754 



WAR OF 1812. 



Lieut -Col. Winfii-H Scott (for whom we F.NWCT.O- 

 r.v.i'i v BKITANMC.O greatly distinguished them- 

 selves during iliis conflict. Tin- British commander, 

 (ten. lirock, was here slain It was u remarkable in- 

 cident ihut a lame force mi the American shore beheld 

 tiMir OOtnradei in peril l.ut rrfiiM- 1 absolutely to render 

 them any I .> This wretched conduct doubt- 



less arose from an absurd opposition in fighting beyond 

 the boundaries of New fork. Tin- (^m-rnst.iwti battle 

 was wi'll |ilanned, but the means were inadcqtia: 

 execution. Before this battle. on Oct. 4. a skirmish 



d which gave a little relief I'ruu the mistake* 

 and disasters of this department. A British force, 

 perhaps 800 strong, under Col. Lotbbridge, in boatsap- 

 proached Ogdensbnrg, which was defended by Gen. 

 .! u-ob Brown, of the New York militia. He had alxmt 

 liHHI men. The British were sturdily met. defeated. 

 mid form! to withdraw to the Canadian shore. But 



ig after this MI -imilar Britisii detaeli- 



inent here defeated :'.'N) militia, and took possession of 

 the town and fort. The attacking party lost about 60 

 m ii killed and wounded the militia much less. 



i if IS I. 1 !. 



ttitttlt nf Frenchlnirn. Meanwhile in the North 

 Gen. Harrison li:id been pushing his operations, aim- 

 ing to recover Michigan. A portion of his army, 

 which had not yet joined the main body, was leading 

 the way northward under (ien. W inch ester's coin mand 

 Not far from Maiunce Rapids the general received a de- 

 spatch from Harrison warning him that the Indians 

 were gathering in his front. Other messages of like 

 readied him ; but on Jan. Id, ISKi, messengers 

 from the Kaisin liiver country came in haste and licked 

 for help in l>e.half of the threatened settlements. Win- 

 cheater, leaning to humanity, detached Col. l,ewis witli 

 .V.i i iih'ii. and a few hours later Col. Allen with I III 

 more. These two parties united at Presque Isle (now 

 Krie. Pa.). Near the Raisin River lno British and 

 tin) Indians with one cannon were in waiting. Idning 

 Jan. IS Lewis attacked the main position of his enemy 

 strongly posted in Frcnchtown. and succeeded in de- 

 feating both the regulars and Indians and then slowly 

 drove them b:;ck till darkness ended the battle. 



AVII'M'.-I /,' During Jan. 19. as soon as 



Gen. Winchester heard of Lewis' success he brought 

 up to Frcnchtowii all his i'oree. except a small guard. 

 A French settler reported to him that a hostile move- 

 ment from Maiden was on foot ; yet the weather being 

 1 proper precautions against attack 

 were i. About sunrise on the --d Proctor 



with some ,'iU 1 1 whites and tiiMl Indians spranp upon the 

 general's lines. Notwithstanding the surprise the pa- 

 triot soldiers for a time fouvrht desperately, but the angry 

 missiles seeiued to come from every direction, so that 

 the men became discouraged and gave way. Then 

 followed lh. of m-iny prisoners and tl: 



pulsion of (Jen. Winchester alter his own capture to 

 surrender a gallant remnant. The wounded w> 

 dom spared an 1 the little town was burned by the 

 savages. This affair equals the Wyoming murders. 

 Proctor was promoted for his success. yet fair-minded 

 Americans and English condemned him for violating 

 every rule of honor. Out of KMK) men Winchester 

 lost 397 killed and missing, and 5:iT a prisoners of 

 war. Proctor's loss, sin misingly small, was but 24 

 killed and 158 wounded. The terrible news produced. 

 especially in Kentucky, profound grief and soon the 

 most vigorous action; so that Cen. Harrison was 

 lily reinforc. -1 



Sitff? of t'nrt .\Ir!g*. At the Rnpids of the Man 

 race Ilarrison < i Fort Meigs. This was 



strategically excellent ; it protected the country below, 

 and was a starting-point to recover Michigan. Proctor, 

 seeing this, soon started from Maiden purposing to 

 capture this fort He took by water over 2000 mixed 

 troops, Tecnmseh leading the Indians. A couple of 

 gunboats and some artillery aided his attempt He 



opened 6re May 1, 1813. carefully drawing his cordon 

 around the fort; whilst Ilarrison ri d his 



work by every available contrivance. Happily, on May 

 4, he was largely reinforced. The incoming dislodged 

 the besiegers, but met with gr--at losses at the hands 

 of Tecumsch owing to their too eager pursuit <d' fleeing 

 Indians. Yet Proctor was speedily compelled !< 

 don the siege and withdraw. Harrison s important 

 victory here was dearly purchased, over MHI being put 

 hart de cnmlxit, while 1'r u-tor claimed that his loss 

 did not exceed 100. 



