Historical sketches of the late war between the United States and Great Britain

Front matter

Bar,

MAJ'OIR GEN V MMQWN

IL ^oJWiiiy'c

Preface

TO

THE FIRST EDITION,

WHEN proposals were issued for the publication of this work, some time after the ratification of the treaty of peace with Great Britain, its contemplated plan embraced nothing more than the compilation of hasty sketches of the leading events of the war, arranged in chronological order, and with a proper regard to the preservation of the principal features, and the general characters, of the land and naval engagements. The author was not long in discovering that infinite pains and excessive labour were necessary, to the collection of materials from which these sketches, however concise, might be made, with that fidelity which such subjects require.

His resources at that period, though stamped with the character of authenticity, were extremely limited, and he found it necessary to intimate his intentions to officers of the army and navy, who had been engaged in many of the events which it was his design to perpetuate, and upon \tfte truth of whose statements he could implicitly

11 TREFACE.

rely. These intimations were followed by many assurances of assistance from gentlemen of all ranks in the service, and by promises of full, and accurate, accounts of the operations of the fleets and armies. From such fruitful and authentic sources, the author could not fail to elicit the best possible information, and though he did not immediately contemplate an extension of the limits of the work, he determined to put it more in the form of a familiar and connected narrative, than might have been expected from its title, without assuming, however, the style of a history.

The length and number of the journals and statements transmitted to him, not only tended to increase his labours, but produced much more delay in the completion of the work, and prolonged its appearance beyond the day on which it was thought it would, in all probability, be published.

To the same cause is to be attributed the cir^ cumstance of its having attained the three hundredth page, before the account of the northern campaign was fully detailed, and to that circumstance he must refer his readers, for the conciseness of the description of the capture of Washington, the attack upon Baltimore, the operations upon the whole southern coast, and of the bril-

PREFACE. Ill

liant and unparalleled repulse of the enemy before New Orleans. Limited as these descriptions are, it became necessary to add seventy-two pages to the number promised, and the expenses of the work have, in consequence, been so much increased, that without incurring an absolute loss, its bulk could not possibly be any further extended.

The Author cannot conclude this Preface, without assuring his readers that no efforts have been neglected to ascertain the principal facts connected with the events of the war. Persevering as he has been, however, he fears that omissions have been made, or that some misstatements may have crept into the work, and to such he begs the indulgence of those persons who were concerned in the events, as the attainment of the knowledge of such facts too frequently eludes the most industrious research, and the contradictory accounts, with which he has been supplied, have often thrown him into perplexing embarrassments.

PREFACE

TO

THE FIFTH EDITION.

SINCE the publication of the first edition of this work, the author has been constantly employed in collecting further materials from which to describe the sortie from fort Erie; and the siege and defence of New Orleans. Through the politeness of several gentlemen, whose names he does not feel himself authorized, nor is he indeed permitted, to mention, he has been enabled to detail the operations of the rival armies, more at length, at each of those places. He has had it in his power also to enlarge upon the accounts, before given, of other important and brilliant events, and to correct several errors, which, notwithstanding the most studied precautions, seldom fail to insinuate themselves into all works of this nature. From these, however, even in the present edition, he cannot have the presumption to avow himself wholly free; but he has, nevertheless, the satisfaction of declaring, that many of his statements have received the entire approbation of officers of rank, to whom the perusal of the first edition has been submitted.

ADVERTISEMENT.

ON presenting to the public a fifth edition of the Historical Sketches of the Late War, the subscriber thinks it incumbent on him to state, that notwithstanding its price has been reduced from Two Dollars to One Dollar and Seventy-five Cents, bound, the work has undergone a very careful revision by the author, and without any diminution of the number of pages. This reduction of the price owes its cause to the publication, at a lower price, of a similar work, after the appearance of a former impression of this, with an evident intention of checking; its sale, and limiting the just profits of the proprietor. To obviate as much as possible the consequences of a competition, ungenerous in itself and subversive of the general principles of the trade, he has so far lessened the expenses of the work, as to enable him to put it at its present price, without injury to his interests. The iliiberality of the competition alluded to, is highly aggravated by the fact of the compilation having been made so much after the manner of the Historical Sketches, that if the copy-right has not been actually violated, the privileges which the law so justly secures to the proprietor of a work, have been glaringly infringed.

