made both by the Americans and the British; but nothing of consequence was achieved on either side.

A new scene of warfare was now to be opened on those vast inland seas, already described, page 29; and for the first time their waves were to be lighted up with all the sublimity of naval combat. Commodore Chauncey had fitted up several vessels of war on lake Ontario, and having received notice that the British fleet had sailed down the lake, for the purpose of bringing up reinforcements to fort George, he determined to intercept them. On the 8th of November, his squadron descried one of the enemy's ships, the Royal George, of 26 guns, who made her escape into Kingston, where she was so well protected by the batteries, that the Americans were obliged to haul off, with considerable loss. They afterwards captured two schooners, one of which had on board 12,000 dollars in specie, and all the baggage of general Brock, with captain Brock, the general's brother. Soon after this, winter set in and put an end to any further naval operations for the season.

Congress again assembled in the beginning of November, at a time when party spirit raged throughout the country. Their attention was first directed towards raising an additional force; the inefficacy of mere militia, under no discipline, having been sufficiently seen. But there was no mode of remedying the evil, as regular soldiers, for the reasons already given, could not be procured in sufficient numbers. The navy, therefore, attracted much attention, great unanimity prevailing on this subject; and it was resolved to foster and encourage it, as the best reliance of the country. A war now threatened in another quarter, which occasioned considerable anxiety; the celebrated Indian chief, Tecumsech, had the year before visited all the tribes in the southern states, and, by his powerful eloquence, raised a most unfriendly spirit among those people towards the white inhabitants. Georgia and Tennessee being in the greatest danger, the militia of these states were accordingly held in readiness, and in the spring, general Jackson, at the head of 2,000 men, marched through the Indian country to Natchez, a distance of 500 miles; but finding every thing quiet, returned soon after. Many skirmishes, however, afterwards took place in Georgia, which induced government to assign the defence of the southern frontier to general Pinckney.

Congress had not been long in session, when the publie feelings were once more excited by the news of another

nával victory. This was the capture of the British frigate Java, of 46 guns, by the Constitution, of 50 guns, commodore Bainbridge. The action took place on the 29th of December, 1812, off the coast of South America, and was fought with the most determined valour. The Java had twenty-two men killed, and 102 wounded; among the former was the gallant captain Lambert. The Constitution had nine men killed, and twenty-five wounded. On the day after the engagement, the prize was found in such a state as to render it impossible to bring her in, she was therefore blown up, with every thing on board, except the prisoners baggage.

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In the midst of these affairs, news of fresh disasters to the westward, accompanied by most afflicting circumstances, tended effectually to damp the public joy for the second victory of the Constitution. General Harrison whose object was the re-capture of Detroit, had fixed his head quarters at Franklinton, in the state of Ohio; meanwhile general Winchester continued at fort Defiance, with about 800 volunteers, belonging to the first families in Kentucky. The inhabitants of Frenchtown, twenty-six miles from Detroit, fearing a visit from the British aud Indians, particularly the latter, had solicited general Winchester for assistance. Accordingly, on the 17th of January, 1813, he detached a body of men, under colonels Lewis and Allen, for their protection. On arriving at Presque Isle, they learned that the enemy's advance had taken possession of Frenchtown; they immediately resolvedito march forward and drive them out: this they effected, with the loss of twelve killed and fifty-five wounded. On the 20th, they were joined by general Winchester, and with this addition, the whole force amounted to 750 men. On the morning of the 22d, they were attacked by the British under colonel Proctor, and a large body of Indians, commanded by the chiefs Round-head and Splitlog. After a most sanguinary conflict of six hours, during which their loss in killed and wounded-amounted to above 800, thirty-five officers and 500 men were obliged to surrender prisoners of war. The loss of the British was twentyfour killed, and 158 wounded. Scarcely had the Americans surrendered, when the ferocious Indians commenced butchering them in cold blood, in defiance of the entreaties of the British officers; many of whom exerted themselves in behalf of the unfortunate prisoners. The remains of this ill-fated little army was to have been marched to Malden, but small was the number that ever reached the British fort. The greater part of them had been carried

off by the Indians, either to satiate their vengeance, or to gratify their avarice, by exposing them to sale. Many of the inhabitants of Detroit parted with every thing they possessed of value in purchasing the captives from the savages. But the afflicting tale is not yet told. About sixty of the wounded, many of them persons of distinction, and officers of respectability, had been permitted to take shelter with the people of Frenchtown. On the next day, a party of Indians returned, fell upon these wounded men, plundered them of every article of value, tomohawked the greater part of them, and to finish the scene, fired the houses, and consumed the dying and the dead! Among those who underwent this species of suffering were Mr. Simpson, a member of congress, colonel Allen, majors Madison, and Ballard, captains Hart, Hickman, Woolfolk, Bledsoe, Matson, Hamilton, Williams, Kelly, M'Cracken, &c. &c.

