ATTACK ON SACKETT'S HARBOUR

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Pike was mortally wounded by a stone which was thrown up by the explosion and struck him on the breast.

He was immediately conveyed on board the commo dore's ship, and soon expired. The troops paused a few moments at this unexpected catastrophe, but soon pressed forward and gained possession of the town. The government hall was burned, contrary to the orders of the American general. The British lost 100 killed, and 600 wounded and prisoners. The Americans, 320 killed and wounded. The object of the expedition being attained, the fleet proceeded to Niagara, landed the troops, and returned to Sackett's Harbour.

On embarking for York, General Dearborn had left Sackett's Harbour in rather a defenceless state. It was consequently attacked on the 29th of May, by the combined land and naval forces of the British, under Sir George Prevost and Sir James Yeo. General Brown, of the New York militia, had the chief command at the harbour. He detached Colonel Mills, with the militia and Albany volunteers, to oppose the enemy's landing, On their approach, the militia fired, without orders, and too soon to produce any effect, and then fled. Colonel Mills was slain in attempting to rally them. General Brown succeeded in rallying about 100, and fell upon the enemy's rear. The British advanced towards the village, and encountering Colonel Backus, with the regular troops and a few militia, after a severe action were repulsed and

Describe the death of General Pike-What followed ?-What place haa Dearborn left exposed ?-When was it attacked by Governor Preost-Describe the action.

272

OPERATIONS ON THE NIAGARA FRONTIER.

driven to their boats. Lieutenant Chauncey, who had been ordered to set fire to the store houses and barracks in case of defeat, anticipated that result, and thus caused the loss of the supplies which were essential to the suc cess of the campaign. General Brown, in consequence of his services on this occasion, was appointed a brigadier in the regular army.

While these events were passing at Sackett's Harbour. operations of some importance were taking place at the head of the lake. On the 27th of May, a descent was made upon Fort George, on the British side of the Niagara river, which, after a warm resistance, was taken. On the 28th the garrison at Erie abandoned that fort to the Americans, and concentrated their forces with those of the other British garrisons on the Niagara peninsula, beyond Burlington heights, about 40 miles west of Fort George. Generals Chandler and Winder were detached from Fort George with 1000 men to attack them. They were met and repulsed, with the loss of both these officers captured; and Sir James Yeo, arriving with his fleet. relieved the British, and compelled the Americans to return to their main army, with the loss of most of their artillery and baggage. A detachment of 570 men, under Lieutenant Colonel Boerstler, being sent soon after t attack a body of the enemy at Beaver Dams, was surrounded and captured.

A second expedition, under the command of Colonel Scott, was sent against the British post on Burlington heights, on the 28th of July. The landing took place on the 31st; but on reconnoitering the enemy's works, they were deemed too strong to be attacked with any prospec of success, and the troops were immediately re-embarked. On their return they put into York, burnt the barracks and public stores, and brought off one piece of ordnance and a quantity of flour.

During the time occupied by these operations, the Bri tish had prepared a flotilla, superior to that of the Americans, which enabled them to turn the advantage on Lake Ontario in their own favour. On the 7th of October, Sir James Yeo appeared with his fleet before Fort George, where Commodore Chauncey lay at anchor with his squa dron. He immediately went out, and in a gale which

What was the result?-What fort was taken on the 27th of May ?What was done by the Britism on the 28th ?-Who were sent against them? With what success?-What other disaster took place 1-Wha unsuccessful expedition ?-What was done on the lake?

EXPEDITION AGAINST MONTREAL.

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happened on the night of the 8th, lost two of his schooners. with a greater part of their crews. On the 10th, an action took place, in which two of the American schooners were taken. The fleets then separated, neither party being willing to come to a decisive contest.

Thus terminated the operations of the American forces on Lake Ontario, under the direction of General Dearborn. He was now superseded, and General Wilkinson called from the south to take his place.

General Wilkinson arrived at Sackett's Harbour on the 1st of August; the war department, under the direction of General Armstrong, was removed to that place, and extensive preparations were commenced for a descent on Montreal. The army consisted of 8000 men; but a period of three months elapsed before they were ready to descend the St. Lawrence on the expedition. This enabled the enemy to fortify every important point on the river; and when, on the 5th of November, the flotilla set sail, their progress was disputed so obstinately, that it was found necessary to land a body of troops, under the command of General Brown, who proceeded in advance of the boats, to dislodge the enemy from his posts on the river. The rear division, under General Boyd, encountered a party of equal force at Chrystler's fields, near Williamsburg, on the 10th of November. A spirited action ensued, în which the Americans, with considerable loss, succeeded in driving the British from their position, and enabling the flotilla to pass unmolested.