THOMAS DESILVER,

A 2

Chapter I

txiam hostilities—Battle on the Wabash— Conduct of the British Cabinet and cruisers — Declaration of war against Great Britain— Invasion of Canada— Fall of Fort Michilimackinac— Skirmish near Aux Canards— M'Arthur's Excursion— Skirmish at Brownstown — Evacuation of Sandwich — Battle of Maguae-a —Fort Chicago— Surrender of Detroit, page ?3

Chapter II

Disposition of the Naval Forces— Escape of the Constitution- Letters of Marque and Reprisals— Atlas engages two armed ships— Essex captures the Alert— Engagement between the Constitution and Guerriere— Pursuit of the Belvidere— An Engagement on the St. Lawrence— Capture of the British brigs Detroit and Caledonia, on Lake Erie — Wasp captures the Frolic —Both taken by the Poictiers— Loss of the United States' schooners Nautilus and Vixen, *. 35

Chapter VI

\merican forces on the Niagara and St. Lawrence- An affair " upon the latter— Expedition against Gananoque— Bombardment of Ogdensburg-Attack upon it-Disposition of the forces on the Niagara-Description of Queenstown— Battle of Queenstown Hdghts-Death of general Brock-Defeat of the African forces-Cannonade between Fort George and Fort Niagara—An affair below Ogdensburg— Pike's incursion into Canada-Bombardment of Fort Niagara-Capture of the enemy s bae-a^e at St. Regis— General Smyth's Proclamation— The British batteries opposite Black Rock, stormed and carned- Abandoned by the Americans, they open a fire on the battery at the Rock, f 00

Chapter VII

The Navy-Third naval victory, the United States over the British friate the Macedonian— Progress of the naval establishment on Lake Ontario— Chauncey's squadron pursues the Royal Geors-e into Kingston harbour, and bombards that town- Growler captures In enemy's sloop-Fight between the British sloop of war Charybdis and the privateer Blockade-The Oiders in Council exchanges broadsides with the British sloop of war Opossum— The Tom captures the Townsend— The Bona vanquishes a 22 gun ship-The Dolphin engages and carries two armed vessels-Fourth naval victory, the Constitution over the British frigate the Java, P- yu

Chapter VIII

Contemplated movement of the British and Indians from Maiden to Frenchtown— Battle between the advance of both armies, and the defeat of the British— Capture of general Winchester's force, and massacre of the prisoners— Siege of Fort Meigs— Dudley's victory— His defeat and death— Sortie from the garrison—Siege of Fort Meigs raised— Council of the Indian chiefs —Colonel Ball destroys a party of the hostile Indians, p. 100

Chapter IX

Preparations for the campaign of 1813, by the Northwestern Army and the Army of the Centre— Expedition against Ehzabethtown, Canada— Capture of Ogdensburg by the British- Batteries at Black Rock— Concentration of forces an Sacket s Harbour— Description of the town and harbour of Little York, capital of Upper Canada— Embarkation of general Dearborn's army at Sacket's Harbour— American fleet under commodore

CONTENTS. IX

Chauncey sails thence — Arrives at the mouth of York Harbour — British force under general Sheaffe — Its disposition — Landing of the American advance — Fight in the Woods — Landing- of the main force — British retreat to their garrison — Their works outside, taken — They abandon their fort — Explosion of the magazine — Death of general Pike — The Americans enter the garrison — Command devolves on colonel Pearce — General Sheaffe withdraws his forces from the town, and retreats across the Don — His rear guard annoyed by lieutenant Riddle — Capitulation of the militia and capture of York — The British destroy the military storehouse, whilst negotiating for terms, and set fire to a vessel of war — The Americans leave York and proceed to Niagara — Fleet sails to Sacket's Harbour, for reinforcements — An expedition to the head of Lake Ontario — Fleet returns — Its disposition before New.uk — Attack upon and capture of Fort George — Fleet on Lake Erie — Capture of Fort Erie — Defeat of generals Chandler and Winder — Attack on Sacket's Harbour by sir George Prevost — His repulse, p. 117

Chapter X

General Dearborn retires from the command of the Northern Army — Command of Fort George devolves on g-eneral Boyd — Capture of the Lady Murray — Destruction of Sodus — Attempt to land at Oswego — Affair at Beaver Dams — Escape of the militia prisoners from the head of the Lake — Massacre of lieutenant Eldridge — Affair between the British Indians and Young- Cornplanter — British again attack Black Rock — Capture of an enemy's gun boat — Fort George invested — American outposts attacked — Second expedition to York — British capture the Growler and Eagle — Enter Champlain, pillage and destroy the private houses — Chase of the British fleet on Lake Ontario — Encampment at Fort George, and re -possession of Newark by the enemy — He retires to his entrenchments — Capture of a British officer by an American sentinel, p. 148

