolical falselrtmds are industriously 
 promulgated and disseminated. In one ]»art, it is announced as my intention 
 to emb^y and make soldiersof you, and that having applied to the late House 
 of Representatives to enable me to assemble twelve thousand of you for that 
 purpose, and they having declined to do so. 1 had therefore dissolved them 
 Ti.is is not only directly false, sticli an idea never having entered info my 
 mind, nor the slightest mention having ever been made of it ; but it is doubly 
 w loked and atrocious, because it has been mlvanecd by persons, who must have 
 been supposed to speak with certainty on the sulijeet, and was therefore the 
 more calcnla ted to impose upon you. In another partyou are told that ! want- 
 ed to tax your lands, and that tlie late House of Assembly would consent only 
 go tax wine, and upon that account, I liad dissolved the House. Inhabitant* 
 of St. Denis ! this is also directly fabe ; I never had the most distant idea of 
 taxing you at .all ; surh liad never even been for a moment the subject of my 
 deliberations, and when the late House otfered to pay the Civil List, I could 
 HOI have taken any step in a matter of such imporuince without the King’s in- 
 structions, and therefore it was still long before we came to the eonsideratioa 
 of how' it w'as to be paid. In truth not one word was ever to my know lodge 
 mentioned on the subject. 
 
 In other parts, despairing of producing instances from what T have done, 
 recourse is had to wh.al I intend to do, and it is boldly told you, that I mean 
 to opjiress vou. Base and daring fabricators of falsehood, bn what part or 
 what act of my life do you found such an assertion ? What do you know of me 
 or of my intentions ? t'anadians, ask of those to w horn you formerly look 'd 
 with attention and respect, ask the heads of your Church wbo have opportu- 
 Hitiet: of know ing me ; these are men of honor ami knowledge, these are men 
 from w hom you ought to seek for information and advice ; the leaders of fac- 
 tion, the demagogues of a party, associate not with me ^ they cannot know me. 
 
 For wlia’ purpose shoiila I oppress you ? Is it to serve the King?' Will that 
 INIonarch, who during fifty years has never i«^sued one order that had yon for 
 it« object, that was not for your benefit and happiness — will Iv now, beloved, 
 lu nored, adored by liis subjects, covered w ithglorv, descending into the vale 
 ol years, accompanied with the prayers and blessings of a grateful people, 
 will he, coptrarv to the tenor of a wbolc lit*?* of honor and virtue, now give 
 ov'l#'vs to his Servants to oppress his f’anadiaii Subjects ? It is impossible tliat 
 y<Mt ran for a moment belieyc it. You w ill spurn from you with just indigna- 
 tion, the ini'creant w ho will suggest such a thought to you. 
 
 Is it for myself, then, that I should oppress yon ? For what should I op- 
 press yovt ? Is it from ambition ? What can yon give me — Is it for power f 
 Alas ! iny good friends ! with a life ebliing not slowly to it> period, under (he 
 prpjMiK* of disease acquired in the service of my cotirtry, I look only to pas* 
 what it may please God to sutler to remain of it, in the comfort of retirem* nt 
 amm.g my friends. 1 remain among you only in obedience to the command* 
 of my King. What powerc.an I wish* for? Is it then for wealth th.at 1 world 
 oppress you ? Kr.quire of those who know me, whether I regard wealth ; I 
 I never bid, when i could enjoy it, it is now of no use to me ; to the vaUie of 
 your Country laid at my feet, 1 would prefer the consciousness of having, in 
 a single instance, contributed to your iiappincss and pm<>peniy. 
 
