.V'^ "<^ A ,V »bv" vV, •^'^ ^o^ A^ .'X ^. ^0• 0° "■■ °o •^^0^ ^oV^ 4 o^ , <^4^^' • .vO v% ,0- r - '.:.^^;- ^, ^ X -.^fl^:- ^,«' -^ -i^ '^^ 0^ ° <^ ^o .-iq^ >C o * .^>:^*'. <>. "°o aV . /z^, X ^'~ ;:^aJ^^^ ,v^"^ ^^/ o N^-'V ,-10, <^, -% •^..0^ F-- ^<,''^% .v-^. .0 ,^^ .mm.' .^^ A o,v -X. >^.^g%\F/ ^^V V^_ V ^K o > 0^ ^0 oV ^-0^ A o. ^oV^ Fold-out Placeholder This fold-out is being digitized, and will be inserted at a future date. i^ ii Fold-out Placeholder lis fold-out IS being digitized, and will be inserted at a future date. EXPLANATION OF SKETCH OF ACTION OF THE 25th JULY, 1814, Enclosed in Sir George Prevost's despatch, No. IHS, to Lord Batlinrst, dated at Montreal, 5th August, ISll : FIRST POSITION. a — Incorporated lailitia, coiiimanded by Lieut. Col. Koliinsoii. b — Detachment of the King's, commanded by Capt. Campbell. c — Two troops of the 19th Dragoons, which retired to d — on a and .') being ordered to retire. e 89th, which arrived on the ground as the action commenced, with its left thrown back. f A detachment of the Royal Scots, commanded by Capt. Brereton, ^^■hich was moved in the first instance to 7i — and afterwards to n. — fj (llengarry regiment, which, after skirmishing with the enemy's ailvance, took its station on the right of the line, and finding the enemy wei-e advancing directly in front, were ordered to A;— from whence, in junction with the eml^odied Militia and a few Indians, wlien tlie enemy were driven back, the Glengarry regiment advanced to h — from v.hieh it retired to its final position at O. — J— Embodied militia under Lieut. Col. Parry, who advanced to •>?i— after assisting to drive the enemy (who had advanced through the wood) directly in front of our position. They then retired to kk. SECOND POSITION. oa— Light company of the 41st, which arrived early in the action. 1)1, S9th regiment, which has changed its position on the Incorpoiatcil Militia and detachment of the Kings regiment lieing ordered to retire from a, h, L\ ii. CC-— Incorporated Militia and detachment of the King's regiment, which liad retired from a, h, and 7, to a. ilfl Left wing of the 103rd regiment, which, with the troops under Col. Scott, arrived as the troops were changing from the 1st to 2nd position. ee— Right wing of 103rd regiment. // — Royal Scots regiment. yf^_(;t.enadiers of the 103rd regiment, and flank companies of the l()4tli, whicii after- wards advanced to /i/i.— il — King's regiment. M-— Indians and endjodied ]\Iilitia, who had retiretl from m. A — American artillery. AA — American columns advancing to the attack. B — British field pieces. C— The church. THE BAHLE OF LUNDY'S LANE 25th JULY, 1814. A HISTORICAL STUDY BY ERNEST CRUIKSHANK, CAPTAIN, 44TH BATTALION. THIRD EDITION. WELLAXl); rRIXTF.D AT TIIK TBllUXK OFKUK. 11 Cf NOTE TO THE THIRD EDITION. The very ,:i;ratifying receplion accorded to previous editions of this pamphlet, which are now exhausted, has induced the Lundy's Lane Histori- cal Society to undertake the publication of a third, which has been carefully revised by the author. Fori Erie, i8th December, 1893. PC; Author. THE BATTLE OF LUNDY'S LANE. The month of December, 1813, was marked l>y the retirement of the American troops from their lines at Fort George, which they had occupied since the preceding May, under circumstances which tended to cover their arms with disgrace. Under the pretext tliat it was necessary to deprive their adversaries of shelter upon that fron- tier, the remaining inhaljitants of Niagara were driven from their homes and the entire village committed to the flames. With the same intention Queenston was deliberately bombarded with red-hot shot from the batteries at Lewiston. Many isolated farm houses were destroyed by marauding parties of soldiers, or, when they proved too substantial for instant demolition, were rendered uninhab- itable l)y removal of the doors and windows. The few cattle still remaining in the possession of the country people were mercilessly slaughtered or driven away, and their grain and flour removed or destroyed. On the 10th of "^ December, General McClure wrote exult- ingly from Fort Niagara to Governor Tompkins of New York : "The village is now in flames and the enemy shut