Chapter XI

The Northwestern Army — British appear again before Fort Meigs — Defence of Fort Stephenson, Lower Sandusky — Capture of the British fleet on Lake Erie — Northwestern Army reinforced from Kentucky — Is transported by the American fleet to Canada — Capture of Maiden — The Americans enter Sandwich — Pursue the British up La Tranche — Skirmish in Chatham — Battle of the Thames— Defeat and capture of general Proctor's army — Escape of that officer — Death of Tecumseh — Destruction of the Moravian Town — The army sails for and arrives at Buffaloe, p. 159

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIL

Plan of operations on the St. Lawrence — Concentration of the forces on Grenadier Island — British abandon the investment of Fort George — Descent of the St. Lawrence — Skirmishes in its course— Battle of Chrystler's Fields— The left wing- of the Northern army retires to winter quarters — The right wing" marches through the Chateaugay woods — Is attacked by the British — Engages and repulses them — Goes also into winter quarters — The Americans evacuate Fort George and destroy Newark — Surrender of Fort Niagara — Destruction of Lewistown and Buffaloe, P- 177

Chapter XIII

The Navy — Hornet challenges Bonne Citoyenne— Is chased from St. Salvador — Engages and captures the sloop of war Peacock — Arrives at New York — Return of the frigate Chesapeake — Her cruise — Arrival and departure of the President and Congress— Death of captain Lawrence and loss of the Chesapeake — Conduct of the privateers — Lieutenant St. Clair in Chesapeake Bay — Fight between the Commodore Decatur and the sloop of war Dominica, p. 1-3

Chapter XIV

Blockade of the Delaware River and of Chesapeake Bay — Attack upon Lewistown, on the former — Affair below Lewistown — Repulse of the enemy near Morris River — The gun boats attack two frigates — Engagement on the Delaware — Depredations in Chesapeake Bay — Frequent failures of the enemy to land — Affair at Frenchtown — Destruction of Havre de Grace, and of Georgetown and Fredericktown — Blockade of other ports — Loss of the revenue cutter Surveyor — Action between the gun boats and three frigates — Defence of Crany Island — Hampton assaulted and plundered, p. 204

Chapter XV

British land at Ocracoke and Portsmouth — Capture two letters of marque — Distribution of admiral Warren's fleet — United States' schooner Asp — A fishing smack, the Yankee, captures a British tender, the Eagle — The frigates United States and Macedonian, and the sloop of war, Hornet, blockaded at New London — Midshipman Ten-Eyke — British at Saybrook — Engagement in Connecticut Sound — Wareham and Scituate — Occupation of East-

CONTENTS. XI

port, Moose island— Attack upon Stonington— British claim the territory east of the Penobscot, and occupy Castine— Loss of the United States' frigate Adams, * 224

Chapter XVI

The Navy— United States' gam brig Argus, captured by the sloop of war Pelican— The Boxer and the Enterprise— Allen and Burrows— Commodore Rodgers and the Plantagenet— Constitution chased into Marblehead— Commodore Lewis— Cruise of the Essex frigate— Her capture— United States' sloop of war Peacock, vanquishes the British brig of war Epervier— Cruise of

- the new sloop of war Wasp— Her conquest over the Reindeer- She sinks the Avon, p 235

Chapter XVII

Proposed plan of operations in Lower Canada— The army quit the quarters at French Mills— Incursion of the British to Malone— Smugglers— Movement against La Colle— Concentration of the British forces at Isle aux Noix— General Wilkinson's recal— Establishment of a battery at Otter creek— British appear at its mouth— are repulsed— Operations on Ontario— Lieutenant Dudley—Defence of Port Oswego— Second appearance of the British there— Attack upon Charlottetown, on Gennessee river— British land at Poultneyville— Blockade of Sacket's Harbour— An engagement at Sandy creek, and capture of the whole British force— The British fleet retire to Kingston— The Americans blockade them— An affair near Odelltown— Death of colonel Forsythe— Expedition against Long Point, Canada— Colonel Baubee taken prisoner— Incursion to Long Wood, Canada, and defeat of the British, p 255