\nrnl linttlf an Isikr. Erie. The British naval 

 Commander, Barclay, had already managed to get. on 

 J*ike Krie near Maiden, 6 war vessels into working 

 order. At the same time for the I nited Slates Lieut. 

 Elliott and later Commodore 1'erry were gathering and 

 constructing quite a squadron (S or '.i vessels) in tlie 

 harlwr of Presipie Isle. Karly on Sept. |n 1'erry'i 

 squadron was anchored in Put-in Bay. Barclay made 

 his appearance and a battle ensued. Perry, afu r long 

 fighting and heavy loss, gained a decisive victory which 

 filled tne country with joy and hope. 



Jin/lie a/ tlie Tluunn. Lake Kric being thus re- 

 gained, (ien. Ilarrison hastened to bring up abreast 

 the land operations. With the help of the navy he 

 transferred his troops northward to a small island 

 named the Eastern Sister, alxjiit lU' miles from Maiden, 

 Proctor's stronirhold. (letting fairly ready, on Sept. 

 ^7 he pushed for Maiden. Proctor, having destroyed 

 his >tores. had already fled to Sandwich, having with 

 him Teeumseh and an army of perhaps 1800 whites 

 and Indians, (ien. Ilarrison, leaving a guard at Am- 

 herst, sped on after him with his .'Jfi(K) men. _ Col. 

 Lewis Cass and Commodore Perry were Harrison's 

 volunteer aides. Proctor again escaped at Sandwich, 

 but after a swift pursuit was at last brought to bay 

 near the Moravian Town (Orford, Canada \\cst). He 

 took up a strong position by the River Thames and 

 aecepted battle Oct. 5, 1SI3; he was badly defeated, 

 and Teeumseh. who held out the longest, was slain. 

 For this Proctor was conrt-martiallcd and disgraced, for 

 alleged want ot generalship. This battle of the 

 Thames, added to Perry's \ietory. gave back to the 

 United States the entire North-WeM. 



The fforth-E/tUt, Farther east a singular campaign 

 was inaugurated. The Northern army, commanded 

 by Gen. Wilkinson, was much scattered, the right 

 under den. Hammond, at Plattsbiirg. the left under 

 Gen. Boyd. near Niagara River, while Wilkinson re- 

 tained the centre 1 at Sackctt's Harbor. Fifteen thou- 

 sand men comprised the whole. The British opposing 

 forces, extending from Niagara Falls through Ki' 

 to Montreal, numbered about SIKII). There was a re- 

 markable parade about the proposed Canadian expe- 

 dition. The war department itself left the capital 

 and went to Saekett's Harbor. Gen. Armstron 

 retary of w:ir, had been a high officer in the Revolu- 

 tion, and must take an active part. Combined move- 

 ments w. re eoiieiK-ted. but. as one might anticipate, 

 there was a contusion of counsels ami cross-pun 



-t in Canada an American briL'ade-coinmnnder, 

 Gen. Izard, preceding one of the columns with bis 

 hriirad". came upon a British force under Lieut. -Col. 

 !l>erg in position near the Chateauguay and 

 Ontarde Confluence. There were breastworks manned 

 bv at least IIMII) men. some of whom were Indians, 

 'ien. Izard drove in the pickets of pe Salbcrg and 

 then engaged the main ludy. lie was progressing 

 finely, when scattered firing and blowing of hncle* 

 (sent out by l>e Salbcrg) were heard from the woods 

 near at hand. This ruse hail such an effect upon 

 Wade Hampton, the column commander, that ho 

 ordered an instant retreat. A MV.md showy attempt 

 airainst Montreal under the immediate char-'- of Gen. 

 Wilkinson proved equally futile. The entire cam- 

 paign was a sorry failure. 



During the early part of 1813 Fort George, and 

 York, Canada, wore taken by the Americans. Gens. 