 These personal allusions to myself — Tliese details, io a.’. v bihei ease might 
 bo unbecoming, and beneath me; Ini; l.(^llling r.'U! b* • ! lu roming or bcueafU 
 me, th.at can lend to save you from the gulf of C*imc uud CaiiUiiii} , into which 
 guiil^ men would plunge you. 
 
appendix, 
 
 It 1 % now my <Infy more partirnlarly »o advrrt to the intent and pnrpo?e for 
 ^nh’i'h this ]V*ir!ainaii« n is issti^'d ; 1 Ho, thereTore, by arul wiili the ativiro of 
 IIi> Nlajc>ty\ Executive Comieil, hereby warn, anti earnestly exhort a * . is 
 ]\l.i je‘^^ty\s Subjects, to be on their jcuard a^inst, and (o be cautious liow tin y 
 listen to the nr<fvj sufije;es,lions of desi^nioc and wicked men, who, by <nc 
 Sr»*»*adin^ offa!->e reports, and by seditious and :raitorous writina:- , asrri'»e k» 
 Ilis MaJC'.iy’K Gov»'riimen: evil and nia!#*volent p»ir|)o.''es, seekinjjonly i'o*r»‘- 
 by .0 alienate their alE’etioas, and Irad them in .o act> of Treason and Reb *U 
 lion, rallin^iipon all well diNOO' M P. rsons, and particiilai ly npon all t’ur.i e<r 
 and Ministers of God’s Holy Religion, to use their best endeavours to prev ‘nt 
 the e\ileftVcts of Mich incendiai v am! traitoron-, drsisjns, to undeceive*, to ^..-t 
 fificiit, such a> may have been m-sled by them, at d to inculeaie in all, the true 
 priMciples of loyalty to <h<' Ki and dbediruce oj ihe l^w 
 
 Ami I do her by ‘further si netiv ciiiuTre andeominoiolall Vlas^istrates, in and 
 tb oM^hoHt this Provinct', all rapta iir- of Militia, Peace Ottic. rs and ’orli* ,i 
 H. Majo^iy’v ^mid Subjeety. E^al they dose\erally make diligent riu|uirv a^d 
 l»*rt’Ch, to dl^eove^ as well Ihe authors a- the pi<biishei> of all >iirh wiek#’d, e- 
 di ions and tra loron* wniin^sas aforesaid, and of ftrUe news in any wav de- 
 rogatory 10 His Maje ty’s Goven meiu, or in any manner femiin;^ to inWarne 
 the Public Mind, and rb disnrb the public peace' and tranpuillirv t to the end 
 lb it by a virrorovs execoMon of tl»e Laws, at| ofleihler in the premises m.iv be 
 bKmjffi* «o such pniiislimenf as mav deter all persons from .he practice of any 
 arts w laiever Wiiich may in any vv.iy alfect tne safe y, p.r'ace or happiiiesa of 
 dli*- Maje-ty’s L : yul and faii’.'fti! ^''hjeets in this Province. 
 
 Giyro uml. r my hand and S^al at ^rm>, at the (’aslleof Saint Ta'wis, in »he 
 Ci:y of Queb-'c, in the >a:d l^roviuee of L wei'-Canada, thi<! S]^l day of 
 Ma ch, .n he y ear of our Lord 181U, aud in the Fmierli Year of tiis Ma- 
 jesty's Reign, 
 
 J. H. CRAIG, Governor, 
 
 c. 
 
 A FROCLAMATIOX. 
 
 IVH\B1TAVTS OF C\N ADA ! 
 
 After fhi *ty vears of pence and prosperty the T’ni»ed ^(afe« have been dri- 
 ve,. to ariU'.* The iojur»e-« and u- rii vat ions, the ii nn.f inrPjrtiitie^ f>f 
 O'ea -lb'?f.;io, iinve <•; i-e more left ihtiii no alternative but manly resisca.ice 
 or "neo 'dt'iofial ‘'dvui 
 
 The annyoitdcr my com.iiard, lin*> invaded vonr country, and the stan'^ard 
 of iTfiion imw w-ive.' over the Territory of Canada. To the p‘*riceable uaof- 
 fpt'dr-g indiib'trmt, it hrin»»^ neirlier dime* r nor d fficulty. I come to ^wdeue- 
 not to jnake (liem. I rein*' to p’ orect, not to injure von. 
 
