CANNONADING BETWEEN FORTS GEORGE AND NIAGARA.

Official Report to Brigadier-General Smyth, commanding the Army of the Centre.

Sir,

I beg leave to inform you, that on the morning of the 21st Nov. at six o'clock, a heavy cannonading opened upon this garrison from all the batteries at and in the neighbourhood of Fort George, which lasted without intermission until sundown. They had five detached batteries, two mounting 24pounders, one mounting a nine, and two mortar batteries, one 10 the other 5 inch. The batteries firing hot shot, which set some of our buildings on fire, but from the extraordinary vigilance of the officers and men, particularly major Armistead of the United States corps of engineers, whose indefatigable exertions were extended to all parts of the gar rison, the fires were got under without being observed by the enemy.

Our garrison was not as well provided with artillery and ammunition as I could have wished-however, the batteries opened a tremendous fire upon them, in return, with hot shot, admirably well directed.

Several times during the cannonading, the town of Newark was in flames, but was extinguished by their enginesas also the centre building in Fort George. Their mess-house and all the buildings near it were consumed. Capt. M'Keen commanded a twelve-pounder in the S. E. block-house, and distinguished himself by his usual gallantry and skill. Captain Jacks, of the 7th regiment militia artillery, commanded a six-pounder on the north block-house, and, together with a part of his own company, though placed in a situation the most exposed to the fire of the enemy, maintained their position like veterans.

Lieutenant Rees had the command of an eighteen-pounder, on the S. E. battery, which was pointed at the battery en barbette mounting a 24-pounder, and also at Fort George; several well directed shots were made from this gun, which proved the skill of its commander. About ten o'clock, lieutenant Rees had his left shoulder bruised by a part of the parapet falling on him-which, though it did not materially injure him, obliged him to retire, and captain Leonard of the 1st regiment United States artillery at that moment arriving, he took the command of this battery for the remainder of the day. Lieutenant Wendel, of the second regiment artillery, had the command of an 18 and four-pounder on the west battery and Dr. Hooper, of captain Jack's company militia

artillery, had the command of a six-pounder on the messhouse. Of these gentlemen and their commands I cannot speak with too much praise; they distinguished themselves highly, and from their shot, all of which was hot, the town of Newark was repeatedly fired, and one of the enemy's batteries silenced for a time.

An instance of extraordinary bravery in a female (the wife of one Doyle, a private in the United States artillery, made a prisoner at Queenstown) I cannot pass over. During the most tremendous cannonading I have ever seen, she attended the six-pounder on the mess-house with red hot shot, and showed fortitude equal to the maid of Orleans. Lieutenants Gansevoort and Harris of the first regiment United States artillery, had the command of the salt battery at Youngstown mounting an 18 and a four-pounder; these two guns played upon the garrison of Fort George and the buildings near it: from every observation I could make during their fire, I am happy to say they merited my warmest thanks for their skill in the service of these guns. Lieutenant Harris from his four-pounder sunk a schooner, which lay at their wharf; she was one of those taken by the enemy at the mouth of the Genessee river a short time since. He also assisted in burning and destroying the buildings near the wharf. These two officers and their men in the warmest part of the cannonading having fired away all their cartridges, cut up their flannel waistcoats and shirts, and the soldiers their trowsers, to supply their guns.

I cannot say too much in praise of all the officers and soldiers of the artillery immediately under my observation, in this garrison; they merit the thanks and esteem of their country for the defence of it, and I believe it never sustained so sharp and continued a bombardment.

The enemy threw more than two thousand red hot balls into it, and a number of shells amounting to more than 180, only one of which did injury to our men.

Lieutenant-colonel Gray commanded the artillery; the unremitting attention paid to his duty, proves him an officer whose zeal and science do honour to himself and country: to this gentleman I feel much indebted for the manner he acquitted himself.

To the officers of my regiment (particularly captain Milligan) and the soldiers who assisted the artillery, and those employed in extinguishing the fires and carrying off the killed and wounded, I am also much indebted; they merit my warmest thanks. To Dr. West of the garrison, Dr. Hugan M M

VOL. II.

of the 14th regiment United States infantry, and Dr. Craige, of the 22d regiment United States infantry, I offer my thanks. They were employed during the entire day in the most critical duties of their profession.

Our killed and wounded amount to eleven.

Killed-Serjeant Jones, first regiment United States artillery; Salisbury, 2d do. do. do.-Privates, Stewart, 22d do. United States infantry; Lewis, first do. United States artillery.

Wounded-Officers, lieutenant Thomas, 22d regiment United States infantry-Privates, Boman, 14th do. do. M'Evoy, first do. do. Campbell, first do. do. Welsh, first do. do. Ray, third do. do. Woodsworth, seventh do. militia artillery.

From the number we saw carried off from the enemy's batteries, I presume many more were killed and wounded on their side.

Only two of the above men were killed by the enemy's shot, the rest by the bursting of a 12-pounder in S. E. blockhouse, and by the spunges of the guns on the north blockhouse, and at the Salt battery.