out of hope and means of wintering in Fort George. This step has not been resolved on without counsel," he added, "and is in conformity ^yith the views of the Secretary of War, made known to me in previous connnunica- tions." This, however, was strenuously denied by the latter. " My orders," he asserted, "were to burn it if necessary to the defense of Fort George, and not otherwise. But he does not defend Fort George, and then burns Niagara. My orders were given on the report of the General that the attack of Fort George might he covered by Newark." Almost before the ink ^^'as dry on McClure's letter the flames of Niagara had become the signal for the rapid advance of a small British corps of observation, under Colonel John Murray, which lay at Twelve Mile Creek. Putting his men in sleighs, the British com- mander hurried forward through a Ijlinding snowstorm, and fell ujx)!! the incendiaries before their work of destructimpleted. The village of Niagara had been already reduced to ashes, but the barracks and defences of Fort George were left comparatively unni- jured, and the retreating garrison left the whole of then- tents stand- nio- in the works they had so precipitately abandoned. The recovery of ''the left bank of the Niagara by the British was followed by the suri)risc ut' Fort Niuyara uiid the capture of the American batteries at Lewiston aiul Schlosser, and, finally, by the occupation of Buffalo, after a hard -fought action near Black Rock. Before the end of the month the Americans weiv driven from every defensive position upon their (»wn bank of the stream, severe and stern retaliation had been exacted for their ravages upon the Canadian settlements, nearly every habitable building between Buffalo and Eighteen Mile Creek on Lake Ontario being laid in ruins, and the terrified inhaliitants had fled beyond the Genessee. These successes put the small British force employed in possession of an ample and sorely needed supply- of pro- visions, ammunition, and military stores of various kinds, Ijesides fui-nishing them with comfortable winter quarters. Hitherto the men had been unprovided with winter clothing of any description, and they were still without a field-train, artificers, engineers, or regu- larly organized commissariat. During the preceding campaign, quan- tities of ammunition had Iteen spoiled by being conveyed with the army, in ordinary- open farm wagons, for lack of regular tumljrils. ^ Di-ummond at once jfrojected the reduction of Detroit and the des- truction of the American squadron on Lake Erie, then Ijang at Put- in-Bay.- He pushed his outposts forward to the forks of the Thames, and his scouts penetrated to the boi-ders of Lake St. Clair, and even ventured to cross into Michigan, where they captured the arms of a company of militia.^ The departure of the proposed expedition was delayed by the mildness of the weather, which kept the roads impas- sable until March.* By that time the garrison of Detroit had lieen heavily reinforced, several thousand militia were collected at Put-in- Bay foi- the defence of the ships, and the energetic Governor of New York had been enal>led to gather a large force of State troops at Bata\ ia. 'I'lie British General a\;is at the same time obliged to proceed to York to open the annual se.s.sion of the Legislature of Upper Canada, for he united the functions of administrator of the civil government with those of connnander of the forces, and during his absence the Alneri- cans began to contemplate the recovery of Fort Niagara. With this view three thousand regular troops were rapidly moved across the State of New Yoi'k from Sackett's Harbor to the encanq^ment at Batavia.'' It had been ascei'tained from desertei-s that gi-eat discon- tent existed in the battalion (»f the Nth oi' King's regiment, which gan-isoned that post, and that the same cause wliich had prevented the advance of an expedition against Detroit luid delayed the rein- foi-cement of the di\ision gmirding tlic Ni;igarn by ti-oo]^s fi-om Lowt-r Canada, hi fact J)i-uiiiiiimii(| had Immmi uMigcd to weaken it by sen. 7(i2. ing a (letachineut of tlie Newfoundland iv^'init'iit and avtillL-ry to relieve Mackinac, and withdrawing the battalion of the 41st IVoni York for the defence of Kingston.