172 



®l)c JFarmcr's illcmtl)ljj faisitor. 



BATTLE OF CHIPPEWA. 



Copy of a letter from Major General Brown to the 

 Secretary of It'ar, dated 

 Hf.au Quarters, (Chippewa Plains,)? 

 July 7ih, 1814. S 



Dear Sir— On the 2.1 insi. I issued my orders 

 for crossing the Niagara river and made the ar- 

 rangements deemed necessary for securing the 

 garrison of Fort Erie. On the 3d, that post sur- 

 rendered at 5 P. M. Our loss in this affair was 

 four of the 25th regiment under Major Jesup, 

 of Brig. Gen. Scott's hrigade, wounded. I have 

 enclosed a return of the prisoners, of the ord- 

 nance, and ordnance stores captured. 



To secure my rear, I have placed a garrison in 

 this fort, and requested Capt. Kennedy to station 

 his vessels near the post. 



On the morning of the 4th, Brig. Gen. Scott, 

 with his hrigade and a corps of artillery, was 

 ordered to advance towards Chippewa, and he 

 governed by circumstances ; taking care to se- 

 cure a good' military position for the night. Al- 

 ter some skirmishing with the enemy, he select- 

 ed this plain with the eye of a soldier, his right 

 resting on the river, and a ravine being in front. 

 At 11 at night, I joined him with the reserve un- 

 der Gen. Ripley, our field and battering train, 

 and corps of artillery under Major Hind man. 

 Gen. Porter arrived the next morning with a 

 part of the New York and Pennsylvania volun- 

 teers, and some of the warriors of the Six Na- 

 tions. 



Early in the morning of the 5th, the enemy 

 commenced a petty war upon our pickets, and, 

 as he was indulged, his presumption increased ; 

 by noon he shewed himself on the left of our 

 exterior line, and attacked one of our pickets as 

 it was returning to camp. 



Capt. Treat, who commanded it, retired dis- 

 gracefully, leaving a wounded man en the 

 ground. Capt. Biddle of the artillery, who was 

 near the scene, impelled by feelings highly hon- 

 orable to him as a soldier and officer, promptly 

 assumed the command of this picket, led it hack 

 to the wounded man, and brought him off the 

 field. I ordered Capt. Treat, on the spot, to re- 

 tire from the army, and as I am anxious that no 

 officer shall remain under my command who 

 can he suspected of cowardice, I advise that 



Dipt. Treat, and Lieut. ,* who was also 



with the picket, be struck from the rolls of the 

 army. 



At four o'clock in the afternoon, agreeably to 

 a plan I had given Gen. Porter he advanced from 

 the rear of our camp, will' the volunteers and 

 Indians, (taking t lie woods in order to keep out 

 of view of the enemy,) with the hope of bring- 

 ing his pickets and scouting parlies between his 

 (Purler's) line of march, and our camp. As Por- 

 ter moved, I ordered the parties advanced in 

 front of our camp to tall back gradually, under 

 the enemy's lire, in order lo draw him, if possi- 

 ble, up to our line. About half [last four, the 

 advance of Gen. Porter's command met the light 

 parties of the enemy in the; woods upon our ex- 

 treme left. The enemy were driven, and Porter 

 advanced near to Chippewa 1 , met their whole 

 column in order of bailie. From the cloud of 

 dust rising, and the heavy firing, I "as led to 

 conclude that the entire force of the enemy was 

 in march, and prepared for action. I immodi- 

 atelv ordered Gen. Scott to advance Willi his 

 brigade, and Towson's artillery, and met them 

 upon the plain in front of our camp. The gen- 

 eral did not expect lo he gratified so soon with a 

 field engagement. He advanced in the most 

 prompt and officer-like style, and in a few min- 

 utes « us in close action upon the plain, with a 

 superior force of British regular troops. By this 

 lime, Gen. Porter's command had given way, 

 and fled in every direction, notwithstanding his 

 personal gallantry, ami great exertions to stay 

 their (light. The retreat of ihe volunteers and 

 Indians caused the left flank of Gen. Scott's bri- 

 gade to he greatly exposed. Capt. Harris, with 

 bis dragoons, was directed lo stop fugitives, be- 

 hind the ravine fronting our camp ; arid I senl 

 Col. Gardner to order Gin. Ripley to advance 

 with the 21st regiment which formed pari of ilie 

 reserve, pass to the left of our camp, skin tin- 

 woods so as lo keep out of view, and fill upon 

 the rear of the enemy's right think. This order 



* The nnmc omitted in the letter. 