Chapter XVIII

Assemblage of the left division of the army at Black Rock and Buffaloe — Capture of Fort Erie — Americans encamp at Street's creek — Skirmish with the enemy's rear guard — Affairs of picquets — Battle of Chippewa — British retreat to Ten Mile Creek — American army encamp at Queenstown — Death of general Swift— Movement upon Fort George — General Brown retires to Chippewa creek — Battle of Niagara, p. 272

Chapter XIX

Defences of Fort Erie extended— Invested by the enemy— The British land below Buffaloe— and are repulsed at Conejockeda creek— Affairs of outposts— Death of major Morgan— Assault xjj CONTENTS.

upon Fort Erie— The besiegers driven back to their works- Loss of the schooners Somers and Ohio— Renewal of the cannonade and bombardment, P- 6U6

Chapter XX

Invasion of the American territory by sir George Prevost— Battle of the Saranac-Defeat and capture of the British fleet on Lake Champlain— Pittsburgh evacuated— Continuation of the siege of Fort Erie— The besieged make a sortie from their works, and storm those of the besiegers-The British raise the siege and retire to Chippewa-Engagement at Lyons creek-Destruction of Fort Erie by the Americans and evacuation of Upper Canada— Operations against Michihmackinac— Loss ot the United States' vessels, Scorpion and Tigress— Expedition into Canada, under general M'Arthur, P- J1°

Chapter XXI

Repeated engagements, between the gun boat Flotilla, and the British vessels in the Patuxent-Bladensburg-Capture of Washington-Of Alexandria-Death of sir Peter Parker-Attack upon Baltimore-Death of general Ross, and : repulse j of his army-Blockade and siege of New Orleans-Defeat of the British forces there-Termination of the war, by a treaty of peace and amity, negotiated at Ghent, p- **«

Chapter XXII

The Navy— Loss of the United States' frigate President— The Constitution engages, and captures, the British frigate Cyane, and the sloop of war Levant— Capture of the sloop of war Penguin, bv the Hornet, P- 361

OF THE

LATE WAR, $c.

Chapter I

Indian hostilities — >Battle on the Wabash — Conduct of the British Cabinet and Cruisers — Declaration of War against Great Britain — Invasion of Canada — Fall of Fort Michilimackinac — Skirmish near Aux Canards — M' Arthur's Excursion — Skirmish at Brownstown — Evacuation of Sandwich — Battle of Magauga — Fort Chicago — Surrender of Detroit. 1

About the close of the year 1811, the Indian affairs on the southern and northwestern frontiers of the United States, assumed an aspect of a much more alarming nature than had marked any of the previous depredations of the neighbouring tribes. Incessant incursions, were followed by the extinction of whole families, and the several nations seemed emulous of excelling each other in acts of the greatest horror. An unextinguishable hostility was manifested by the most powerful chiefs and warriors, whose enmity towards the frontier inhabitants, was excited, and kept alive, by an industrious circulation of inflammatory addresses, and alluring gifts. The conduct of the British traders, was far from being consistent with the pacific dis- B position, which their government had been professing; and the facility with which the Indians became possessed of every description of offensive weapons, known to be beyond their means, either to manufacture or to purchase, ied to suspicions of their having been supplied by its appointed agents. The result of investigations, made by the governors of Ohio, and of the Michigan and Illinois territories, gave strong confirmation of these suspicions, and it was well ascertained that great quantities of arms, and ammunition, had been delivered to the different nations, contiguous to the British posts.

The influence of a 'Shawanese, who styled himself " The Prophet," and who neglected no means to excite the most violent animosities against the people of the United States, had produced among the Indians, on the borders of the Wabash, a disposition to massacre and plunder, to so enormous an extent, that the vigorous interference of the government was no longer to be withheld. Measures were therefore immediately adopted, in conjunction with governor W. H. Harrison, to repel by force, outrages, which could not be prevented by treaty. The militia of Indiana, and a regiment of United States infantry, commanded by colonel (since general) John P. Boyd, were accordingly ordered to march under governor Harrison, to the Prophet's town to demand restoration of the plunder, which the Indians had seized, and to reduce them to such terms, as should secure the future peace of that territory. In the month of November, of 1811, this body of troops were within four miles of the Prophet's town, (having already marched thirty-four days) before the Indians had any expectation of seeing them ;. when one of the chiefs came out, and proposed that governor Harrison should encamp near them until morning, at which time the Prophet would willingly enter into a treaty of peace. This proposal was agreed to, and the troops were encamped in line of battle, with orders to keep on their accoutrements, and to lie upon their arms, so that they might be ready for action without one moment's delay. At four o'clock on the morning of the seventh, the camp was attacked with great fury, by the savages, at a point where the bayonet, however, soon dispersed them, and where three Indians were found within the line of sentinels seeking the commander. The morning was excessively dark.