^ The number of desertions from the garrison of Fort Niagara had become so great anniiijinoiid to Prevost, l\\>. I. 9 body of troops from Sackett's Harbor in that direction was ahiiost immediately revealed to the connnanilant at lvinu;ston In' deserters, and General Riall was placed on his (^uard. Severe cold weather, accompanied by heavy falls of snow dnrino- the latter part of March, ilelayed the progress of defensive works ah-eady connnenced by the British, and early in April General Riall sallied out from Fort Niaf(- ara and levelled with the ground the earthworks which had been erected by the Americans the previous year along the right bank of the river from its mouth to Lewiston, fearing that they might V»e occupied by his adversaries.^ A deserter, who came in a few days later, reported that seven thousand soldiers were already assend)led near Buffalo. The difficulties of the situation daily increased, and the prospect for the future liecame more discoui-aging. A great council of the Indians of Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, was convened by American agents at Dayton, and those present were informed that the}' must take up arms against the British or be treated as enemies of the United States. Each warrior was promised a sti])end of se^•enty-five cents a day, and their wives and children woidd be re- tained as hostages. The Delawares, . Senecas, Shawanees, and Wyandots joined in the war dance and were directed to assendjle at Detroit.- Similar steps were taken to enlist the tribes of New York and Pennsylvania in the movement against Canada. ^Marauding parties from Detroit made frequent inroads into the Western District, carrying off the loyal inhabitants and destroying the settlements at Delaware and Point aux Pins. In the middle of May, eight hundred Americans conveyed in six ships of war made a descent upon Port Dover, and burned the entire village, turning the inhabitants out of doors in the midst of a chilling storm of rain and sleet.'* They then proceeded up the lake, destroying the mills near the coast, with the grain collected for grinding, as they went. At the same time it l)e- came known that another squadron of eight sail, filled with troops, had passed into Lake Huron with the intention of attacking Mackinac, the only post yet retained by the British in the west. The available store of grain and fiour was much diminished by these incursion.s. Fresh meat was not to be had. The Indians daily consumed twice as much flour as the whole of the troops."* In the small garrison of Fort Erie alone, not much exceeding one hundred persons, no less than sixty-nine cases of ague were reported in a single week. The Provincial Dragoons had become almost unfit for service from the miserable condition of their ill-fed and overworked horses. If Com- modore Chauncey should succeed in getting out upon the lake with the formidable frigate he had recently launched at Sackett's Harl)or, 1. Dnimmond to Prevost, Maich 31, April 13 ; 2. Hildreth's History, f. S. ; 3. Pittstxirj? Mercury ; 4. Druinniond to Prevost, April 20. 10 tilt.' AiiiL-ricans wtaiM cjlitain as undisputed control of Lake Ontario as they alri'aark('(l under cover of the guns of a brig of war and two scliooners. without the slightest t)pposition, in two divisions, one 1. Letter to Lord Bafhurbt, March 20,1814, 2. Niles' Register, 1M4 ; Royals, 780 ; 8th, 500; 41st, .■;iHi ; .\ililler,v, Iflli ; lirairoons, KHI ; Colored Oonipanv, 100. r- 15 above and the other a short ilistance l.clow Kort Krii-, at daylirrak on the 8r(l July. Tlunr movements wrvr veiled l.y a hea\y fi);^-. and a picket of the lOth Dra^-oons had hiU-ely time to esca|)e. The regular force of the invading army coiisiste .sso Porters Brigade • '10 ^ ^ 162.— Doty Hist., Livingstone County. 16 a camp correctly, and tulping there or going farther. Boats nniy follow and feey liis pursuers, wlu) encamped for the nig-ht within sioht of tiie British tielandon his position upon the left bank of the Chippawa in consecjuence of a turning movement directed against his right fiank. The redoul:)t at Queenston was likewise evacuated, and he leisurely retired upon Fort George. He had already been deserted by nearly the whole of his Indians, and b}^ many of the militia, who were alarmed for safetj' of their families.