GEO. M'FEELEY, Lieutenant-Colonel commanding Fort Niagara.

GENERAL SMYTH'S EXPEDITION.

Official Letter from General Smyth to Major-General Dearborn, respecting the failure of his projected enterprise against

Canada.

Sir,

Camp, near Buffaloe, 8th December, 1812. The troops under my command having been ordered to hut themselves for the winter, it becomes my duty to report to you the proceedings had there since I took the command on this frontier.

On or about the 26th of October, I ordered that 20 scows should be prepared for the transportation of the artillery and cavalry, and put the carpenters of the army on that duty.

On the 26th of November ten scows were completed, and by bringing boats from lake Ontario, the number was increased to seventy.

I had issued an address to the men of the state of New York, and perhaps 300 volunteers had arrived at Buffaloe. I presumed that the regular troops, and the volunteers under colonels Swift and M'Clure, would furnish 2300 men for duty;

and of general Tannehill's brigade, reporting a total of 1650 as many as 413 had volunteered to cross into Canada. I deeemed myself ready to cross "with 3000 men at once," according to your orders.

Preparatory thereto, on the night of the 27th November, I sent over two parties; one under lieutenant-colonel Bærstler; the other under captain King, with whom lieutenant Angus of the navy, at the head of a body of seamen, united. The first mentioned party was to capture a guard and destroy a bridge about five miles below Fort Erie; the second party were to take and render useless the cannon of the enemy's batteries and some pieces of light artillery. The first party made some prisoners, but failed to destroy the bridge; the second party, after rendering unserviceable the light artillery, separated by some misapprehension. Lieutenant Angus, the seamen, and a part of the troops returned with all the boats, while captains King, Morgan, Sproul, lieutenant Houston and about 60 men, remained; captain King, notwithstanding, with those under his command, advanced to the enemy's batteries, attacked and took two of them in succession, rendered unserviceable the cannon, and took a number of prisoners. In descending the Niagara some distance, two boats were found, on board of which captain King sent his prisoners, all his officers, and half of his men. His high sense of honour would not allow him to quit the remainder. He was captured with them.

Orders had been given that all the troops in the neighbourhood should march at reveille to the place of embarkation. A part of the detachment sent in the night having returned, and excited apprehensions for the residue; about 350 men under colonel Winder, put off in boats for the opposite shore; a part of this force had landed, when a superior force with a piece of artillery, appeared. A retreat was ordered, and colonel Winder's detachment suffered a loss of 6 killed and 22 wounded, of whom 6 were officers.

The general embarkation commenced as the troops arrived; but this being the first time the troops had embarked, the whole of the scows were occupied by about one-third part of the artillery, while about 800 regular infantry, something upwards of 200 twelve-months' volunteers, and perhaps 200 of those militia who had volunteered their services for a few days occupied all the boats that were ready. The troops thus embarked moved up the stream to Black Rock, without sustaining loss from the enemy's fire. It was now afternoon, and they were ordered to disembark and dine.

The enemy showed a force estimated at 5 or 600 men drawn up in a field at some distance from the river; and had one piece of artillery, said to be a nine-pounder, ready to fire on our troops.

There remained unembarked a part of the artillery, a few cavalry, the volunteers under colonel M'Clure, amounting on that day to 340 men, a detachment from general Tannehill's brigade number unknown and little relied on. There were also sundry crowds who might perhaps have followed the army had it been successful.

Recollecting your instructions "to cross with 3000 men at once;" and to consult some of my principal officers in "all important movements;" I called for the field officers of the regulars and twelve-months' volunteers embarked. Colonel Porter not being found at the moment, captain Gibson was called as the senior officer of artillery.

These questions were put-Is it expedient now to cross over? Is the force we have sufficient to conquer the opposite coast?

The first question was decided in the negative, by colonels Parker, Schuyler, Winder, lieutenant-colonels Borstler and Coles, and major Campbell. Colonel Swift, of volunteers, alone gave an opinion for then crossing over.

The second question was not decided-Colonel Parker, colonel Schuyler, lieutenant-colonel Coles, and major Campbell, were decidedly of opinion the force was insufficient. Colonel Winder, colonel Swift, lieutenant-colonel Barstler, and captain Gibson deemed the force sufficient.

I determined to postpone crossing over until more complete preparations would enable me to embark the whole force at once, according to your instructions.

The next day was spent in such preparations; and the troops were ordered to be again at the place of embarkation at eight o'clock on the 30th November. On their arrival they were sent into the adjacent woods, there to build fires, and remain until three o'clock in the morning of the 1st December, when it was intended to put off two hours before daylight, so as to avoid the fire of the enemy's cannon, in passing the position which it was believed they occupied below; to land above Chippewa, assault that place, and, if successful, march through Queenstown for Fort George. The contractor was called on to furnish rations for 2500 men for four days, when it was found he could furnish the pork but not the flour. Sixty barrels were required, and only thirty-five furnished.