History of the second war between the United States and Great Britain

Front matter

ill w§ iiiiH

:iii|:

iii::

Preface

with Black Hawk, the Seminole Wars in Florida, and the War with Mexico.

In editing Thomson's History, it was thought expedient to add a chapter on the Creek War, conducted by General Jackson, and to enlarge the account of that great commander's operations in defense of New Orleans.

The history of the subsequent military operations of the country has been drawn from official documents, and the personal narratives of actors in the stirring scenes narrated.

A work of this description has long been demanded as a contribution to the general history of the republic. In preparing it for publication, the editor has endeavoured to deserve the public approbation, by care and fidelity in every part of the work.

SECOND AYAK WITH GREAT BRITAIN.

Chapter I. Commencement Of The Ttar, 13

IT. NAVAL CAAIPAIGN OF 1812, 42

ITT. HOSTILITIES OF THE CUEEK INDIANS, CI

IV. OPERATIONS OF TAVLOR AND WINCHESTER ON THf: NORTH-WESTERN

FRONTIER, GO

V. OPERATIONS OF fiENERALS HARRISON AND HOPKINS, 77

VI. OPERATIONS ON THE NORTHERN FRONTIER IN 1S12, 82

VII. NAVAL CAMPAIGN OF 1812, CONTINUED, 112

VIII. OPERATIONS OF WINCHESTER AND HARRISON IN THE NORTII-WCST, . 125

IX. COMMENCE.MENT OF THE CAMPAIGN OF 1913, 146

X. OPERATIONS ON THE NIAGARA FRONTIER, 188

XI. OPERATIONS OF THE NORTH-WESTERN ARMY. BATTLE OF LAKE

ERIE. BATTl OF THE THAJIES, 202

XII. OPER.' TIONS ON THE NIAGARA FRONTIER, 225

XIII. COMMENCEi>-ENT OF THE NAVAL CAMPAIGN OF 1S13, 247

XIV. OPERATIONS ON THE DELAWARE AND CHESAPEAKE BAYS, 263

XV. OPERATIONS OF THE BRITISH ON LONG ISLAND SOUND, , 288

XVI. NAVAL OPERATIONS IN 1813, 300

VI CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XVII. COMMENCEMENT OF THE CAMPAIGN OK 1814, 328

XVIII. OPERATIONS ON THE NIAGARA FRONTIER, 349

XIX. FURTHER OPERATIONS ON THE NIAGARA FRONTIER, 384

XX. INVASION OF VERMONT. FURTHER OPERATIONS ON THE NIAGARA

FRONTIER, 400

XXI. THE CREEK WAR, 421

XXII. CAPTURE OF WASHINGTON. DEFENSE OF NEW ORLEANS, 434

XXIII. CLOSE OF THE NAVAL CAMPAIGN OF 1814, 486

THE FIRST SEMINOLE W^AR, 499

BLACK HAWK'S WAR, 507

THE SECOND SEMINOLE WAR, 515

WAR WITH MEXICO.

CHAPTER I. COMMENCEMENT OK THE MEXICAN WAR, 509

II. BATTLES OF THE RIO GRANDE, 524

III. CAPTURE OF BARITA AND MATAMORAS, 506

IV. STORMING OF MONTEREY, 576

V. BATTLE OF BUENA VISTA, 594

VI. OCCUPATION OF CALIFORNIA AND NEW MEXICO, 609

VII. CAPTURE OF VERA CRUZ, 616

VIII. MARCH TO THE CAPITAL, 626

IX. CAPTURE OF MEXICO, 639

OKIfAMENTAL HEADPIECE,

BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE,

COLONEL CASS,

BATTLE OF MAGtJAGA,

DETROIT,

ORNAMENTAL HEADPIECE, .

ESCAPE OF THE CONSTITUTION .

COMMODORE HULL,

UNITED STATES AND MACEDONIAN,

ORNAMENTAL HEADPIECE,.

GENERAL HARRISON,

DEFENSE OF FORT HARRISON,

ORNAMENTAL HEADPIECE, .

DEFENSE OF OGDENSBURG,

BATTLE OF aUEENSTOWN, ,

FORT NIAGARA,

INDIGNATION OF THE TROOPS,

COMMODORE BAINBRIDOE, .

MASSACRE AT THE RITER RAISIN, .