* They were directed to collect theii- cattle and re-assend>le at Burlington, Avhich most of them suc- ceeart (;f their militia under Colonel Stone, that Major McFarland, who 23 was sent to cover tlieir retreat, (lee]ai-e(l tliat he wouM have rt'sio-iird his couiinission if tlie connnandiiig Dtheer had not hccii disiiiiss('(l troiii the service. Having been joined hy several companies ol" the ( dengarry J-.ight Infantr}' from York, under the ever-active Fitzgibbon, Riall ad- vanced the same day to Ten Mile Creek with his left wing, composed of militia and Indians, extending as far as DeCew's Falls, and men- acing the rear of the American position by way of Lmuly's Lan(\ The entire male population immediately flew to arms, and join»Ml liim, actuated by a spirit of intense hostility towards the invaders. His scouts found their way into St. Davids, Queenston, and even Chippawa, harassing the enemy's pickets, and picking up stragglers. His appre- hensions were, however, at the same time, aroused by mysterious negotiations on the part of his Indians with their kinsmen in the American service, and a raid from Detroit upon the defenceless settle- ment at Port Talbot, which was ruthlessly destroyed, compellecl him to detach the Oxford battalion of militia and some Indians in tiiat direction, as a precautionary measure.^ On the 20tli, leaving ab(jut 300 men in possession of the abandoned redoulit on Queenst(jn Heights, Brown advanced with the remainder of his army within two miles of Fort George, where he encamped and l^egan to collect materials for siege batteries. He appeared t(j liave entertained tlu- hope that by his movement, the British commander might be huluced to hazard another engagement with inferior numbers to relieve the garrison. Two da3^s later Riall succeeded in concentrating in advance of Twelve Mile Creek 1,700 regular troops, including tlie Glengarry Light Infantry and Incorporated Militia, 700 Lincoln :\Iilitia,and an equal mnnber of Indians, in readiness to pounce upon the flank and rear of his adversary should he attempt the actual investment of the forts. Fort George was then garrisoned by 400 of the Royal Scots and 2G0 of the 100th, Fort Missassauga by 290 of the Sth, a company of negro volunteers, and a few artillerymen and artificers, making an aggregate of 400 persons, while Fort Niagara was o/ of supplies, he argued, would seriously jeopardize the position of the invaders, while he explicitly stated that he did not wish to risk an engagement upon the left bank of the river until tlie remainder of his reinforcements came up, when he conHdently ex- pected to finish the campaign at a blow.^ Riall, too, a it s'.ood in the return of the »»th .July. The American returns cited are misleadinj; in this way, that " present for duty " actually means " present under arms," omittin}; all jruards, pickets, escorts, workinjr parties — frequently one third of the strength- and the "air^rejrate present and absent " includes sick men, those on connnand, etc. However, the following' re- turn, exhumed by him, is not without value : Strength of 1st Brigade, Fort Erie, 31st July, lsl4. Present for Du'y. .\<^j^rejrate , ■ ■ ^ Present and X. C. O. and men. Officers. Absent. 0th 139 S 5C9 11th 21)3 11 624 22nd 21S W 40S 2.5th -Im 7 67ii General Staff 4 4 905 40 22S1 2nd Brii^ade. 1st 141 ^20 21st 441 20 S49 23rd .- . 202 12 713 General Staff 4 4 874 42 178(5 .Monthly return of troops under (.ien. Brown, Fort Erie, 31st July, 1814. Bfinibardiers, etc .'p8 2 09 Lillfht Urajioons 47 1 ()4 Artillery Coiiis ... 241 12 364 First Bri;,'ade Oou 4o 2281 Second liri'.'ade 874 42 178G 212.') 07 4.")(j4 It i- quite )ir(-iiosterons to sujipose that (Jen. Brown would have affirmed his ability to march in any direction fiver the comiiry and to can<|uer I'pper Canada within two months if he had only 2,(ioo men at his >'onni)und. His :/.>gun to feel tlie efl'ects of the artillery fire when this regiment gave wa}', and before it could be rallied by its ofiicers, had retired a considerable distance in much disorder.