Colonel Miller was asked if he could carry the height and seize the cannon. He calmly surveyed the position, and replied "I will try!" This afterwards became the motto of his regiment. The height was carried in most gallant style. The fighting continued upon the right, the enemy being every where else driven back. General Riall, the second officer in command of the British army, was captured. At length, the enemy having received reinforcements, attempted to regain their position, but were thrice repulsed. Generals Brown and Scott, being both severely wounded, the command of the Americans devolved on General Ripley, under whose direction they returned to camp. General Brown ordered General Ripley to prepare the army to march out at dawn on the next day to give battle, feeling secure of victory. But the order was not executed. The battle of Niagara, as this day's contest was termed, was one of the most obstinate engagements ever fought. It raged for several hours, the troops having no other light to direct their movements but the vivid flashes of their artillery and musketry. Many instances of individual heroism were displayed, but here, as at Chippewa, General Winfield

Scott was most conspicuous. The enemy, superior in numbers and commanded by Drummond and Riall, officers possessing skill and experience, were driven from their positions. Their loss in killed, wounded and prisoners was upwards of 1000 men. The loss on the American side was somewhat less, but included many valuable officers. Generals Brown and Scott were compelled to retire from the service for a time, in consequence of severe wounds.

On the 2d of it continued irFrom this date. General Gaines On the morning

The next scene of action was at Fort Erie, whither General Ripley, with the main army, retired. Before the position had been well secured, General Drummond, with 4500 regular British troops, appeared before it; and although the American general had not half that number of men, cautiously commenced the regular formalities of a siege. The Americans threw up breastworks, and strengthened their position. August, the British commenced their cannonade; but as regular, the Americans did not return it until the 7th. till the 15th, the firing was incessant and tremendous. now arrived, and took command of the American forces. of the 15th, the British advanced to the assault in three columns. The Americans received them with a tremendous fire, and checked their progress. The conflict at the three points was obstinate and bloody. The assailants gained possession of a bastion of old Fort Erie, but the explosion of some ammunition forced them to retire, and soon after, the whole British force was driven off, leaving on the field 222 killed, 174 wounded,

and 186 prisoners. The slightly wounded were carried off, while a large number of killed were allowed to float down Niagara. The loss of the Americans did not exceed 100 men.

The British general was now compelled to wait for reinforcements, before attempting any further offensive operations. In the meantime, the Americans, confident from success, strengthened their position. Four days after the battle, the enemy re-appeared, and opened a brisk cannonade. The siege continued, with little variation, for thirty days. General Gaines, being wounded by a shell, gave up the command to General Brown, who, though suffering from a wound, hastened to the place where his services were wanted. A considerable reinforcement of volunteers arrived in the American camp, and then General Brown determined to make an effort to release the army from its confinement. the 17th of September, two columns, commanded by Generals Porter and Miller, filed out and advanced upon the enemy. By skilful dispositions, their whole line was carried, their guns spiked, and about 1000 men

On

killed, wounded, or taken. The loss of the Americans was about 200 men killed or wounded. General Drummond broke up his camp on the night of the 21st, and retired toward Chippewa. The operations had been entirely in favor of the Americans, and reflected great honor upon the energy and skill of General Brown and his associate officers, and upon the courage and steady discipline of his troops.

In the meantime, events occurred in other quarters of the Union, no less honorable to the American arms. Sir George Prevost, governorgeneral of Canada, having collected all his disposable force for an invasion of the Union as far as Crown Point, entered the country on the 1st of the month, and occupied the village of Champlain. There he issued proclamations tending to dissuade the people from their allegiance, and inviting them to furnish the army with provisions for their further progress. General Macomb was then at Plattsburg, with about 2000 American troops, many of whom were militia. He made able dispositions of his small force, and prepared for a determined resistance to the progress of Prevost. Simultaneously with their operations on land, the enemy prepared their fleet for action on Lake Champlain.

The American fleet, under Commodore M'Donough, lay at anchor in Burlington Bay, on the right flank of the American lines, and two miles distant. Great exertions had been made by both parties to produce a superior naval force on this lake; the Americans at Otter Creek, and the British at the Isle aux Noix. On comparing their relative strength on the 11th of September, the American fleet consisted of the Saratoga, flag-ship, mounting 26 guns; Eagle, 20 guns; Ticonderoga, 17 guns; Preble, 7 guns; six galleys, of two guns each, 12 guns; four of one, 4 guns; making in the whole, 86 guns: and 820 men. The British fleet consisted of the frigate Confiance, flag-ship, mounting 39 guns;