176 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
to engage the main battery. They were accordingly obliged to beat 
to windward under its fire, which proved a task of some difficulty. 
They finally gained a position within six or seven hundred yards from 
which they opened a steady and fairly well directed fire from two 
thirty-two, two twenty-four and ten long twelve-pounders. The 
battery was originally armed with two long twelve pounders to which 
had been lately added two old eighteen pounders, condemned as un- 
serviceable because their trunnions had been broken off. In antici- 
pation of an attack these guns had been stocked and mounted on tim- 
bers. During the action a twelve pounder of the same description 
was brought up. They were served by a bombardier and twelve 
gunners of the Royal Artillery assisted by infantry soldiers from the 
regulars and militia, partially trained for that duty. This contest 
had lasted for about half an hour without much harm to either party 
when one of the gunners in the battery by careless handling of a 
portfire ignited the contents of a travelling magazine behind him 
which exploded with disastrous effect. A dozen men were instantly 
killed and many others dreadfully burned. Two officers who had 
ascended the parapet to observe the effect of their fire were thrown to 
the ground with great violence and stunned. The gun platform 
was torn up and an eighteen pounder dismounted. The ghastly 
spectacle of dismembered bodies and the fearful sufferings ‘of the 
wounded demoralized many men who had escaped injury. The fire 
of the battery ceased while that of the vessels was accelerated to aug- 
ment the confusion. By great exertions on the part of the remaining 
gunners the battery was cleared of the wreck, the magazine was re- 
placed, and firing resumed. About an hour later three strong columns 
of American troops were seen advancing by as many routes which 
would bring them into the flank and rear of this battery, laboriously 
dragging with them by hand six or eight field guns which they had suc- 
ceeded in landing. One gun was traversed in that direction and fired 
several times upon them without effect as no ammunition had been 
provided except round shot. All the guns were then spiked and the 
battery abandoned before an assault was attempted. Most of the 
militia had already dispersed as they had never entirely recovered 
from the shock of the explosion. Chauncey’s squadron then entered 
the bay without further opposition and he lost no time in landing a 
considerable force of seamen and marines. The movement upon the 
town was much delayed by the loss of time in building bridges over 
several ravines and small streams to facilitate the passage of their 
guns. The loss and disorder caused by the unexpected explosion 
of the principal magazine delayed their advance still more and enabled 
the remnant of the British regular troops and artificers to set fire to 