PAGE 13

(vii)

Vlll ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE SIEGE OF FOIIT MEIGS, ...... . 141

OHNAMEXTAL HEADPIECE, . ...... 146

COMMODOllE CUAUXCET, ...... . 148

CAPTUIIE OF FORT GEOIIGE, ....... 165

IJEFKNSE OF SACKETt's IIAIIIIOUR, ...... 177

SOUTU-EAST VIEW OF SACKETt's UAKUOUU, ..... 181

hetreat of the iihitisu from sackett's harbour, .... 184

orxajikstal headpiece, ........ 188

young cornplanteh, ........ 194

attack on black rock, ........ 195 battle of lake erie, . . . . . . . .211

commodore perry, ........ 214

governor shelby, . ....... 216

general harrison crossing the thames, ..... 224 general macomb, ........ 230

general ripley, ......... 233

general wilkinson, ..... ... 235

burning of lewistown, ....... 242 hornet and peacock, ........ 249

gallant action of the general armstrong, ..... 259

enterprise and boxer, .... ... 262 attack on havre de grace, ....... 271

burning of fredericktown, ..... 275 cruise of the argus, ...... 301

captain allen, ....... 305

CAPTAIN PORTKR's CRUISE IN THE PACIFIC, .... 308

COMMODORE PORTER, ...... 312

PEACOCK AND EPERVIER, ..... 317

COMMODORE WARRINGTOWN, . . OOf)

WASP AND AVON, ..... 324.

CAPTAIN BLAKELY, . , ^ ot)C

ORNAMENTAL TAILPIECE, Oor(

ILLUSTRATIONS. IX

I'AOt;

ounamentai. headpiece, . . ...... 328

attack ox oswego, . . . . . . . . 336

BUnNIXG OF DOVEH, ........ 342

OHNAMEXTAL TAILPIECE, ....... 348

ORXAMENTAL HEADPIECE, ........ 349

BATTLE OF CHIPPEWA, ....... 355

COLONEL MILLER AT LUNDt's LANE, ...... 370

GEXEBAL MILLER, ........ 374

GENERAL GAINES, ....... . . 390

BURLINGTON BAT, ........ 406

BATTLE OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN, ....... 410

COMMODORE MCDONOUGH, . ...... 413

GENERAL BROWN, ...... . . 417

GENERAL JACKSON, . ....... 421

COMMODORE BARNEY, ........ 439

BOMBARDMENT OF FORT M<^HENRT, ...... 450

FORTIFYING OF NEW ORLEANS, ...... 480

BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS, ....... 48.3

HORNET AND PENGUIN. ........ 493

ESCAPE OF THE HORNET, ....... 495

FRANCIS HILLISHAGO, . ....... 499

GENERAL SCOTT, . . . , . . . .511

MASSACRE OF DADe's DETACHMENT, ...... 519

BATTLE OF OKEE-CHO-BEE, ....... 529

BATTLE OF PALAKLAKLAH A, ....... 535

CORPUS CHRISTI, ......... 541

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE POINT ISAHEL, ....•••• ^'*^

CAPTURE OF CAPTAIN THOHNTOX, ....••• ^^^

FOllT miOWN,

TACPBATA, CHAPULTEPEC

DEATH OF llIXfiGOLn, .....••• 559

OHNAMENTAL TAILPIECE, ........ 565

OU.VAMEXTAL HEADPIECE, ... .... 56G

MEXICAN GENTLEMEN, ........ 575

THE AMEUU'AN ARMY ENTERING MARIN, ON ITS MARCH TO MONTEREY, . . 578

STORMING OF FORT TENERIA, ....... 580

THE IIISUOP'S PALACE, ........ 586

STREET FIGHT ON GENERAL WORTh'h SIDE, ..... 591

WORTH AT MONTEREY, . ... ... 593

GENERAL TAYLOR AT BUENA TISTA, ...... 601

HEAD MULETEER AND SERVANT, ...... 608

GENERAL KEARNT, ....... . . 609

CAPTURE OF PANCCO, ...... . . 615

SIEGE OF VERA CRUZ, ....... . 619

AMERICAN FLEET SALUTING THE CASTLE AFTER ITS SURRENDER, . . . 623

MEXICANS LEAVING VERA CRUZ, ..... . 625

COMMENCEMENT OF THE GUERILLA WARFARE, ..... 626

GENERAL TWIGGS, ........ 628

BATTLE OF CERHO GORDO, ...... 631

CAPTURE OF TUSPAN, •••... 632

RATTLE OF CHURUUUSCO, ••.... 634

MEXICAN OFFICER, ....... 638

CITY OF MEXICO, ..... 639

. 645 647

PUEBLA DE LOS ANOELOS, ...... 651

CHAPTER I.

