Extract of a Letter from Major-General Dearborn to the Secretary of War, dated Niagara, May 8. "As nearly as I have been able to ascertain, the loss of the enemy, in the late affair of York, amounted to 100 killed, 200 prisoners, and 300 wounded. I have not been able to ascertain precisely the amount of the militia put on their parole-I presume it could not be less than 500. There was an immense depot of naval and military stores. York was a magazine for Niagara, Detroit, &c. and notwithstanding the immense amount which was destroyed by them, we found more than we could bring off. General Sheaffe's baggage and papers fell into my hands; the papers are a valuable acquisition. A scalp was found in the executive and legislative council chamber, suspended near the speaker's chair, in company with the mace, &c." Sir, United States Ship Madison, Sackett's Harbour, 4th June, 1813. I have the honour to present to you by the hands of lieutenant Dudley, the British standard, taken at York on the 27th of April last, accompanied by the mace, over which was hung a human scalp. These articles were taken from the parliament house by one of my officers and presented to me. The scalp I caused to be presented to general Dearborn, who, I believe, still has it in his possession. I also send, by the same gentleman, one of the flags taken at Fort George on the 27th of May. I have the honour to be, very respectfully, sir, your most obedient humble servant, ISAAC CHAUNCEY. Hon. Wm. Jones, Secretary of the Navy, Washington. Fom the London Gazette. Head-Quarters, Kingston, Upper Canada, My lord, May 18, 1813. I have the honour of transmitting to your lordship a copy of a despatch, which I have received from major-general sir R. Sheaffe, containing the particulars of an attack made by the land forces, and the flotilla of the enemy, upon York, in Upper Canada, on the 27th ultimo. The enemy left York on the 8th instant, and proceeded to Niagara, where I understood they landed, on the American side of the lake, 1200 men under general Dearborn, for the purpose of strengthening their army on that line, and proba bly with a view to make a further attempt on Fort Erie or Fort George. The flotilla afterwards returned to Sackett's Harbour, where I find, from a flag of truce which came over the day before yesterday, they remained on the 14th. From the information I have received from an officer of the lake marines taken at York, and sent over in the flag of truce, I find the enemy's force at Sackett's Harbour amounts to near 5000 men, and that they were making preparations for another expedition, but to what point the attack was to be directed, I have not been able to ascertain. I have the honour to be, &c. Earl Bathurst, &c. Sir, GEORGE PREVOST. Kingston, May 5, 1813. I did myself the honour of writing to your excellency, on my route from York, to communicate the mortifying intelligence that the enemy had obtained possession of that place on the 27th of April. I shall now give your excellency a further detail of that event. In the evening of the 26th, information was received that many vessels were seen to the eastward. Very early the next morning they were discovered lying to not far from that harbour; after some time had elapsed they made sail, and, to the number of 10 of various descriptions, anchored off the shore some distance to the westward. Boats full of troops were immediately seen assembling near their commodore's ship, under cover of whose fire, and that of other vessels, and aided by the wind, they soon effected a landing, in spite of a spirited opposition from major Givens and about 40 Indians. A company of Glengary light infantry, which had been ordered to support them, was by some mistake (not in the smallest degree imputable to its commander), led in another direction, and came late into action. The other troops consisting of two companies of the 8th or king's regiment, and about a company of the royal Newfoundland regiment, with some militia, encountered the enemy in a thick wood. Captain M'Neal, of the king's regiment, was killed while gallantly leading his company, which suffered severely. The troops at length fell back; they rallied several times, but could not maintain the contest against the greatly superior and increas ng numbers of the enemy. They retired under cover of our batteries, which were engaged with some of the enemy's vessels that had moved higher in the harbour. By some unfortunate accident the magazine at the western battery blew up and killed and wounded a considerable number of men, and crippled the battery. It became too evident that our numbers and means of defence were inadequate to the task of maintaining possession of York against the vast superiority of force brought against it. The troops were withdrawn towards the town, and were finally ordered to retreat on the road to Kingston: the powder magazine was blown up, and the new ship and naval stores destroyed. Lieutenant-colonel Chervett and major Allan, of the militia, residents in the town, were instructed to treat with the American commanders for terms; a statement of those agreed on with major-general Dearborn and commodore Chauncey is transmitted to your excellency, with returns of the killed, wounded, &c. The accounts of the number of the enemy vary from 1800 to 3400. We had about 600, including militia and dock-yard men. The quality of these troops was of so superior a description, and their general disposition so good, that under less unfavourable circumstances, I should have felt confident of success, in spite of the disparity of numbers. As it was, the contest, which