 S-par.’ited by an monen-e (’)eean, and an expensive AVM*ierne«s from G-eat 
 T5’ itain, yini have no {rarMeipaiion in her counril., nor in her conduct. You 
 h;iv»' felt'ht'r ty irnuy, you have .;eeu h*T irjiHtice, hut I do not ask you .o 
 aveu^ the one or red‘ri-‘s' the other. 1’ae (Tn-ced S»are- are suflieiently pJiwcr- 
 fu* to atford you * very vicrurily, e<»nsi>iej>t wicli tlmir and y c- 
 
 taiious. I tendt‘ 1 ' you the luvwoiable bb of ('ivil. Political, ami R'-lit^ious 
 I.'herty, and '.i:eiV nece«:>;aVv result, iediviilu il aovl jrruieral prO'periry — <r at 
 Liberty w hiefi p;« ve deel...ion to our councils am! et er.'v :o our conJnc» m ouf 
 sirujra;l*i* for independence, nitd wnich emiduc***d u-* ‘afdv aud triumph.ir ly 
 »he sloroty periml of the Pevolutioo. Tua^ Liberty vyb’ch h;e; rat 
 us »o an elevated rank amou" the Nations of the wo« 1 1, nnd wiiioh has afie.rvi- 
 ed us a greater measure of peace and security of Weal ih and ;rn^.>rovemciit, 
 than ever fell to (he lor of ary people. 
 
 In (hemimeof my Couniry', and by the authority of my Govi’rnmept, I pro- 
 m’ e |;i*oteetion to your per.-biis. prop erty andiight‘«. R niainnt your horn — 
 Poi'.iie your peaceful aed ruMoinary avoeatioO' — Rai^r not your liand> a- 
 jpi ns» your brethren — Many of yoor failiers feu^lil for the freedom and iivie- 
 pr 'ipjiro we now rujoy. fbuo^'c lildieu, therefore, of the s;un»' family wuh 
 M-, and !ieir> lo the ram'* he»-iin,^e, (he nrnv.sl of tin army of fri ends im?.«( b<* 
 hai'i'ul by you vi^’j a v. 'b’lmie. A on wili b*' rmae.ejpavdfrom lyrauiiy 
 
 and oppression, and rcsioreu lo the lii/ uucd siauoii ot freemen.- 
 
 Had 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 TTml T any doubt of eventual success, 1 might ask your assistance, but T do 
 nor. I come prepared for »'very configcncy, I have a force which will look, 
 down alloppositior, and that fiirce is but Ihe vanguard of a much greater. If 
 contrary u> your own interest, and the just expectation of my cminlry. you will 
 be considered and treated as enemies, the horrors and calamities or war w ill 
 stalk before you. 
 
 If the barbarous and savage policy of Great Britain he pursued, and the sa- 
 vages are let loose to murder our ei*t»zens, and butcher our women and cliil- 
 dren, this war, will be a warof extermination- 
 
 The first stroke of the tomaiiawk, the first attempt with the scalping knife, 
 will be the signal of one indiscriminate scene of nesolation. No white man 
 found fighting by the side of an Indian, will be taken prisoner! Instant des- 
 truction w'ill be his lot. If the dictates of reason, duty. Justice and humanity 
 cannot prevent the employment of a force which respects no rights, and knows 
 1)0 wrong, it will be prevented by a severe and relentless system of retaliation, 
 
 I doiilit nof your courage and firmness : 1 will not doubt your attachment to 
 liberty. If you tender your services voluntarily, they will be accepted readily. 
 
 The United States oiler yon Peace, liberty and security. Your choice lies 
 between these and war, slavery and destruction. Choose then, but choose 
 wisely t and may, he, who knows the justice of our cause, and who holds id 
 his hands the fate of nation.^:, guide yon to a result the most compatible with 
 your rights and interest, your peace and prosperity. 
 
 W. IIUEL, 
 
 By the General, A. F. III/LL. 
 
 Capt. 13th. Regt, U. S. Infantry, and Aid-de-Camp. 
 IIcad-Qiiarters, Sandwich, July 12, 1812. 
 
 D. 
 
