and, as such, he informed the British officer, that he would attempt his escape. In consequence of this threat, the Essex Junior was ordered to remain under the lee of the Saturn; but the next morning, Commodore Porter put off in his boat, though thirty miles from shore, and notwithstanding the pursuit by those of the Saturn, arrived safely in New-York."*

Sec. 42. Two naval engagements took place about this time, both of which resulted in favor of the American flag. The first of these was between the United States' sloop of war Peacock, and the British brig Epervier, April 29th; and the second, June 28th, between the sloop Wasp, which, after capturing seven merchantmen, fell in with and captured the English brig Reindeer.

The action between the first two mentioned vessels lasted but forty-five minutes. During its continuance, the Epervier had eight men killed, and fifteen wounded. The Peacock escaped with but a single man killed, and with only two wounded. This engagement took place in lat. 27° 47′ north, and long. 30° 9'.

The action between the Wasp and Reindeer was but eighteen minutes; yet the destruction of life was much greater. The latter vessel lost her commander, Captain Manners, and twenty-seven men killed, and forty-two wounded. Twice the British attempted to board the Wasp, but were as often repulsed. At length, the American tars boarded the Reindeer, and tore down her colors. The loss of the latter, in killed and wounded, was twenty-six. Their prize was so much injured, that, on the following day, she was burned.

Sec. 43. Gen. Wilkinson continued encamped with his army at French Mills, whither he had retired in November, 1813, until February, 1814, when, by order of the secretary of war, he detached 2000 troops, under Gen. Brown, to protect the Niagara frontier; soon after which, destroying his barracks, he retired with the residue of his forces to Plattsburg.

• Brackenridge.

The British, apprised of this movement, detached a large force, under Col. Scott, which destroyed the public stores, with the arsenal of the Americans, at Malone, which had belonged to the cantonment of French Mills; but, on hearing of the approach of a large American force, they hastily retreated.

Sec. 44. The movements of Gen. Wilkinson indicating a disposition to attempt the invasion of Canada, a detachment of 2000 British, under Major Hancock, was ordered to take post, and fortify themselves at La Colle Mill, near the river Sorel, to defeat the above object. With a view of dislodging this party, Wilkinson, at the head of 4000 men, crossed the Canada lines, on the 30th of March. On the following day, he commenced a cannonade upon the works of the enemy; but finding it impracticable to make an impression on this strong building, he retired with his forces, having lost in the affray upwards of one hundred and forty in killed and wounded.

The unfortunate issue of this movement, and the equally unfortunate termination of the last campaign, brought Gen. Wilkinson into such discredit with the American public, that, yielding to the general opinion, the administration suspended him from the command, in which he was succeeded by Gen. Izard. At a subsequent day, Wilkinson was tried before a court martial at Troy, by which he was acquitted, but not without hesitation.

Sec. 45. For three months following the above movement, the armies of both nations continued inactive. On the part of the British, the war seemed to languish, the nation at home being occupied with events which were transpiring in Europe of a most extraordinary character. But when, at length, the emperor of France had abdicated his empire, and Louis XVIII. was seated upon his legitimate throne, England was at liber

ty to direct against America the immense force which she had employed in her continental wars. Accordingly, at this time, the British forces were augmented by 14,000 veteran troops, which had fought under Wellington; and, at the same time, a strong naval force was dispatched to blockade the American coast, and ravage our maritime towns.

Sec. 46. It has been already noticed, that Gen. Brown was detached by Wilkinson, with 2000 troops, from French Mills, (Sec. 43,) to proceed to the Niagara frontier. For a time, he stopped at Sacket's Harbor; but, at length, proceeded with his army to Buffalo. By the addition of Towson's artillery, and a corps of volunteers, his force was augmented to 3500 effective men.