-and the men could only be distinguished by the watchword, or the flashes of the musketry. By the aid of this momentary light, the Indians were seen crowding into the camp, but they were entirely routed by several vigorous and intrepid charges. The conduct of colonel Boyd and the fourth regiment, after the action had become more general, intimidated and put the Indians to flight: at the dawn of day they were closely pursued, and numbers of them killed. The cavalry were brought into action, but the savages fled from them in great confusion, abandoned their town, into which they had been driven, and escaped across the river. Fifty-three Indians were lying dead about the encampment, and their loss in killed and wounded, was estimated at 150. Of the fourth regiment 77 were killed and wounded. The loss of the whole force amounted, from the most accurate account, to 187. Most of the militia under governor Harrison, behaved with great courage and bravery; and to colonel Boyd, whose experience in the Mahrattah (India) service, led to such an expectation, is much of the success of this battle to be attributed.* Tranquillity being now restored to the territory of Indiana, the troops returned to fort Harrison, and the militia to their homes. Many months had not elapsed, however, before the Prophet, in connexion with his brother, Tecumseh, a chief of great valour, and of equal ambition, threatened a renewal of hostilities, not only against the inhabitants of Indiana, but of the adjacent territories. To guard against future encroachments from the savages, and to protect such of the inhabitants as had yet escaped their fury, it was necessary that the peace establishment should be augmented, and new regiments raised, of a nature to cope with the Indian warfare. Indications of hostility to the interests of the United States, were about this time evinced in the conduct, as well of the British minis-

* In this action the Indians were commanded by White Loon, Sto?ie Eater, and Wynemack, a Potawatomie chief, who was slain afterwards (in November, 1812) by Tecwnseh's nephew, a chief of the name of Logan, attached to the northwestern army, at fort Winchester. Tecumseh was absent from his tribe on a visit to the Creeks and Chickasaws, and the Prophet remained in his town, during the engagement, offering his intercessions with the Great Spirit, for the success of his arms.

try, as of their public ships of war, on the American coast in neutral ports, and on the ocean.

In the event of a more decided character being given to this state of relations, between the United States, and Great Britain, and the Indians, the necessity of a larger army would become still more urgent In providing against these threatening evils, the second session of the twelfth congress had been protracted to an unusual length, and, on finding remonstrances to be unavailing, the President, on the first of June, 1812, laid before the two houses a detail of the various enormities committed against this nation by the British government, and the officers representing it. Their immediate attention was required to the subject, as it was thought necessary, by the greatest proportion of the people, that such encroaching injuries, should at last be resisted by the most effectual means. Documents being in possession of the executive, which placed the insulting practices of the British, against the commerce and national honour of the United States, beyond all doubt, the communication set forth,

" That the cruisers of that nation had been in the con- {t tinued practice of violating the American flag on the " great highway of nations, and of seizing and carrying '* off persons sailing under it; not in the exercise of a bel- " ligerent right, founded on the law of nations — against " an enemy, but of a municipal prerogative over British -' subjects;

" That they had been in the practice also of violating " the peace and the rights of our coasts, by hovering over " and harassing our entering and departing commerce, and ?< that to the most insulting pretensions they had added " the most lawless proceedings in our very harbours; and u wantonly spilt American blood within the sanctuary of " our territorial jurisdiction ;

" That they were aiming to sacrifice our commercial in- " terests, and were laying waste our neutral trade, not be- ••' cause we supplied their enemy, but by carrying on a war " against our friendly commerce that they might them- " selves pursue an intercourse with their enemy;

" That they were plundering our vessels on the high " seas under pretended blockades, without the necessary " presence of an adequate force to maintain them; and " that to these transcendent acts of injustice the cabinet

" of Great Britain added at length the sweeping system of " blockade under the name of orders in council, which had " been moulded to suit its political views, its commercial "jealousies or the avidity of British cruisers;

" That at the very moment when their public minister " was holding the language of friendship and inspiring " confidence in the sincerity of the negotiation with

* which he was charged, a secret agent of his government " was employed in intrigues, having for their object a sub- " version of our government and a dismemberment of our " union ;

" That the warfare which was just renewed by the sa- " vages on our frontiers, which spared neither age nor sex, " and was distinguished by features peculiarly shocking to " humanity, could not be referred to without connecting

* their hostility with the influence of British traders and " garrisons, nor without recollecting the authenticated ex- " amples of the interpositions of the officers and agents of " that government" And,

" That in fine, on the side of Great Britain, there was "a state of war against the United States; and on the " side of the United States a state of peace towards Great "Britain."

