forts on the Niagara, under cover of Commodore Chauncey's fleet.

General Lewis took the command during the illness of Gen. Dearborne, and led on the troops to victory and conquest; all the British posts were carried, and more than 500 Canada militia surrendered prisoners of war; with the loss of about 39 Americans killed, and 111 wounded. The next day the British blew up, and destroyed Fort Erie, and all remaining fortifications, and retired to the head of Burlington Bay, with 1300 men.

On the first of June, Gens. Chandler and Winder were detached with a force of about 2600, men to destroy this British force, and they advanced to Stoney Creek to prepare for the attack. The enemy anticipated their views, and commenced a furious attack upon the Americans in dead of night; great confusion ensued, the combatants commixed and fought hand to hand: the two generals were taken in the midst of the conflict, and carried off by the enemy, who hastily retired, and secured his retreat. The loss of the generals disconcerted the Americans, and the main object of the enterprise failed.

Pending these operations, Commodore Yeo appeared with his squadron before Sackets' Harbour, and landed about 1200 men, under the command of Sir George Prevost. The place was in a defenceless situation, and would have fallen an easy conquest; but General Brown rallied the militia, and fell upon the enemy with such fury, as put him to flight, and obliged bim to abandon the enterprise, and retire into Canada. Such was the panic excited upon this invasion, that the Americans destroyed by fire a great quantity of public stores, even when they were not exposed to the depredations of the enemy.

These successes led the Six Nations to join the Americans in the war.

General Lewis who had succeeded to the command upon the resignation of Gen. Dearborne, detached Col. Borstler with five hundred men to dislodge a party of British, at la Louvre house (so called ;) but unfortunately he fell into an Indian ambuscade, and was taken with his whole party.

General Proctor at the same time attempted to surpirze the American Forts Meigs on the Miami, and Stephenson, on the Sandusky; both which failed, and at the latter the enemy met with signal defeat and disgrace.

The general movements for the reduction of Canada were now defeated; the fleets on Lakes Erie and Ontario, were now about equal, and prepared for action. The American forces under Gen. Harrison moved towards Detroit, and an action commenced on Lake Erie, between the American fleet under the command of Commodore Perry, and the British fleet under the command of Commodore Barclay, September 10th, 1813.

The fleets were equal; Commodore Barclay, an old and experienced officer, in the school of Nelson, had seen much service. Commodore Perry a young officer, and without experience.

The conflict commenced; the action became general, and desperate; Commodore Perry's ship being disabled, he changed his flag on board another ship, in an open boat, in the heat of the action, and at once bore down upon the enemy with the remainder of his fleet, and both were closely engaged. The action was short and desperate, and the carnage terrible. The whole British squadron surrendered to Commodore Perry; two ships, two brigs, one sloop, and one schooner were the trophies of this victory.

The British immediately evacuated Detroit and retired to Malden, and General Harrison advanced and took possession, September 28th, and pursued into Canada. The

illustrious Perry joined him, and became his companion iti

arms.

On the 5th of October, General Harrison gained a complete victory over General Proctor, and captured or destroyed his whole army.

Commodore Chauncey at the same time, took and destroyed seven of the British squadron on Lake Ontario,

On the 4th of November, overtures for peace arrived from England, and at the same time General Wilkinson took the command of the northern army, and moved his whole force to Sackets' Harbour, and from thence down the St. Lawrence to Ogdensburg, where he appointed an interview with General Hampton, at St. Regis; but this failed.

Pending these movements General M'Clure evacuated Fort George; set fire to the village of Newark, and retired out of Canada.

General Harrison had followed up his victory, and in proceeding down to join General Wilkinson, had left the whole Niagra frontier exposed to the enemy. He availed himself of this; crossed over and destroyed the village of Buffaloe, with several others, to revenge the destruction of Newark; took Fort Niagara, and put the garrison to the sword.

These movements closed the campaign of the north, and both armies went into winter quarters.

At this time General Jackson took vengeance on the Creek Indians, for their predatory ravages.

Early in the spring of 1813, a British squadron entered the Delaware Bay, under the command of Admiral Beresford, and commenced their depredations on the American sea-board. First upon Lewistown, where they did much damage; they next proceeded to the Chesapeak, where they committed the most savage depredations, and conflagrations. Frenchtown, Havre-De-Grace, Fredericktown,

Georgetown, and Norfolk all felt the ruthless hand of the marauders, and several of these places were wholly destoy ed. Admiral Cockburn joined Admiral Beresford, and took the lead in this savage war.

Admiral Warren joined in an unsuccessful attack upon Craney Island. The next day, (June 25th,) the enemy made a descent upon the town of Hampton, and gave it up to indiscriminate plunder, licentiousness, and brutality; such brutality as was never alleged against a savage, and such as would make a savage blush.

Pending these operations, three American frigates which had been blockaded in the port of New-York, made their escape through the Sound, and were chased into the port of New-London, where they were blockaded through the remainder of the war.

In the course of the summer Commodore Hardy attempted to bombard Stonington; but the borough was so valiantly defended that they suffered very little damage.

The enemy attempted his ravages upon the coast about the river Penobscot, and took a formal possession, with a strong force, in consequence of which the frigate John Adams was burnt by her own crew to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy.

On the 3d of June, operations recommenced upon the northern frontier. General Izard had now succeeded Gens, Wilkinson and Hampton; and General Brown took the command of the Niagara station. On the 3d of July he commenced operations by crossing over and surprising Fort Erie, which fell an easy conquest, and the next day he advanced to the plains of Chippewa, where he engaged the main British army, and gained a signal victory. The Americans lost 60 killed, and 248 wounded. The British lost 133 killed, and 320 wounded. This victory gave great eclat to the American arms, and diffused a general VOL. III.

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joy throughout the nation. General Brown returned to Queenstown, and from thence to the plains of Chippewa to await the enemy, who was advancing with a strong reinforcement, under General Drummond.

General Brown again met the enemy near Queenstown, and a terrible action ensued, which continued with various success, and desperate valour, until midnight, when the Americans carried the field; but such were the losses sustained that the army retired the next day to Fort Erie, under the command of General Ripley. Generals Brown and Scott having been both wounded in the action.

. The loss of the British in this action was 860 killed and wounded, and the American loss about the same. The whole force engaged was about 4000 British, and 3000 Americans. Few actions have been recorded more bloody than this for its numbers engaged.

General Drummond advanced, and invested the Americans in Fort Erie; but finding an obstinate resistance, he attempted to carry the fort by storm on the 15th of August.

Here the scenes of Chippewa and Queenstown were renewed, and a desperate conflict ensued. The enemy were repulsed with great loss.

General Brown had now recovered of his wounds and resumed the command, (September 2d.) Gen. Drummond continued his operations before Erie, strengthened his works, and pushed the siege with vigour. General Brown strengthened his works, and was equally active in his defence.

On the 17th General Brown executed a gallant sortie, by performing a circuitous march, and surprising the enemy upon the flank of his trenches; charged him in column, and carried his works with a dreadful carnage. More than eight hindred men fell on the side of the enemy, and the Americans lost about 300: at the head of these feil General