160 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 
head to relieve the pain of a severe headache.’ Midshipman Richard- 
son, a boy of fourteen, lost a leg. The horse and driver of a sled bring- 
ing forward ammunition were both shot. The guns were silenced and 
the most advanced piece abandoned within twenty-five or thirty yards 
of the palisades. Some American riflemen leaped over the fence to 
take possession, but were driven back by the fire of the escort. Lieut. 
Robert Irvine then ran forward alone and, seizing the drag-rope, hauled 
it to a place of safety, amid a shower of bullets, receiving a severe 
wound in the foot. Procter witnessed this gallant act and subsequently 
testified his admiration in a letter of thanks, assuring him that he 
should lose no opportunity of suitably rewarding him.* The men who 
were still unhurt were so benumbed by the cold that they could scarcely 
work the guns. The escort had lost one-third of its number. Ensign 
Thomas Kerr, a gallant boy of eighteen, had fallen mortally wounded 
in leading an assault on a large barn occupied by the enemy’s riflemen, 
encouraging his men with his last words to push on. Captain Tallon 
then formed the 41st into column of sections and made a most deter- 
mined effort to forée his way into the villlage. Every rifle that could 
be brought to bear, not only from the loopholes, but the windows of 
the houses on either flank, was directed upon them with such effect 
that within half an hour fifteen privates were killed and Captain Tallon, 
Lieut. Clemow, three sergeants and ninety-two rank and file were 
wounded, being nearly one-half of the entire detachment. The attack 
was then discontinued until the militia and Indians could be re-as- 
sembled. Exasperated by the sight of the slaughter of their comrades 
outside, some of the American riflemen continued to fire upon the 
wounded whenever they attempted to get away, and were even seen 
to use their knives and tomahawks upon them. This naturally excited 
the bitter resentment of the troops watching them from the shelter 
of the hollow, who became eager to retaliate. * 
As the firing had nearly ceased, the defenders of the village sallied 
out and set fire to a barn which had been occupied by a party of Indians. 
Bread was distributed among them and ammunition served out. 
The Indians gradually returned, some of them with bleeding scalps 
dangling from their saddles, others driving prisoners before them.* 
Among these were General Winchester, Colonel Lewis and other officers, 
who were conducted to Colonel Procter. 
The investment of the village was completed, and a party of Indians 

? Troughton to Irvine, 28 January, 1813. 
3 Procter to Sheaffe, lst February, 1813; John Richardson to Charles Askin, 
4th February, 1813; Byfield, Narrative. 
‘ Atherton, 47. 