^ The 23rd advanced with admirable firm- ness and lost heavily. Its commander was killed and the line began to waver, but order was soon restored by the eflbrts of General Ri]»ley. who directed its movements in person after the fall of Major McFar- land.* Miller's approach on the opposite flank was screened from the view of the gunners by the church and an almost continuous line of thickets fringing both sides of a shallow ravine.^ Within twenty yards of the guns a stout log-fence, skirted with shrubbery and small trees, crossed their path and furnished convenient cover. Up to this point their advance had been unobserved by the artillerymen, whose attention was rivetted upon the batteries below. Halting tliere for a moment, they fired a single efiective volley, and, I'ushing forwarrl, gained the summit, but with heavy loss.*^ Lieut. Cilley, who led the charge, cut down an artilleryman as he entered the battery and the next moment fell desperately' wounded by his side. A few gunners still clung desperately to tlieir pieces and were bayonetted while stri\ing to reload, and the battery, which had been worked so efiect- ively against them, was in their possession. Both the 24-pounders and one of Captain ]\Iackonochie's ()-poundei's, whieli had since been Itrought up to their assistance, were taken. Lieut. Tomkins and a few of his men were also captured and temporarily confined in the church, whence most of them soon succeeded in making their escape." 1. Kniiiinionrl to Prevost, .Inly i'. 2. Kipley, otfioial return, li. Brown to Aniistroiisr 4 Ibid. ',. .Iiu-ol)s' Life of 1*. Oa^is. fi. Lieiif. Bi^elow was killer! and ('ai)t. I'.iirhank, I.ieuts. Cilley and Kisk and KnHi;;nH .loTies, Thomas and t'anip were wounded in takinir the !.'uns - .1 L. Thoiniison 7. Lossing, Itruinniriiid, Browne, Kn^land's Artillerymen ; Letter in Alexandria Herald. 37 Nearly at the same instant Ripley came up with the 28r(l, and the 1st, having re-formed, advanctMl to their support. Ripley's entire brigade was thus massed on a very narrow front, on the south side of Lundy's Lane, between the church and the Queenston road. Sc(jtt's brigade, with the exception of the 25th Infantry, was rapidly brought forward and took post on their left, while Porter's volunteers distantly engaged the flank companies of the 104th, and the wing of the Royals.^- Miller's movement had been at once so rapid, unexpected and successful, that the British guns were in his possession before the infantry in rear had time to advanc*^ for their protection. These detachments then hastily advanced to recover them, but after a very severe contest were repelled with heavy loss. At short range the cartridges of the Americans, containing in addition to the ordinary bullets three large buck-shot, were particularly eflective. Lieutenant Fraser, on whom the command of the Royals in this part of the field had devolved, was wounded, and the survivors of his detachment rallied around the colors of the 89th. The 103rd being ordered to advance, marched in the darkness directly into the centre of the enemy's new position, and were first made aware of its mistake by a crushing volley, which threw them into great disorder.'^ While this struggle was in progress for the possession of the hill, the American artillery limbered up and advanced to take up a new position upon the summit. In the attempt they met with sudden and unforseen disaster. While their howitzer was ascending the slope at a gallop, a volley of musketry brought nearly all the drivers at once to the ground, and the horses, missing their riders and left without guidance, plunged frantically forward into the opposing ranks, where they were soon secured.^ Several of their caissons were blown up at diflerent times by congreve rockets, and some of their pieces silenced for want of ammunition. Many horses were also killed or disabled wliile manoeuvring. The remainder of the British artillery was at the same time brought forwai-d until the muzzles of the guns were only a few yards asunder, and the battle thenceforward became a confused, ferocious, and sanguinary struggle, waged frequently at the bayonet's point, or with clul:)bed muskets, the British striving desperately to regain the ground they had lost, and their opponents to thrust them down into the hollow beyond, and drive them from the field. Regiments, com- panies, and sections were broken up and mingled together. They re- tired, rallied, and were led to the charge again. For two hours the contending lines were scarcely ever more than twenty yards apart, and by the light of each successive volley of nnisketiy they could 1 .Miller's letter to his wife, .Inly -JS - .T. L. Thompson, Hist. Late War. 2. James, .Mil. Oc2. 