About the close of the year 1811 the Indian affairs on the southern and north-western frontiers of the United States assumed an aspect of a much more alarming nature than that which had been marked by 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

14 EXPEDITION TO PROPHET S TOWN.

inflammatory addresses, and alluring gifts. The conduct of the British traders was far from being consistent with the pacific disposition Avhich 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, led to suspicions of their having been supplied by its appointed agents. The result of investigations which were made by the governors of Ohio, and of the Michigan and Illinois territories, gave strong confirmation to these suspicions, and it was ascertained that great quantities of missiles, 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 delayed. Measures were therefore immediately adopted, in conjunction with Governor William H. Harrison, to repel by force, any further outrages which could not be prevented by amicable treaty. The militia of Indiana, and a regiment of United States infantry, commanded by Colonel 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 committed, and io reduce them to terms, which would secure the future peace of that territory. In the month of November, 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 army 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 attained with great fury by the savages at one point, where the bayonet, however, soon

BATTLE OF TIPPECANOE.

Battle of Tipptcanoe

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 4th 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 now first brought into action, but the savasres fled from them in grreat 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 aiid wounded, was estimated at one hundred and fifty. Of the 4th regiment, seventy-seven were killed and wounded. The loss of the whole force amounted, from the most accurate account, to one hundred and eighty-seven. Most of the militia under Governor Harrison, behaved with great courage and bravery ; but to Colonel Boyd, whose experience in the Mahrattah (India) service, well qualified him for a combat with the Prophet's-warriors, is much of the

=1^,

16 THE PRESIDENT S MESSAGEsuccess of this battle to be attributed. Tranquillity being now restored to the territory of Indiana, the troops returned to Fort Harrison — distance one hundred miles — and the militia to their homes. Many months had not elapsed, however, before the Prophet, in connexion with 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 o-uard ao-ainst future encroachments from the savas^es, 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 ministry, 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, 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 agfainst this nation by the British government and the officers representing it. Their immediate attention was required to this 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 elTectual 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 continued practice of violating the Ameri-

* Although the affair on the Wabash, which has been distinsruished by the name of "The Battle of Tippecanoe," was previous to the declaration of war, it is indispensable to the introduction to its history that it should be at least briefly referred to— the limits of this work do not admit of as full a description of a victory which has reflected so much lustre on the American character, as the author is desirous to give, or the reader perhaps to receive.

THE PRESIDENT S MESSAGE.

can flag on the great highway of nations, and of seizing and carrying off persons saihng under it; not in the exercise of a bel- Hgerent 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 wantonly spilt American blood within the sanctuary of our territorial jurisdiction ;

"That they were aiming to sacrifice our commercial interests, and were laying waste our neutral trade, not because we supplied their enemy, but by carrying on a war against our friendly commerce that they might themselves 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 hlockade 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 wdien their public minister was holding the language of friendship and inspiring confidence in the sincerity of the negotiations with which he was charged, a secret agent of his government was employed in intrigues, having for their object a subversion of our government and a dismemberment of our Union ;

"That the warfare which was just renewed by the savages 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 examples of the interpositions of the oflicers 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."

b2

18 GENERAL HCJLL S EXPEDITION.

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 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 w^ar, 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 Canatla.

On the 5th 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, to prevent a surprise from a party of Indians, who, aided by the British, had closely and constantly reconnoitered him, and who had planned an attack upon Detroit, which the approach of his army frustrated, he arrived at that post with two thousand five hundred men. He had no sooner garrisoned the American shore of the Detroit, than the British began to throw up breastworks and to erect batteries on the opposite side. The first of these was destroyed by a w^ell-directed fire from the fort, and the persons employed at it were obliged precipitately to retire ; a second, which was situated about three miles l^elow, was destroyed in like manner, by a few pieces of cannon despatched for that purpose, and worked witli 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 were constructed capable of containing a regiment, 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 alcove or below the point selected to oppose their la,nding, the enemy was allowed, on his third attempt, to erect, without annoyance, a battery of seven small

GENERAL HULLS EXPEDITION. 19 cannon and two mortars. Every preparation having been completed, the eml^arkation took place on the 12th. The army landed on the Canadian shore, above the fort, and entered Sandwich wdthout opposition. Tiiose of the inhabitants who had 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, of 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, wdiither the British regulars and Canadian militia, with several hundred Indians, had retired.