was promptly obeyed, and the greatest exertions 

 were made by the 21st regiment to gain their 

 position, and close with the enemy ; but in vain 

 — for such was the zeal anil gallantry of the line 

 commanded by Gen. Scott, that its advance upon 

 the enemy was not to be checked. Major Jesup 

 commanding the left flank battalion, finding 

 himself pressed in front and in flank, and his 

 men falling fast around him — ordered his battal- 

 ion to " support arms and advance-" — the order 

 was promptly obeyed, amidst the most deadly 

 and destructive fire. He gained a more secure 

 position, and returned upon the enemy so galling 

 u discharge, as caused them to retire. 



By this time their whole line was falling back 

 and our gallant soldiers pressing upon them as 

 fast as possible. As soon as the enemy gained 

 the sloping ground descending towards Chippe- 

 wa, and distant a quarter of a mile, he broke 

 and ran to gain his works. In this effort he was 

 too successful, and the guns from his batteries 

 opening immediately upon our line, checked in 

 some degree the pursuit. At this moment 1 re- 

 solved lo bring up all my ordnance and force the 

 place by a direct attack, and gave the order ac- 

 cordingly. Major Wood, of the corps of Engin- 

 eers, and my aid, Capt. Austin, rode to the bank 

 of the creek, towards the right of their line of 

 works, and examined them. I was induced by 

 their report, the lateness of the hour, and the 

 advice of Gen. Seott and Maj. Wood, to order 

 the forces to retire to camp. 



My most difficult duty remains to be perform- 

 ed. 1 am depressed with the fear of not being 

 able to do justice to my brave companions in 

 arms, and apprehensive, that some who had an 

 opportunity of distinguishing themselves, and 

 promptly embraced it, will escape my notice. 



Brig. Gen. Scott is entitled to the highest 

 praises 1 can bestow — to him more than any 

 other man am I indebted for the victory of the 

 5th July. His brigade has covered itself with 

 glory. Every officer and every man of the 9lh 

 and 22d, 11th and 25ih regiments did Ms duty, 

 with a zeal and energy worthy of the American 

 character. When every officer stands so pre- 

 eminently high in the path of duty and honor, it 

 is impossible to discriminate, but I cannot de- 

 prive myself of the pleasure of saying that Maj. 

 Leavenworth commanded the 9lh and 22d, Maj. 

 McNeil tin,' 11th. Col, Campbell was wounded 

 early in the action gallantly leading on his regi- 

 ment. 



The family of Gen. Scott were conspicuous in 

 the field ; Lieut. Smith of the Gth infantry, Major 

 of brigade, and Lieuts. Worth and Waits, his 

 aids. 



From Gen. Ripley and his hrigade, I received 

 every assistance that I gave them an opportunity 

 of rendering. I did not order any part of the 

 reserve into action, until General Poller's com- 

 mand had given way, and then Gen. Scon's 

 movements were so rapid and decisive, that 

 Gen. Ripley could not get up in time with the 

 21si, in the position as directed. The corps of 

 artillery under Major Hindmaii, were not gene- 

 rally in action — this was not their fault— Capt. 

 Towson's company was the only one I hat had a 

 full opportunity of distinguishing itself, and it is 

 believed, that no company ever embraced an 

 opportunity with more zeal or more success. 



A detachment from the 2d brigade under l lie 

 command of .Lieut. M'Donald, penetrated the 

 woods with the Indians and volunteers and for 

 tin ir support. The conduct of M'Donald and 

 his command reflects high honor on the hrigade 

 lo w Inch they belong. 



The conduct of Gen. Porter has been conspic- 

 uously gallant. Every assistance in his power 

 lo afford with the description of force under his 

 command, has been rendered. We could not 

 expect him to contend with the British column 

 of regulars which appeared upon the plains of 

 Chippewa. It was no cause of surprise to me, 

 to see his command retire before this column. 



