APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE. 



14- 



deemed it my duty to make a rapid 

 and forced march towards him 

 with the light troops under my 

 command, which not only frus- 

 trated his designs, but compelled 

 him to evacuate Fort George, by 

 precipitately crossing the river, and 

 abandoning the whole of the Nia- 

 gara frontier. On learning our ap- 

 proach, he laid the town of Newark 

 in ashes, passed over his cannon 

 and stores, but failed in an attempt 

 to destroy the fortifications, which 

 were evidently much strengthened 

 whilst in his possession, as might 

 have enabled General M'Clure, 

 (the commanding officer) to have 

 maintained a regular siege ; but 

 such was the apparent panic, that 

 he left the whole of his tents stand- 

 ing. 



I trust the indefatigable exer- 

 tions of this handful of men have 

 rendered an essential service to the 

 country, by rescuing from a mer- 

 ciless enemy, the inhabitants of an 

 extensive and highly cultivated 

 tract of land, stored with cattle, 

 grain, and provisions of every 

 description ; and it must be an 

 exultation to them to find them- 

 selves delivered from the oppression 

 of a lawless banditti, composed of 

 the disaffected of the country, 

 organizted underthe direct influence 

 of the American Government, who 

 carried terror and dismay into 

 every family. 



I have, &c, 

 J. MURRAY, Colonel. 

 To Major-General Vincent, 

 &c. 



COLONIAL DEPARTMENT. 



Dotvning-Street, Feb. 6. 

 [Letters to General Drummond 

 transmitted by Sir G. Prevost.] 

 Vol. LVI. 



Fort Niagara, Dec. .ID- 

 Sir ; 



In obedience to your honour's 

 commands, directing me to attack 

 Fort Niagara with the advance of 

 the army of the right, I resolved 

 upon attempting a surprise. The 

 embarkation commenced on the 

 18th at night, and the whole of the 

 troops were landed three miles 

 from the fort early on the following 

 morning, in the following order of 

 attack: advanced guard, one sub- 

 altern, and twenty rank and file ; 

 grenadiers 100th regiment ; royal 

 artillery, with grenades ; five com- 

 panies, lOOth regiment ; under 

 Lieutenant-Colonel Hamilton, to 

 assault the main gate, add escalade 

 the works adjacent; three compa- 

 nies of the 100th regiment, under 

 Captain Martin, to storm the 

 Eastern demi-bastion ; Captain 

 Bailey, with the grenadiers Royal 

 Scots, was directed to attack the 

 salient angle of the fortification, 

 and the flank companies of the 

 41st regiment were ordered to 

 support the principal attack. Each 

 party was provided with scaling 

 ladders and axes. I have great 

 satisfaction in acquainting your 

 honour, that the fortress was car- 

 ried by assault in the most resolute 

 and gallant manner, after a short 

 but spirited resistance. 



[Here follow encomiums upon 

 the conduct of Lieutenaut-Colonel 

 Hamilton, and several other offi- 

 cers.] 



Our force consisted of about five 

 hundred rank and file. — Annexed 

 is a return of our casualties, and 

 the enemy's loss in killed, wound- 

 ed, and prisoners. The ordnance 

 and commissariat are so immense, 

 that it is totally out of my power to 