On the 2d and 3d of July, he crossed the river Niagara, and took possession of the British Fort Erie, which surrendered without resistance. At a few miles distant, in a strong position, at Chippewa, was intrenched an equal number of British troops, under command of General Riall. On the 4th, Gen. Brown approached these works. On the following day, the two armies met, in the open field. The contest was obstinate and bloody; but, at length, the Americans proved victorious, while the British retired with the loss of 514 men. The loss of the Americans was 329.

Sec. 47. Immediately after this defeat, General Riall retired to Burlington Heights. Here, Lieut. General Drummond, with a large force, joined him, and, assuming the command, led back the army towards the American camp. the two armies met at Bridgewater, near the cataract of Niagara, and a most desperate en

On the 25th,

gagement ensued, about sunset, and lasted till midnight. At length, the Americans were left in quiet possession of the field.

The battle of Bridgewater, or Niagara, was one of the most bloody conflicts recorded in modern warfare. The British force engaged fell something short of 5000 men, including 1500 militia and Indians. The force of the Americans was by one third less. The total loss of the British was 878. Generals Drummond and Riall were among the wounded. The Americans lost, in killed, wounded, and missing, 860. Among the killed, were eleven officers, and among the wounded, fifty-six. Both Generals Brown and Scott were among the latter. On receiving his wound, Gen. Brown directed Gen. Ripley to assume the command. Unfortunately, the Americans having no means to remove the British artillery which had been captured, were obliged to leave it on the field. On being apprised of this, the British forthwith returned, and took their artillery again in charge. Owing to this circumstance, the British officers had the hardihood, in their dispatches to government, to claim the victory.

Sec. 48. Gen. Ripley, finding his numbers too much reduced to withstand a force so greatly his superior, deemed it prudent to return to Fort Erie. On the 4th of August, this fort was invested by General Drummond, with 5000 men; and for 49 days the siege was pressed with great zeal; but, at length, the British general was obliged to retire, without having accomplished his object.

men.

The American force was at this time reduced to 1600 On the 5th Gen. Gaines arrived at Erie from Sacket's Harbor, and took the command. On the 15th, a large British force advanced in three columns under Cols. Drummond, Fischer, and Scott, against the fort, but were repulsed with the signal loss of 57 killed, 319 wounded, and 539 missing. Among the killed were Cols. Drummond and Scott.

For some time following this rencontre, both armies were inactive. But, at length, the distressed state of the besieged Americans in the fort attracting the attention of govern

ment, a force of 5000 under Gen. Izard was ordered from Plattsburg to proceed to their relief.

On the 17th of September, Gen. Brown, who had recovered from his wounds, and had resumed the command of the fort, ordered a sortie, in which the Americans were so successful, that Gen. Drummond was obliged to raise the siege, and to retire with the loss of a great quantity of artillery and ammunition, and of 1000 men, which were his number of killed, wounded, and prisoners.

Shortly after, the troops under Gen. Izard arriving, the Americans were able to commence offensive operations. They, therefore, leaving only a moderate garrison in the fort, now advanced towards Chippewa, where Drummond had taken post. Near this place a partial battle occurred on the 20th of October, in which the Americans so far gained the advantage as to cause the enemy to retire.

Sec. 49. While these events were transpiring in the north, the public attention was irresistibly drawn to the movements of the enemy, on the sea-board. About the middle of August, between fifty and sixty British sail arrived in the Chesapeake, with troops destined for the attack of Washington, the capital of the United States. On the 23d of August, six thousand British troops, commanded by Gen. Ross, forced their way to that place, and burnt the capitol, president's house, and executive offices. Having thus accomplished an object highly disgraceful to the British arms, and wantonly burned public buildings, the ornament and pride of the nation, the destruction of which could not hasten the termination of the war-on the 25th they retired, and, by rapid marches, regained their shipping, having lost, during the expedition, nearly one thousand men.

The troops, under Gen. Ross, were landed at Benedict, on the Patuxent, forty-seven miles from Washington. On the 21st, they moved toward Nottingham, and, the following day, reached Marlborough. A British flotilla, commanded by Cockburn, consisting of lanches and barges,