The committee of foreign relations, to whom this message was referred, reported a manifesto to the house, in which, after recapitulating these grievances, they recommended, as the only measure to prevent future aggression, an immediate appeal to arms; and on the 18th day of June, an act was passed, declaring war against the kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the dependencies thereof, which received the executive sanction.

A small army, consisting of the 4th regiment of infantry, and three regiments of Ohio volunteers, was ordered, under the command of brigadier-general Hull, to protect the frontiers against the incursions of the savages. After the declaration of war, this force, being nearest to the most convenient point of invasion, was directed to repair to the town of Detroit, on the river of that name, and opposite Sandwich, a beautiful and extensive village in Upper Canada.

On the fifth of July, after a tedious and fatiguing march of thirty-five days, during which he was obliged to fortify his camp, at every position which he occupied at night, B 2 to prevent a surprise from a party of Indians, who, aided by the British, had closely and constantly reconnoitred him, and who had planned an attack upon Detroit, which the approach of his army frustrated, general Hull arrived at that post with 2,500 men. He had no sooner garrisoned the American shore o£ the Detroit, than the British began to throw up breast-works, and to erect batteries, on the opposite side. The first of these was destroyed by a well directed fire from the fort, and the persons employed at it, were obliged precipitately to retire; a second, which was situated about three miles below, was destroyed in like manner, by a few pieces of cannon despatched for that purpose, and worked with so much skill, that the enemy was compelled to abandon his design, of fortifying at that point.

Active preparations were now making for an immediate invasion of Canada; boats of large capacity were constructed; and the passage of the whole army was to be effected at the same instant. The width of the river being favourable to the crossing of the troops, either above or below the point, selected to oppose their landing, the enemy was allowed, on his third attempt, to erect without annoyance, a battery of seven small cannon, and two mortars. These arrangements being effected, the embarkation took place on the 12th, and the army landing on the Canadian shore, above the fort, entered Sandwich without opposition. Those of the inhabitants, who Jiad not been compelled to repair to the defence of Maiden, were without arms, and therefore made no show of resistance to the Americans, by Whom they were honourably respected in their property and persons. Possession was had, in a few days, ol the whole country, from the river Thames, or la Tranche, so called from the evenness and beauty of its bank, to a rivulet, within five miles of Maiden, whither the British regulars, and Canadian militia, with a great number of Indians, had retired.

Prior to the occupation of Sandwich, however, the enemy had removed his most valuable stores, and whilst he was throwing up breast-works, and apparently fortifying jthat place for defence, the largest division of his troops was employed in transporting them to Amherstburg.

If general Hull's instructions, admitted of his striking a blow immediately on his arrival at Detroit, a favourable opportunity was culpably neglected. But, on hearing a proposition from his officers, to cross the river below; to cut off the communication, between the two divisions, at Sandwich and Amherstburg; and suddenly to rush upon, and carry fort Maiden by storm ; he alleged the necessity of waiting for positive orders for the invasion of Canada, before he could embark his troops for that purpose. Whilst the force at Maiden, was weakened by the employment of the men at Sandwich, this project might have been carried into effect, and his army, besides prisoners, would have obtained a large accession of stores and ammunition. When he arrived at Sandwich, the British army, with these, and other stores, and an augmented Indian force, had collected at, and were placing Maiden in a state to sustain a siege. To attempt the reduction of that garrison by storm, after the enemy had effected this concentration of his forces* it would be necessary to proceed against it, with a train of battering cannon, and ladders, of a sufficient height and number, to scale the walls at Various points. The American army had neither of these, at that time, in^ readiness, and its operations were delayed for one month, in preparing two 24-pounders and three howitzers. In this interval, such advantages were gained, as result from subsisting on the resources of the enemy's country, and the capture of some camp articles, and a small supply of arms, by reconnoitring parties.