THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 4 1 



with the command. In consequence of your order given immediately 

 after my arrival on 8th June, I embarked in company with Sir James 

 L. Yeo and proceeded for the squadron, then lying off the mouth of 

 Burlington Bay, which on our reaching was ordered by signal to 

 weigh and stand for the Forty-mile Creek. A steady breeze soon 

 enabled us to gain and come to an anchor close in with the enemy's 

 position, with which we had a brush (on passing in the morning). 

 By the excellent arrangements of the Commodore, the whole of my 

 detachment, composed of about 220 of the King's, was on shore and 

 in possession of the enemy's encampment at half-past seven p. m., 

 little more than three hours after receiving my instructions. Lieut. - 

 Colonel Dennis, with the detachment ordered on by land, joined me 

 soon after, and the Indians quickly followed. The enemy's flight 

 and terror is best evidenced by the precipitate manner in which he 

 abandoned everything which was valuable or could be called to con- 

 stitute his equipment for field operations. Aware from the nature 

 of the country that a further co-operation of the naval force could 

 not be expected, I lost no time in taking measures for a close 

 pursuit by the Indians, detaching Lieut.-Colonel Dennis with the 

 Grenadiers of the 49th and part of a company of the 41st to the 

 Twenty, with directions for that officer to push his dragoons and 

 Indians just to the skirts of Fort George. These movements, though 

 not coming up to my expectations, by the capture of the enemy's 

 cannon, were otherwise productive of the most beneficial results. 

 Many prisoners were taken, the spirit of the loyal part of the country 

 aroused, the little remaining baggage of the enemy destroyed, his 

 panic increased and confirmed, and what is of the utmost con- 

 sequence, certain information received of all his movements. On 

 the evening of the 9th the enemy set fire to and abandoned Fort 

 Erie, withdrew his forces from Fort Chippawa and Queenston, con- 

 centrating them at Fort George, and hastily began throwing up field 

 works, either there to defend himself or cross the river by means of 

 boats, which he holds in a constant state of readiness according to 

 circumstances. Yesterday I had information of the militia having 

 taken a depot of arms in the neighborhood of Queenston, and in the 

 evening had actually possessed themselves of the town. 



I have everything to say in praise of the good conduct of my 

 men and officers, but have most particularly to remark the zeal. 