Excepting some parties on excursions, nothing additional transpired during the severe winter months. General Harrison had established his head-quarters at the Rapids of the Miami, where he had constructed fort Meigs. The British general, Proctor, had been for some time making preparations to attack this place, and at the end of April had collected a force for that purpose, consisting of 922 regulars and militia, exclusive of officers, and 1,200 Indians, commanded by the intrepid Tecumsech. On the first of May the siege commenced, and on the third, an additional battery was opened within 250 yards. The fort was now summoned to surrender, and an answer returned by general Harrison, that he would never submit to any force of which Indians composed a part. The siege was renewed with great vigour, and the firing hotly kept up on both sides; especially by the Indians, who did much execution by firing from trees in the neighbourhood, upon which they had mounted in great numbers. A reinforcement to the garrison was now advancing under general Clay, who, by directions from the commander in chief, detached 800 men, under colonel Dudley, to attack the enemy's batteries on the opposite side of the river; while at the same time, a sortie from the fort should be made against the besiegers.

Dudley's detachment succeeded in carrying the batteries, but were shortly after attacked by a large body of Indians, commanded by Tecumsech, who killed, wounded, and took prisoners the whole party, except 150 men: among the slain was colonel Dudley. The sortie, under colonel Miller, succeeded in spiking the cannon, and taking forty

two prisoners; but lost a great number of men in the action: the British had only fourteen killed and fortyseven wounded. During the three following days, a cessation of hostilities took place, and an exchange of prisoners was agreed upon; and on the 9th, at ten o'clock at night, the enemy raised the siege, and moved off with his whole force. In the course of the different attacks, the British and Indians captured 945 prisoners: the loss within the fort, was eighty-one killed, and 189 wounded. After the siege of fort Meigs, offensive operations were for a considerable time suspended on both sides. We now return to the northern frontier, operations of an interesting nature having taken place in that quarter since the winter.

Excepting some partisan affairs, nothing of consequence transpired during the severest months of the winter season; but early in February, major Forsythe crossed the St. Lawrence, surprised the guard at Elizabeth-town in Upper Canada, took fifty-two prisoners, including six commissioned officers, and captured 120 firelocks, some casks of ammunition, and other public property. He then returned, without the loss of a single man. In retaliation for this agression, on the 22d of the same mouth, a British force of 480 regulars and militia, under lieutenant-colonel Macdonnell, passed the St. Lawrence on the ice, attacked and carried the town and fort of Ogdensburgh, making prisoners four officers and seventy privates, and capturing eleven pieces of cannon, with all the ordnance and other stores; besides burning two armed schooners, two large gun-boats, and the soldiers barracks,

The next expedition undertaken, was an attack upon York, the capital of Upper Canada. This took place on the 27th of April, by a body of troops from Sacket's-harbour, under the immediate command of brigadier-general Pike, a young officer of great merit; but the whole directed by general Dearborne, the commander in chief. Commodore Chauncey, who now commanded a fleet of sixteen sail upon lake Ontario, conveyed the troops to their place of destination, which they reached at two o'clock in the morning, and at ten the debarkation was completed; though warmly opposed by a body of Indians under an English officer. The American riflemen first landed, and were received by a shower of musketry; they however pushed forward, and were immediately followed by several divisions of their friends. The whole of the troops having made good a landing, general Pike placed himself at their head, when a severe engagement ensued, in which the British, con

sisting of about 600 regulars and militia, besides Indians, made a desperate defence, being often broken and as often rallied. At length, after a conflict of nearly eight hours, the town was surrendered, and the troops, naval officers and seamen, made prisoners of war: all the public stores were given up, but private property was guaranteed to the citizens. At the close of the action, an unfortunate occurrence took place; but whether by accident or design has never yet been determined. A magazine belonging to one of the batteries blew up, killing and wounding above 200 of the Americans, and about forty of the British; general Pike was mortally wounded. The number of prisoners taken amounted to 294, including forty-three commissioned officers; and the loss of the British, in action, was sixty-. two killed, and thirty-four wounded. The Americans, including those destroyed by the explosion, had above. 300 men killed and wounded.

On

The next attempt was against fort George and fort Erie, which had been unsuccessfully attacked the year before. Preparations for this expedition had been for some time in progress, and a few troops having crossed the river, had formed an encampment at Four-mile-creek, so called from being four miles distant from the river Niagara. the 27th of May, at day break, generals Dearborne and Lewis, with 4,000 men, embarked under protection of commodore Chauncey's squadron. The British batteries immediately opened, as the troops approached in three brigades; the advance, however, under colonel Scott, reached the shore, and landed. They were instantly supported by the second and third: divisions, which formed rapidly, and rushed forward to the attack. In the mean time, fort Niagara, and the batteries on the American side, were keeping up an incessant fire. The British made a gallant resistance, but finding fort George untenable, they laid trains to their magazines, and evacuated the place. The loss of the Americans on this occasion, was thirty-nine killed, and 108 wounded. The number killed of the enemy was never ascertained; but 160 wounded, and above 600 prisoners were taken.

The joy arising from this victory was but of short duration. The British who had retreated from the Niagara, were again assembled under brigadier-general Vincent, near the head of lake Ontario; having been reinforced by 1,800 troops from Chippewa, fort Erie, and Kingston. A much superior force, under the command of general Lewis, had been ordered to cut off their retreat; which was deemed quite practicable, Chauncey having the command of the