3. Let- ter of E. L. Allen, -ilst U.S.I. , in I'ittsfield (Mass.) Sun. 38 plainly distinguish the faces of tlieir antagonists, and even the buttons (_)n their coats. From time to time even the voices of the officers could be distinctly heard in the opposing lines. General Drumniond shouted to his men, "Stick to them, my tine fellows." An American officer responded b}' giving an order to "Level low and tire at their flashes," in stentorian tones.^ It is scarcely possible to present a con- secutive narrative of the closing hours of the strife. For upwards of an hour the combatants faced each other at a distance of not more than sixty or seventy feet, loading and firing with as much delibera- tion, one of them wrote, "as if it had been a sham battle." Fi'om time to time there was a sudden rush forward, and the lines swayed slowly backwards and forwards over the ground, which was now thickly strewn with the bodies of their fallen comrades. It is asserted by the Americans that they three times repelled the attempts of their adversaries to regain their lost position.- In one of these, we learn that the 103rd, being largeh' a boy-regiment and this its first experi- ence of battle, again gave way, and was only rallied b}' the strenuous exertions of Major Smelt and other officers.'^ In another, the assail- ants forced their way into Major's Hindman's battery and compelled him to spike two of his guns.* In the short interval between these attacks, Generals Brown and Scott consulted together, and, in conse- (juence, Scott's brigade was moved into a narrow road or lane a short distance south of Lundy's Lane, where it deployed and took post in line immediately in front of their artillery, which was now rendered nearly useless by the very proximity of the contending forces. Upon the repulse of the second attack, Scott formed his regiments. into close column, left in front, and hoping to profit ly^ the disorder in the British ranks, led them to the charge in turn. The 89th, kneeling to receive them in a held of grain, reserved its tire, by Drunnnond's com- mand, until its assailants were within twenty paces, when a volley was delivered with such fatal effect that they recoiled in confusion to the rear, vigorously pursued at the point of the bayonet.'' Their place in the line was at once occupied by a portion of General Porter's bri- gade, and Colonel LeaveuAvorth rallied and reformed the broken pla- toons upon the left of their former position. Having changed front, they were again led forwai'd by their indomitable commander, who had already had tw(j horses kilk'd under him, in an effort to force back the British right. Again repelled with heavy loss, they were again i-allied, this time on the extreme left of the line.** General Scott was himself wounde. .1. L. Thomson.' 39 Jesup and McNeil, and liis Brioaclo-lMnjor, Smith, had also ])een dis- abled. The nth and the 22nd United States Infantry went entirely to pieces, and the 9th alone preserved its formation, kept t(j^fther ))y the exertions of Leavenworth, its colonel, who was likewise wcjun(Jeer Canada, to the \ork M'^'a «? l^presentathesof-the Incorvn-vated .Militia, in recojrnition of their services dnr.n^r the war. inscnbed with the word "Xiajrara," by direction of King George H. 42 was almost ainiihilated, yet the official return only admitted a loss of a little more than five hundred men, or about one-third of" its effect- ive force.^ Major Foster testified that but fifteen or twenty of the 11th escaped unhurt."- Major Hindman relates that of Tappan's Compan}' of the 23rd, U. S. I., numbering forty-five rank and file when it went into action, only nine answered to their names at roll- call next morning, and estimated that not more than 1,500 men of the entire division could then be mustered.