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

If General Hull's instructions admitted of his strikino- a blow

o

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 Amherstburo-, 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 embarlc 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 was 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 twenty-four pounders

20 LOSS OF MICIIILIMACKINAC.

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 reconnoitering parties.

Meanwhile, the British and Indians at St. Josephs, had been making preparations for an attack on Fort Michilimackinac,-^ (a position on an island of that name and in General Hull's command,) and on the 16th, four days after the occupation of Sandwich by the troops of the United States, the British embarked at St. Josephs, and reached the island early on the following morning. Their force, consisting of three hundred and six white troops, and seven hundred and iifteen Indians, was commanded by Captain Roberts, of the British regulars, who sent in a prisoner to inform the commandant that if any resistance was made the garrison and inhabitants would be indiscriminately put to the sword. Tlie inhabitants knowing that the fort had but fiftyseveti men for its defence, escaped from the island, or fled for refuge to the enemy, in great numbers; but many of them had no opportunity to do either, and were obliged to remain and abide the issue of the day. The commandant of the garrison. Lieutenant Porter Hanks, of the artillery, determined to give as gallant a resistance to the assailants as his small force would allow him.

The island of Michilimackinac is about nine miles in circumference, of irregular form' and broken surface. It is separated from the main land by a strait of about seven miles broad, its greatest breadth is three miles, and its elevation above the lake, on its highest ground, about one hundred and sixty-eight feet. A proposal was made to government, in 1797, to erect a citadel on this elevation, which w^ould be impregnable. Two square stone houses, united by a stockade, stand in the rear of the fort, wdiich is situated on a bluff rock rising from the water, but is entirely overlooked by the high ground at a distance of six hundred yards. The island itself is of a circular form, highest in the centre, and resembling a turtle's baclv ; from which circumstance it is said to have taken its name — (Michilimackinac, or the Turtle.)

The enemy had landed on the back part of the island, and urged

* Pronounced — Mackinaw.

LOSS OF MICHILIMACKINAC. 21

his approach within cannon shot of the fort, where he gained the eminence commanding- it, and from which he directed a piece of heavy cannon against its most defenceless side. The Indians were arranged on the edge of an adjoining wood. The British commandant now sent a flag, with a demand for the snrrender of the fort and island, and communicated the first intelligence which the o-arrison received of the declaration of war. The movement of the British and Indians had been nntil this moment considered as one, among the many outrages, to which the frontier of that neighbourhood had been exposed, and the American commandant had resolved to shut himself up and defend the fortress to the very last extremity, though it should result in the total annihilation of his force. But, on being informed of the actual state of hostilities, he was aware that if he held out, the enemy, whose present number could not be effectually opposed, might be largely reinforced, and that the fall of the garrison would be followed by the threatened indiscriminate slaughter, as w^ell of the soldiers composing it, as of the non-combatant inhabitants of the island. The only measure which could save them from the brutal massacre of the savages, was a surrender of the fort to the British, and Lieutenant Hanks very prudently entered into terms of capitulation, in which he secured a promised protection to all private property, though he put the enemy in possession of a fortress susceptible of being rendered the strongest in America.

It will be observed that the loss of Michilimackinao took place on the 17th of July, and that General Hull, already apprized of the war, arrived at Detroit on the 5th — and the reader will judge whether this intelligence could not have been transmitted to Michilimackinac, a distance of two hundred and fifty-four miles, and whether that post ought not to have been immediately reinforced. The enemy had knowledge of the existence of hostilities, through the activity of persons concerned in the North-west Fur Company, nine days jyreceding the arrival of the American disposables, whilst the American garrison was suffered to remain in ignorance for twelve days after — and to the Adgilance of one side, and the tardiness or negligence of the other, is this disaster to be ascribed.