 The following Proclamition issued by General Smytb, pre- 
 vious to his intended invasion^ will give tiie reader some idea of 
 this mountebank Generab 
 
 GENERAL SAIYTIT. 
 
 To the Soldiers of the yirmy of the Centre, 
 
 CoWPAVtOVS IN ARMS ! 
 
 The time is at hand when you will cross the streams of Niagara to conquer 
 Canada, and to secure the peace of the American Frontier. 
 
 You will enter a country that is to be one of the United-States. You will 
 arrive among a people who are to become your fellow citizens. It is not a- 
 g.iinst them that we come to make war. It is against that Government which 
 bolds them as vassals. 
 
 You w ill make this war as little a« possible distressful to the Canadian peo- 
 ple. If they are peaceable, they are to he secure in their persons ; and in 
 th^ir property, as far as our imperious necessities will al ow. 
 
 Private plundering is absolutely forbidden. Any soldier who quits his rank 
 to plunder on the field of battle, will be punished in the most examplary man- 
 ner. 
 
 Bui your just rights as soldiers will be maintained, whatever is booty by the 
 rsages of war, you shall have. All horses belonging to the artillery and ca- 
 vn!rv : all waggons and teams in public service, will be sold for the benefit of 
 t]»e captors. Public stores will be secured for the service of the U. States, 
 'J'ne Gov<*n5meiit will, with justice, pay you the value. 
 
 Toe horses draw ing the l/ight Artillery of the enemv. are wanted for the 
 crrvirenfih^ United States. I w-11 order TWO IIUNORFO DOIJ.ARS 
 for earh lo |»p paidtiie jiarty who may take them. I will abo order FORTY 
 DOfJ, ARS to be paid for the arms and spoils of each savage warrior, wlia 
 shall be kilh'd. 
 
 Soldiers ! you are amply provided for war. You are superior h) number to 
 the enemy. "A our perM»ual strength and activity are greater/ \ our weap- 
 ons a'*e longer. Toe regular soldiers of the eiieinv are genernliy old men, 
 w hpse best ycais have been spent iir the sickly cUinale of the West Indies, 
 fiiev will not be able to stand before v on, --you, Who charge with the bayonet. 
 
 You 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 u Indians, snch as those hired by the British to Tnnrder trometk 
 
 and children and kill and scalp the Honnded. Yon h.'ive^eni ilieir dancesasid 
 grimaces, and heard their yells. Can you fear them ? No, You hold them in 
 the utmost contempt. 
 
 VourvTEEtis, 
 
 Disloyal and traiterons men haTe endeavoured to dissuade you from your 
 duty. Some times they say, if you enter Canada, you will be held to service 
 for live years. At others, they say, that you will not be furnished with sup- 
 plies. At other tim-s, they say, thnt if you an- wounded, the Government will 
 not provide for you by pensions. The just and generous course nursued by 
 government towards the Volunteers who fought at Tippecanoe, furnishes an 
 answer to the last objection. The others are too absurd to deserve any. 
 
 Volunteers ! 1 es cem your generous and patriotic motives. You have made 
 Facriticeson the altar of your country. \ou will not sutler the enemies of 
 yom famo to mislead you from the path of duty and honor, and deprive you of 
 the esteem of a grateful country. You will shun the eternal infamy that awaits 
 the man, who having come within sight of the enemy, basety shrinks in the 
 moment of triaL 
 
 Soldiers of every Corps ! It is in your power to retrieve the honor of your 
 country and to cover yourselves w'ltn glory. Every man who performs a gal- 
 lant action shall have his name made known to the nation. Rewards and ho- 
 nours await the brave. Infamy and contempt are reserved for cow ards. Com- 
 panions in arms! You came to vanquish a valiant foe, 1 know the choice you 
 will make. Come on, my heroes! And when you attack the enemy’s batteriaji 
 let your rallying word be, “ The Cannon lost at Detroit or Death. 
 
 ALEXANDER SMYTH, 
 Brigadier General Comsuuiding. 
 
 Camp near Buffalo, 17tb Nov. ISIX 
 
 X2