^ I have already referred to the loss of Towson's artiller}^ At one of Captain Ritchie's guns every man is said to have been disabled, at another all but two, and yet the entire loss of the whole of the artillery was returned at forty- six of all ranks> Detachments of the 2nd Rifles and 17th and 19th Infantrj^ are known to have been engaged ; one officer belonging to the former and two of the latter corj^s were certainly wounded, but no statement whatever of their loss is to be found in the official re- port. Finally, Major Herkimer and thirteen other officers of the volunteer lirigade, in an open letter published in several news])apers, flatly accused General Brown of falsifying the returns and of under- stating the loss of their regiments.* Mr. Hildreth states that the American army was reduced by their losses to sixteen hundred eflective men. If this were true it would indicate a loss from casualties and desertion of more than two thou- sand.^ A very correct and circumstantial account of the action by an eye-witness, ])ublished in Foulson's Ariierican, estimated their loss in killed and wounded at twelve hundred. Another letter, dated at Fort Erie, August 1st, remarks: "Many of our men secreted themselves in the woods, and were not collected till within a few days." As they were not vigorously pursued it is probable that most of these strag- glers rejoined their regiments. On the part of the British, the Ijattalions which bore the brunt of the action were the Royal Scots and the 89th, and their losses were correspondingly severe. Of about 500 men of the former regi- ment who went into action, 172 were reported killed, wounded, or missing, while the 89th lost not less than 254 out of an aggregate of 400 of all ranks. Of the provincial corps the Incorporated Militia sufiered most, losing 142 officei's and men, of whom not less than 92 were missing, out of about 300 engaged: the Glengarr}" Light Infantry lost 57: the 104th flank companies, (i: the Lincoln Militia, 13; the 1. I.ieiit. J. B. Vaniuiu. 2. Riiiley. In a letter in the Northern fJenti'nfl, dated 10th Augfust, 1S14, an officer of the lltli stated that his company numbered :ii) on the mornin'.,' of the 2nth, but only 13 were present at roll call next day, and but one man of hi.-j own platoon. Col. Miller, in a letter to his wife of the 281 b July, (jirinted in the report of the Adjutant General of New Hampshire, for 1S13S) states the loss of his retfinient (the -ilst) at 12U of all ranks, vet in the otticial return it was stated to be only 104. 3. E. L. Allen. 4 Hist. I'. S. ."■.. otticial return (Can. Aroh.) • " The company (Stone's) entered the service 162 stronj,', and when nnistered out numbered only 48 men. The others had either been killed in battle, died of wounds or camp disease, or been taken prisoners. Hut very few had deserted."— Doty History of Liviiij^'stone County, X. V., p. 322. 43 Second York, 9; the Provincial Dragoons, 8.t Many of the wovnuh-il, being sliglitly injured by buckshot, were .soon able to do duty again, and a nund)er of the missing rejoined their regiments in a few days.' Next morning General Ripley again cr()ssee easily taken by assault, but is incapable of holding out agairjst a bombardment. GEN. DRUMMONI^S JICHEME OF DEFENCE. .Maj.-Cien. Riall to Lieut^-iGbn. Drunnnond, Fort George, 10th .Nbuch, "1814— Abstract:— Desires instructions in case of an attack, as both flanks are assailable. Fears that the Americans will land at Long Point, and by 45 advancino- along the western road, get into his rear. 'J'here is a very small dispo8al)le force on this frontier, not ade(iuate foi- its defence in front and to meet the probable movement in Hank, and unless he re- ceives a good reinforcement his position will be extreme!}' ci'itical. Lieut.-Gen. Drunnuond to Maj.