the militia; Major Morrison, instead of leading his detachment across the river, suddenly found himself taken too unwell for the duty; and though the dreaded fire on the ferry was now silenced by Major Lovett's battery, and the heights were captured mat tha nania had honoma en maneral that Lof our al 1-June Gotten in

boom's reg.

the same place. All were in camp in good season.

Agreeably to my orders issued upon this occasion, the two columns were

to pass over together as soon as the heights should be carried.

Lieut

Col. Fenwick's flying artillery was to pass over; then Major Mullany's detachment of regulars, and the other troops to follow in order. Col. Van. Rensselaer, with great presence of mind, ordered his officers to proceed with rapidity and storm the fort. The service was gallantly performed, and the enemy driven down the hill in every direction. Soon after this, both parties were considerably reinforced, and the conflict was renewed in various places. Many of the enemy took shelter behind a stone guardhouse, where a piece of ordnance was now briskly served. I ordered the fire of our battery to be directed upon the guard-house; and it was so effectually done that with eight or ten shot the fire was silenced. The enemy then retreated behind a large store house; but, in a short time the rout became general, and the enemy's fire was silenced, except from a one gun battery, so far down the river as to be out of the reach of our heavy ordnance, and our light pieces could not silence it. A number of boats now passed over unannoyed, except by the one unsilenced gun. For some time, after I had passed over, the victory appeared complete; but, in expectation of further attacks, I was taking measures for fortifying my camp immediately; the direction of this service I committed to Lieut. Totten of the Engineers. But very soon the enemy were reinforced by a detachment of several hundred Indians from Chippewa; they commenced a furious attack, but were promptly met and routed by the rifle and bayonet. By this time, I perceived my troops were embarking very slowly. I passed immediately over to accelerate their movements, but, to my utter astonishment, I found, that, at the very moment when complete victory was in our hands, the ardour of the unengaged troops had entirely subsided. I rode in all directions; urged the men by every consideration to pass but in vain. Lieut. Col. Bloom, who had been wounded in the action, returned, mounted his horse, and rode through the camp, as did also Judge Peck, who happened to be there exhorting the companies to proceed but all in vain.

over

At this time a large reinforcement from Fort George was discovered coming up the river. As the battery on the hill was considered an important check against their ascending the heights, measures were immediately taken to send them a fresh supply of ammunition, as I learned there were left only twenty shot for the eighteen-pounders. The reinforcements, however, obliqued to the right from the road, and formed a junction with the Indians in the rear of the heights. Finding, to my infinite mortification, that no reinforcement would pass over, seeing that another severe conflict must soon commence, and knowing that the brave men at the heights were quite exhausted, and nearly out of ammunition, all I could do, was to send them a fresh supply of cartridges. At this critical moment I despatched a note to Gen. Wadsworth, acquainting him with our situation, leaving the course to be pursued much to his own judgment, with assurance that, if he thought best to retreat, I would endeavour to send as many boats as I could command, and cover his retreat, by every fire I could safely make; but the boats were dispersed; many of the boatmen had fled panic struck, and but few got off. My note, however, could but little more than have reached Gen. W. about 4 o'clock, when a most severe and obstinate conflict commenced, and continued about half an hour, with a tremendous fire of cannon, flying artillery, and musketry. The enemy succeeded in repossessing their battery, and gaining advantage on every side. The brave men who had gained the victory, ex

hausted of strength and ammunition, and grieved at the unpardonable neglect of their fellow-soldiers, gave up the conflict. I can only add, that the victory was really won, but lost for the want of a small reinforcement; one-third part of the idle men might have saved all.

I have the honour to be, &c.

STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER.

Hon. William Eustis, Secretary of War.

"The army on the Straits of Niagara could have been assembled for offense only therefore Gen. Van Rensselaer in making the attack, fulfilled the obligations of duty, and the views of government. Advocate as I am for the yeomanry of my country, I can find no excuse for the conduct of the militia on that occasion. By imperiously demanding the attack on Queenston, they virtually pledged themselves to support it. The attack was made, but their pledge remained unredeemed; if the militia had been faithful to their engagements, and true to themselves, the whole might have passed the straits before the arrival of the British column under General Sheaffe, whom they might have cut off from Fort George, and captured or destroyed, after which the surrender of the fort would have become a matter of form."

The following piquant account is from Gen. Wilkinson, to the secretary of war, just after the battle. "The enemy ascertained Van Rensselaer's approach by the sound of his oars, and opened their fire from the top of the bank, as soon as they could discern his movements, by which Lieut. Rathbone was mortally wounded on board of Col. Van Rensselaer's boat. The landing was effected with two hundred and twenty-five men, who formed under a very warm fire, climbed the bank and routed the enemy at the point of the bayonet, without firing a shot; but in this operation Ensign Morris was killed, and Captains Malcolm, Armstrong and Wool were wounded, and a number of men killed and wounded. Colonel Van Rensselaer himself was peculiarly unfortunate, and to the accident which befel him, the day's disaster may be partly attributed; he received one ball in his hip which passed out at his spine, two in his thigh, one of which lodged, two in his leg, and a sixth contused his heel; he however kept his feet, and the enemy having fled towards the town, with great presence of mind Col. Van Rensselaer directed his officers to proceed with rapidity and storm the fort. He ordered Capt. Wool, the senior officer capable of duty, to ascend the mountain and carry the battery; giving him a direction for his movement, by which he would avoid the fire of the enemy's artillery; placing Lieutenants Randolph and Gansevoort, who volunteered, at the head of the little column, and Major Lush, another volunteer, in the rear, with orders to put to death the first man who should fall back. During this time he had concealed his wounds under a great coat, borrowed from Major Lush, and when the party had filed off before him, no longer able to support himself, he fell to the ground," with excessive weakness. Even then his voice was still heard animating his men and ordering them to "push on and storm the battery." The service was gallantly performed. That battery was taken as well as every other work of the enemy at Queenston. Had not Col. Van Rensselaer been so badly wounded, there is no doubt but that he would have retained possession." It was just then clear day-light, and he found himself among the wounded, the dying and the dead. A crust of bread, and some water, furnished by one of the former, prevented him from fainting. The an