38 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



at the lighthouse but had only advanced a few paces when his left arm 

 was shattered from the wrist nearly to the shoulder by grape shot. 

 He still continued to move onward and encourage his men in spite 

 of the terrible pain caused by the splintered bones rubbing against 

 his sword belt and side until another shot tore much of the flesh from 

 his right arm. Nearly overcome by agony he tried to stagger forward 

 but reeled about until finally he fell insensible on the snow. The com- 

 mand of his flank company devolved upon Lieut. Macaulay, a young 

 officer of great merit, who continued to lead the charge until a further 

 advance became plainly hopeless from the severe loss and evident 

 numerical superiority of the enemy. At this moment some of the lead- 

 ing men were so near the battery that they were unable to retire 

 and were taken prisoners. Another small party seized and retained 

 possession of a commanding knoll from which they opened a brisk 

 fire. The militia, however, had fallen behind and failed to support 

 the assauk with effect. 



Having subdued all resistance on the outskirts of the town, 

 Macdonell's column reassembled on the high ground on the right 

 bank of the Oswegatchie opposite the fort and barracks of La Presenta- 

 tion. The officers and men were greatly exhausted by their previous 

 exertions. With the object undoubtedly of gaining time and to re- 

 store order and give them rest, a flag of truce was sent over to de- 

 mand an unconditional surrender of the works still held by the enemy. 

 This was as a matter of course met by a refusal but Forsyth imme- 

 diately took the precaution to retire from the fort with the majority 

 of his riflemen and the only field piece left in his possession. He took 

 up a position at some distance on a ridge commanding the bridge 

 and covering the road which formed his line of retreat. The nearest 

 battery was then taken with little trouble and its guns turned against 

 the stone barracks with such effect that both American officers com- 

 manding gun detachments there were disabled. Captain Eustace 

 at the head of the detachment of the 8th and a Highland company 

 of militia carried the building at the point of the bayonet, most of 

 its defenders escaping by the rear gate, but leaving a wounded officer 

 and several men behind as prisoners. Forsyth quickly retired into 

 the woods by the road leading to Black Lake, taking with him one 

 field piece mounted on a sled carriage. Further pursuit seemed in- 

 expedient and was probably impracticable owing to the exhausted 

 condition of the troops. The prolonged and heavy cannonade was 

 heard by Prevost's party on the road and excited so much apprehension 

 in his mind that he despatched a hasty message from Flint's tavern, 

 cancelling the permission he had granted for an attack which for- 

 tunately was not delivered to Macdonell until the termination of the 

 action. 



