200 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1814. 



and gave orders for the immediate 

 advance to Chippawa of five com- 

 panies of the Royal Scots under 

 Lieutenant Colonel Gordon, to 

 reinforce the garrison of that 

 place. Lieutenant Colonel Pearson 

 had moved forward from thence 

 with the flank companies of the 

 100th, some militia, and a few 

 Indians, to reconnoitre their posi- 

 tion and numbers: he found them 

 posted on the ridge parallel with 

 the river, near the ferrj', and in 

 strong force. I received informa- 

 tion from Major Buck, that they 

 had also landed a considerable 

 force above Fort Erie. In conse- 

 quence of the king's regiment, 

 which I had every reason to ex- 

 pect the day before from York, 

 not having arrived, I was pre- 

 vented from making an attack 

 that night. 



Tlie following morning, the 4th, 

 a body of their troops were report- 

 ed to be advancing by the river ; I 

 moved to reconnoitre, and found 

 them to be in considerable force, 

 with cavalry and artillery, and a 

 lurge body of riflemen. Lieute- 

 nant-Colonel Pearson was in ad- 

 vance during this reconnoissance 

 with the light company of the 

 Royal Scots, and the flank com- 

 pany of the 100th, and a few of 

 the I9th light dragoons, four of 

 whom, and eight horses, were 

 wounded in a skirmish with the 

 tnt'tiiy's riflemen. 



Having been joined by the 

 king's regiment on the morning of 

 the 5th. 1 made my dispositions 

 for attack at four o'clock in the 

 ■ afternoon. The light companies 

 of the Royal Scots and 100th regi- 

 ment, with the 2nd Lincoln mili- 

 lia, formed the advance under 

 l/ieutenant-Colonei Pearson. The 

 iudian warriors were throughout 



on our right flank in the woods. ■ 

 The troops moved in three co- 

 lumns, the third (the King's re- 

 giment) being in advance. The 

 enemy had taken up a position 

 with his right resting on some 

 buildings and orchards, close on 

 the river Niagara, and strongly 

 supported by artillery ; his left to- 

 wards the wood, having a consi- 

 derable body of riflemen and In- 

 dians in front of it. 



Our Lidians and militia were 

 shortly engaged with the enemy's 

 riflemen and Indians, who at first 

 checked their advance, but the 

 light troops being brought to their 

 support, they succeeded, after a 

 sharp contest, in dislodging them, 

 in a very handsome style. 1 placed 

 two light 24 pounders, and a five 

 and a half-inch howitzer, against 

 the right of the enemy's position, 

 and formed the Royal Scots and 

 the 100th regiment, with the in- 

 tention of making a movement 

 upon his left, which deployed with 

 the greatest regularity, and opened 

 a very heavy fire. 



I immediately moved up the 

 King's regiment to the right, while 

 the Royal Scots, and 100th regi- 

 ment were directed to charge the 

 enemy in front, for which they 

 advanced with the greatest gallan- 

 try, under a most destructive fire. 

 I am sorry to say, hov.ever, in this 

 attempt they suffered so severely, 

 that I was obliged to withdraw 

 them, finding their further efforts 

 against the superior number of the 

 erirmv would be unavailintr. 



Lieuten;int-Coloiiel Gordon and 

 Lieutenant Colonel the Marquis of 

 Tweedale, commandin"- these re- 

 gimfnts, bemg wounrled, as were 

 most of the officers belonging to 

 each, 1 directed a retreat to be 

 made upon Chippawa, which was 