On the 11th, General Wilkinson, with the main body, arrived at St. Regis, where General Hampton, with an additional force, had been ordered to meet him for the purpose of co-operating in the proposed descent on Montreal. Instead of obeying the order, Hampton sent a communication to his commander, informing him that in consequence of the sickly state of his troops, the want of provisions, &c., he had thought proper to fall back on his main depôt at Plattsburg, for the purpose of keeping open a communication with the St. Lawrence, and thus contri buting to the success of the main object. In consequence of this strange proceeding of General Hampton the expe dition was abandoned, and General Wilkinson's army

Who took Dearborn's place?-What city did he undertake to capture" -How much time was lost in preparation? What was the consequence? -What was found to be necessary ?-What was the result of General Boyd's encounter with the British ?-What was done by General Hamp on? What was the result of the expedition?

274

CRUEL WARFARE ON THE BORDER.

retired to French Mills, and went into winter quarters The disappointment and chagrin of the nation at the failure of this attempt was proportioned to the extensive preparations and the sanguine hopes with which it had been undertaken.

Before restoring his department to its only proper position the capital, the secretary of war, General Armstrong. had issued an order to General M'Clure, commanding at Fort George, to destroy the British town of Newark, situated in its vicinity. This order was punctually complied with on the 10th of December, and about 500 unoffending and innocent people were thus rendered houseless, and compelled in the midst of a Canadian winter to seek shelter from the charity of their friends.

This act, and the burning of York, were most severely retaliated by the British, who, when General M'Clure subsequently retreated, and Fort Niagara was lost, passed over to the American side of the river, burnt Niagara and Lewistown, and laid waste all the other flourishing villages and settlements on the Niagara between the lakes. Indeed these unnecessary acts of aggression on the Canada borderers, were afterwards alleged in justification of every similar proceeding on the part of the enemy.

Although the British were so deeply sensible of the injustice and cruelty of this mode of warfare when practised upon their own people, they had been beforehand with the Americans in its commencement. Having declared a blockade of the ports and harbours on the Chesapeake and Delaware bays, in December, 1812, they extended it on the following May to New York, and all the southern ports. A squadron of four ships of the line, and six frigates, under Admiral Cockburn, arrived in the Chesapeake early in March, and three seventy-fours, and several smaller vessels under Commodore Beresford, arrived in the Delaware about the same time. On the 16th of March, a demand was made on the inhabitants of Lewistown, on the Delaware, for supplies, which was promptly refused. The demand being again made and again refused, the British commenced a bombardment of the town on the 6th of April. They subsequently at tempted to land at two different places on the river, but being met at the water's edge and driven back, they aban

What was done by General M'Clure ?-What was the consequence -What naval armaments were sent out by the British Who bom Larded Lewistown?-Why?

BRITISH RAVAGES ON THE SEA COAST.

275

doned the river, after burning some merchant vessels, and sailed for Bermuda.

Admiral Cockburn pursued a similar system of warfare on the Chesapeake. The plantations, farms, and gentlemen's seats on the shore were plundered. The villages of Frenchtown, Havre de Grace, Fredericktown, and Georgetown were plundered and burnt; and Norfolk and the villages in its immediate neighbourhood were only saved from destruction by the spirited resistance of the inhabitants, assisted by some marines and sailors from the Constellation frigate and a few gun-boats in the harbour, who manned a battery on Craney Island, sunk several of the British barges, and drove the remainder back to their ships.

The village of Hampton, 18 miles from Norfolk, was defended by about 450 militia, against a British flotilla, with bombs and rockets, commanded by Admiral Cock burn; but Sir Sidney Beckwith coming to the assistance of the admiral, with 2000 men,succeeded in capturing the place, which was forthwith abandoned to the soldiery, who perpetrated outrages on the inhabitants, which would have disgraced the darkest ages of barbarism.

After this great victory and triumph, Admiral Cockburn sailed with his squadron up the Potomac, to within 70 miles of Washington; but finding the fortifications on the river in a good state of defence, he retired. He next proceeded up the bay, and threatened Annapolis and Baltimore; but not deeming it prudent to attack those places, he proceeded to the south, pursuing his system of plunder and devastation on the coast of the Carolinas and Georgia.

These outrages, which were intended to render the war unpopular with the Americans, had a directly con trary effect, infusing new spirit and energy into their subsequent operations, and giving a tone to the public feeling, which was the only requisite hitherto wanting towards the successful conduct of the war.

The blockade of the northern ports fell into better hands. Commodore Hardy, who commanded the squa dron which blockaded New London, and held the frigates United States and Macedonian in a state of inaction there during the latter period of the war, conducted his opera

What was done by Admiral Cockburn ?-What saved Norfolk What was done at Hampton?--What were Cockburn's next, exploits?— What was the effect of these outrages --What is said of Commodore Hardy?