Justice forbids that I should omit tn name my 

 own family. They yield to none in honorable 

 zeal, intelligence, and attention to duty. Colonel 

 Gardner, Major Jones, and my aids, Capts. A"s- 

 lin and Spencer, have hen as active and as de- 

 voted to the cause as any officers of the army. 

 Their conduct merits my warmest acknowledg- 

 ments; nf Gardner and Jones 1 shall have occa< 

 sion again to sp.eak to yon. 



.Major Camp, Deputy Quarter Master General, 



deserves my particular notice and approbation. 

 By his great exertion I have been enabled to 

 find the means of crossing. Daliba of the ord- 

 nance department has rendered every service in 

 his power. 



The enclosed return will shew you our loss 

 and furnish you the names of the dead and 

 wounded officers. These gallant men must not 

 be forgotten. Our country will remember them 

 and do them justice. 



Respectfully and truly vours, 



JACOB BROWN. 



Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary of War. 



British Loss.— Killed, 3 capts., 3 sub., 192 

 rank and file. Wounded and prisoners, 3 capts., 



1 sub., 92 rank and file. Prisoners, 1 capt., 14 

 rank and file. Total, 6 capts., 4 sub., 298 rank 

 and file. (Besides those carried off the field by 

 the enemy.) 



American Loss. — Two sergeants, 4 corporals, 



2 musicians, 52 privates, killed. One colonel, 3 

 captains, 5 subalterns, 8 sergeants, 12 corporals, 

 105 privates, severely wounded. Nine sergeants, 

 2 corporals, 1 musician, 103 privates, slightly 

 wounded. Three officers, 16 non-commissioned 

 officers and privates, missing. Total non-coin- 

 missioned officers, musicians and privates, 3*C. 

 Aggregate, 328. 



One hundred and thirty-seven prisoners, offi- 

 cers and privates, surrendered with Fort Erie, on 

 the 3d July, to a part of Gen. Brown's army. 



From the Albany Cultivator. 

 Subsoil Ploughing. 



Ploughing is one of the most important 

 blanches of agriculture — necessary even to its 

 existence. The improvement of practical agri- 

 culture, is in proportion to the improvement 

 made in the art of ploughing. The principles 

 which chemistry has revealed may be made 

 abortive — their results defective — by improper 

 ploughing. 



The object to be obtained by ploughing, is 

 three-fold : 1st, to pulverize the soil ; 2d, to ex- 

 pose a great depth of soil to the action of the at- 

 mosphere ; 3d, to hold the many fertilizing sub- 

 stances brought down by rain and snow, and ab- 

 sorbed by the soil. [.4n</, Alh, ire add as more 

 important than all, the additional mineral manures 

 of which the most sterile soil is not destitute, ivhich 

 multiplies the active power of production as four lo 

 one for doubling the depth in lands long plough- 

 ed. — Editor Visitor.] 



It becomes necessary to pulverize the soil, so 

 that the roots of plants may extend in all direc- 

 tions, freely and to a great distance. The at- 

 mosphere coming in contact with deep and well 

 pulverized earth, imparts heat and moisture, and, 

 acting upon the soil, assists in liberating its sabs 

 and in bringing it into that condition which is 

 best fitted for the growth of crops. 



A small proportion of water during rains more 

 or less heavy, sinks into the soil when shallow 

 ploughed ; such soil is sooner affected by the 

 drought, and is dry at a greater depth than deep 

 earths, as may be shown by an examination of 

 shallow and deep ploughing in a lime of 

 drought. Common ploughing does not reach 

 sufficiently deep, to accomplish all that is desir- 

 ed ; but deep ploughing and its good results are 

 effected by following ihe common plough with 

 the subsoil plough. It simply loosens |he sub- 

 soil, and leaves it in that state that roois can en- 

 ter it, thai air can permeate it, and water be ab- 

 sorbed by it. A subsequent ploughing, with the 

 common plough, can then easily intermix the 

 surface and subsoil. Ploughing may thus be 

 effected sixteen to twenty inches deep. 



I have found from frequent examinations of 

 ihe roots of corn, wheal and oats, during ihe 

 last four or five years, that ihey are generally in- 

 clined lo grow downwards, some of the roots 