Preparations were still going on at Sandwich for an attempt

22 HULL AT SANDWICH.

on Maiden, when the army were informed of the affair at Michihmaclunac hy the capture of two vessels, in which the prisoners taken there had been embarked. Unless the contemplated attack on Maiden sliould result in the success of the American arms, the situation of the troops would become critical in the extreme ; the possession of Michilimackinac gave the enemy many decided advantages, and if the capture of that post should be followed up by an assault on Fort Chicago, all the fortified stations west of Detroit would be in his hands, and the whole of his Indian forces might be thrown upon that frontier. Detroit would be an easy conquest, and the American army might be so encompassed that its retreat would be impossible. The Indians from the shores of the north-western lakes were already released from constraint, and the British commander was collecting large bodies of them to move down upon Detroit and the intermediate garrisons. Depending on the arrival of reinforcements, however, for which, in anticipation of these events General Hull had despatched numerous expresses ; and being assured of the importance of the occupation of Amherstburg, he remained at Sandwich, carrying on an excursive war by small parties, and reconnoitering the enemy's outposts w4th incessant vigilance. Skirmishes were frequent. In one of them Colonel M'Arthur made capture of a quantity of arms, ammunition, flour, and other provisions, and upwards of one thousand blankets.

Colonel Cass, of the 3d regiment of Ohio volunteers, was ordered with a detachment of two hundred and eighty men, to reconnoiter an advanced post of the enemy upon a long bridge, crossing Riviere Aiix Canards, or the River of the Ducks, about four miles from Fort Maiden. A company of riflemen, commanded by Captain Robinson, was concealed near the bridge, with directions to fire upon and divert the attention of the guard stationed upon it, as soon as the remaining part of the detachment should be seen on the opposite bank of the river, which was intended to be forded about five miles below. An unlocked for difficulty at the ford caused so much delay in the movement of the detachment, that it did not appear at the appointed ground until sunset, when, having marched, without a guide, too near the bank of the river, its progress was obstructed by a tributary

Colonel Cass.

creek; to pass this, a march of another mile was necessary, and time was consequently allowed for the enemy to prepare for his defence. On coming down the creek, Colonel Cass found the British already formed, and received from them a distant fire of musketry. The detachment moved on, however, in good order and with great spirit and alacrity. The British, who had been reinforced at intervals during the whole afternoon, and whose number was made up of the 41st regiment and some Indians, made several other attempts to fire, but were as often compelled to retreat, the detachment continuing to move up, regardless of their opposition. They were driven more than half a mile, when the darkness of the night made further pursuit hazardous, and Colonel Cass was content to possess the bridge and some adjoining houses until morning, when, after reconnoitering the neighbourhood and not finding the enemy, he commenced his return to the camp at Sandwich. No accurate information could be obtained of the force opposed to the detachment, but the loss of the enemy was reported by deserters at eleven killed and wounded. The detachment lost not a single man. The bridge was after-

J

24 RECONNOISSANCE BY M ARTHUR.

wards fortified by the British v/ith six pieces of artillery, but this being deemed insufficient for its defence, they removed both bridge and battery and planted their cannon behind a breastwork constructed from the timber.

Three days after (19th July) Colonel M' Arthur with one hundred and fifty men from his own regiment, (Ohio volunteers,) on relieving a detachment wdiich w^as out, proceeded to the reconnoitering ground of Colonel Cass, whence he discovered the enemy — eiglity-five regulars, forty Indians, and one hundred and fifty militia protected by this battery. The Queen Charlotte of twenty guns being at the same time anchored in Detroit river, at the mouth of Aux Canards, with a gunboat cruising about her. The firing was kept up for nearly an hour between the battery and a few riflemen in advance of the troops, but at too great a distance to have effect, whilst M'Arthur was examining the Queen Charlotte.

On finding the enemy so well protected by the battery, the riflemen were ordered to retire to the detachment, but M' Arthur's desire to ascertain the true situation of the enemy, induced him to Gfo near the broken brido-e with a g-lass. He discovered that the Indians had principally left the battery, and was almost at the same instant informed by a messenger from the detachment that a number of them were seen passing to a road in its rear. He was now attended by Dr. M'Anaw and Captain Puthuff", who, on turning their horses to ride with him to the detachment, w^ere fired upon by al^out thirty Indians, from their concealment in a brush, at the distance of only one hundred yards. They escaped, however, without being hnrt, a ball intended for M'Arthur having struclv his horse's head below the l^row^band, and glancing to the ground. His men were led to the pursuit of the Indians, and drove them across Aux Canards to the battery, between the detachment and which the fire was kept up at long shot for three hours, without other injury to the Americans than the wounding of two men, thousrh several broadsides had been discharofed from the Queen Charlotte.