-CJen. Riall, Kingston, March 23: — Thinks it highly probable that in connection with the siege of Fort Niagara the Americans Mall invade the district by the western road, and may land a force at Long Point or Point Abino. In such case he would be obliged to concentrate his whole force at Burlington or Ancaster, leaving the garrisons of Forts Niagara and George t() themselves. He anticij)ates that General Harrison will be in com- mand, and in case he (Riall) obtains previous information, in spite of his known caution, hopes that Harrison may givci him an opportunity to defeat and destroy a considerable part of his force. Wishes him to understand that the abandonment of an advanced position is only advised in case of an advance in force from the west for pui'poses (jf concentration. In case of small parties advancing from the Avestward, he is to send small parties from Burlington to take a position at Burford or Ancaster, and dispute the passage of the Grand River, on which the detachments from Long Point and Oxford may fall back. The natural disposition of the forces would be to keep them con- centrated in a central position in readiness to act on either ilank, Ijut the experience of the last two 3'ears shows that such force may be distributed along the frontier without an}' great risk, and all posts from Fort George to Erie should be occupied. That at Fort Erie should consist of a strong company of infantry- and a party of artillery sufficient to man the 24-pounder in the southern demi-bastion, and may give employment to an invading force for a few days, or act in their rear. Chip]:)awa to l)e strongly occupied, and a detachment posted betAveen Chippawa and Fort Erie, say at Frenchman's Creek, and a rapid movement made to support the detachment on the right in case of a landing being made above Chippawa. Fort Niagara to be strongly occupied by 500 or 600 men, who may occupy ten times their nund^er. I will reinforce your division by the 103rd, upwards of 700 strong, as soon as navigation opens. The occupation of Fort George is essential to the defence of Fort Niagara, and the construc- tion of a battery of a few heavy guns so mounted as to bear on the esplanade of Fort Niagara. In case of a concentration at Burlington a small detachment to be left in Fort George, which would in turn be protected hy F(jrt Niagara, which commands it. A battery at Missassauga Point (the flagstaft') is highly necessary, and an enclosure at Queenston, if time permits. APPENDIX NO. 2. OFFKIAL RETURN OF THE LOSS OF BRITISH TROOPS IX ACTION OF JULY 2oTH, 18U. Staff — 1 killed, 5 wounded, 1 missing. 19th Dragoons — 2 rank and tile wounded, 1 rank and file missing. Provincial Light Dragoons — 2 rank and file w^ounded, 1 captain missing. Royal Engineers — 1 subaltern missing. Royal Artillery — 4 rank and file killed; 1 captain, 12 rank and file wovmded, 7 privates missing. Royal Marine Artillery — 3 rank and file wounded, 2 rank and file missing. 1st Royal Scots — 1 subaltern, 15 privates killed: 3 ofiicers, 112 N.C.O. and privates w^ounded : 2 officers, 39 N.C.O. and men missing. 8th Kings— 12 N.C.O. and men killed: 3 officers, 57 N.C.O. and men wounded: 1 officer, 12 N.C.O. and men missing. 41st — 3 privates killed, 34 N.C.O. and men wounded. S9th— 2 officers, 27 N.C.O. and men killed; 11 officers, 177 N.C. O. and men wounded ; 37 N.C.O. and men missing. 103rd — 6 privates killed; 1 officer, 46 N.C.O. and men wounded: 3 officers, 4 N.C.O. and men missing. 104th — 1 private killed, 5 privates missing. (Jlengarry Light Lifantry — 4 jnivates killed: 1 officer, 30 N.C.O. and men wounded : 1 officer, 21 N.C.O. and men missing. Incorporated Militia — 1 officer, 6 men killed; 4 officers, 39 N.C. O. and men wounded : 75 N.C.O. and men missing; 3 officers, 14 men prisoners. 1st Lincoln Militia — 1 private killed. 2nd Lincoln Militia — 1 private wounded. 4th Lincoln Militia — 2 tjfficers, 3 men wounded ; 2 officers missing. 5th Lincoln Militia — 1 officer, 3 men wounded. 2nd York — 3 officers, (i men wounded. (iFFK lAL KETl'liN OF LOSS OF UNITED STATES TROOPS. Genei-al Stafi' — 2 wounded. Light Dragoons — 1 corporal killed, 2 privates wounded. AitiU.-ry— 1 officer, 9 N.C.O. and men killed; 3 officers, 32 N.C. (). and men woundeVe ' %,^^ ' Z^: X/' .•,^%' \ V ^ •I o *$- V , >-0 ,^ .0' .V r o " " * <^. 0^ .^"^''^o *0 V* -^ '^^ \o^ \.'*?#^V^ '^/^^-'.o- ,0 ^ , . „ ^-' ,0' *v':/;^.''. ^ O > .'^■' ■» o fe,' ^ P:-' 0^° -, *1 O^ 'V- ^^--^^ **>^^^* ^^■• ^^ •.^•" ./"v. °.%p.- y-\ -. 7 .,.^-^-^. if *«r BINOINa