commenced between 6 and 7 o'clock, was maintained nearly eight hours. When we had proceeded some miles from York, we met the light company of the king's regiment, on its route for Fort George; it retired with us, and covered the retreat, which was effected without molestation from the enemy. I have the honour to be, &c. R. H. SHEAFFE, Major-General. His Excellency Sir George Prevost, &c. Return of killed, wounded, prisoners, and missing, of the troops engaged at York, under the command of Sir Roger Hall Sheaffe, on the 27th of April. Killed-1 captain, 1 serjeant-major, 4 serjeants, 1 drummer, 52 rank and file, 3 gunners. Wounded-1 ensign, 2 serjeants, 1 drummer, 30 rank and file. Wounded and prisoners-1 lieutenant, 4 serjeants, 1 drummer, 36 rank and file, 1 driver, 1 bombardier, 3 gunners. Missing-6 rank and file, 1 gunner. Names of Officers killed and wounded. Killed-8th, or king's regiment, captain Neal M'Neal, volunteer; D. Mac Lean, clerk of the house of assembly. Wounded-royal Newfoundland regiment, lieutenant D. Goven, prisoner; Glengary light infantry, ensign Robins, slightly; general staff-captain Loring, 104th regiment, slightly; incorporated militia, captain Jarvis; volunteer, Hartney, barrack master. (Signed) RICHARD LEONARD, Acting Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General. EDWARD BAYNES, Adjutant-General North America. By the terms of the capitulation, the troops, regulars and militia, at this post, and the naval officers and seamen, shall be surrendered prisoners of war; the troops, regulars and militia, to ground their arms immediately on the parade, and the naval officers and seamen be immediately surrendered on the parade. CAPTURE OF FORT GEORGE. Copies of Letters from Commodore Chauncey to the Secretary of the Navy. Sir, United States Ship Madison, Niagara River, 27th May, 1813. I am happy to have it in my power to say, that the American flag is flying upon Fort George. We were in quiet possession of all the forts at 12 o'clock. I have the honour to be, very respectfully, sir, your most obedient servant, ISAAC CHAUNCEY. Hon. Wm. Jones, Secretary of the Navy, Washington. United States Ship Madison, Niagara River, Sir, 28th May, 1813. Agreeably to arrangements which I have already had the honour of detailing to you, I left Sackett's Harbour with this ship on the 22d instant, with about 350 of colonel M'Comb's regiment on board-the wind being light from the westward, I did not arrive in the vicinity of Niagara before the 25th, the other parts of the squadron had arrived several days before, and landed their troops. The Fair American and Pert I had ordered to Sackett's Harbour, for the purpose of watching the enemy's movements, at Kingston. I immediately had an interview with general Dearborn for the purpose of making arrangements to attack the enemy as soon as possible, and it was agreed between him and myself to make the attack the moment that the weather was such as to allow the vessels and boats to approach the shore with safety. On the 26th, I reconnoitred the position for landing the troops, and at night sounded the shore, and placed buoys to sound out the stations for the small vessels. It was agreed between the general and myself to make the attack the next morning (as the weather had moderated, and had every appearance of being favourable). I took on board of the Madison, Oneida, and Lady of the Lake, all the heavy artillery and as many troops as could be stowed. The remainder were to embark in boats and to follow the fleet-at three yesterday morning the signal was made for the fleet to weigh, and the troops were all embarked on board the boats before four, and soon after generals Dearborn and Lewis came on board this ship, with their suites. It being however nearly calm, the schooners were obliged to sweep into their positions. Mr. Trant in the Julia, and Mr. Mix in the Growler, I directed to take a position in the mouth of the river, and to silence a battery near the light-house, which from its position commanded the shore where our troops were to land. Mr. Stevens, in the Ontario, was directed to take a position to the north of the light-house, so near in shore as to enfilade the battery, and cross the fire of the Julia and Growler. Lieutenant Brown in the Governor Tompkins, I directed to take a position near the Two Mile Creek, where the enemy had a battery, with a heavy gun. Lieutenant Pettigrew in the Conquest, was directed to anchor to the S. E. of the same battery, so near in as to open on it in the rear, and cross the fire of the Governor Tompkins. Lieutenant M'Pherson in the Hamilton, lieutenant Smith in the Asp, and Mr. Osgood in the Scourge, were directed to anchor close to the shore, and cover the landing of the troops, and to scour the woods and plain whenever the enemy made his appearance. All these orders were most promptly and gallantly executed. All the vessels anchored within musket shot of the shore, and in ten minutes after they opened upon the batteries, they were completely silenced and abandoned. Our troops then advanced in three brigades, the advance led by colonel Scott, and landed near the fort, which had been silenced by lieutenant Brown. The enemy, who had been concealed in a ravine, now advanced in great force to the edge of the bank, to charge our troops. The schooners opened so well directed and tremendous a fire of grape and canister, that the enemy soon retreated from the bank. Our troops formed as soon as they landed, and immediately ascended the bank and charged and routed the enemy in every direction, the schooners keeping up a constant well-directed |