this occasion. The triumph was so complete, and the consequences certain to result from it so important, that it could not fail to excite the most unbounded joy in every bosom, which spontaneously expressed itself every where by illuminations and other public rejoicings, in which all parties, forgetful of their political feuds, vied with each other in paying honours to the young hero and his noble compatriots.

In this action commodore Perry showed himself to be a true American tar, not only by his presence of mind and dauntless valour in the hour of danger, but by his modesty, gallantry, and humanity amidst the triumphs of victory. The utmost care was taken not only of the sick and wounded of his own squadron, but of that of the conquered; and commodore Barclay declared, that "the conduct of Perry towards the captive officers and men was sufficient, of itself, to immortalize him."

3. As soon as the prisoners and wounded were landed, the fleet was employed in concentrating general Harrison's army, by transporting them from Portage river and Fort Meigs to Put-in-bay. This duty was completed about the 20th of September, and on the 22d about 1200 of the troops were landed by Perry on a small island about four leagues from Malden. On the following day they were again embarked, and landed in the afternoon a small distance below Malden, and in an hour after Harrison took possession of the town of Amherstburg, without opposition, general Proctor having previously burnt Fort Malden, the navy-yard, barracks, and public store-houses, and then retreated to Sandwich. Being followed by Harrison, he reretired to a strong position on the right bank of the river Thames, near Moravian Town, about 80 miles from Detroit, leaving the Michigan territory in the possession of the Ameri

cans.

4. On the 2d of October general Harrison left Sandwich in pursuit of Proctor, with about 140 regulars, colonel Johnson's mounted regiment, and the Kentucky volunteers under the venerable governor Shelby, amounting, in the whole, to near 3500 men. Harrison was accompanied by commodore Perry, who volunteered as his aid-de-camp.

The army reached the river Thames, which falls into lake St. Clair, twenty-five miles above Detroit, the same evening, and next morning crossed by a bridge, which Proctor had neglected to destroy. Harrison put himself at the head of the mounted regiment, and pushed forward, in order, if possible, to save the bridges over three branches of the Thames, which ran between him and the British army. At the first of these they captured a lieutenant of dragoons and eleven privates, who had been despatched by Proctor to destroy it; and the second having been

but imperfectly destroyed, was soon repaired, and the army passed over and encamped, on the evening of the 3d of October.

The baggage had thus far been brought in boats accompanied by gun-boats, to protect it, and if necessary to cover the passage of the army across the rivers; but the river above being narrow, with high woody banks, it became necessary to leave the baggage under a guard, and to trust to the bravery of the troops to effect a passage across the remaining stream. Next morning, about eight miles above their encampment, the army arrived at the third unfordable branch of the Thames, where they found that the bridge over its mouth, as well as one a mile above, had been taken up by the Indians. Here several hundred of the Indians attempted to dispute the passage of the troops, but the fire from two six-pounders soon drove them off, and in about two hours the bridge was repaired and the troops crossed, just in time to extinguish a house that had been set on fire containing a considerable number of muskets, which were fortunately saved. At the first farm above the bridge was found one of the enemy's vessels on fire, and here intelligence was received that they were but a few miles ahead.

The army halted for the night about four miles above the bridge, where they found two other vessels and a large distillery filled with ordnance and other valuable stores to an immense

amount, in flames. It was impossible to extinguish the fire, but two mounted twenty-four pounders were taken, and a large quantity of ball and shells of various sizes. Early on the morning of the 5th the troops were again put in motion, and in the afternoon the officer commanding the advance sent to inform general Harrison that his progress was stopped by the enemy,

who were formed across the line of march.

Between the two armies, the road passed through an uncleared beech forest, pretty clear of underwood, near the banks of the river, parallel to which, at the distance of two or three hundred yards, extended a swamp several miles in length. Across this strip of land the British were drawn up, their left resting on the river, supported by artillery, their right on the swamp, covered by the Indians.

The American troops were now formed in order of battle. General Trotter's brigade formed the front line, his right upon the road, and his left upon the swamp, with general Desha's division, consisting of two brigades, formed en potence, upon his

Troops are ranged en potence by breaking a straight line, and throwing a certain proportion of it either forward or backward, from the right or left, according to circumstances, for the purpose of securing that line.-Duane's Military Dictionary.

left. General King's brigade formed a second line, 150 yards in the rear of Trotter's; and Chiles' brigade a corps of reserve in the rear. Trotter's, King's, and Chiles' brigades formed the command of major-general Henry. Each brigade averaged nearly 500 men. The crotchet formed by Desha's division was occupied by Shelby, the governor of Kentucky, a veteran of sixtysix years of age, who had distinguished himself in the revolutionary war at King's Mountain. The regular troops, who now amounted only to 120 men, occupied in columns of sections of four the small space between the road and the river, for the purpose of seizing the enemy's artillery, and ten or twelve friendly Indians were directed to move under the bank. Harrison had directed Johnson's mounted infantry to form in two lines opposite to the enemy, and, when the infantry advanced, to take ground to the left, and, forming upon that flank, to endeavour to turn the right of the Indians. It was perceived, however, that it would be impracticable for them to do any thing on horseback in that quarter, owing to the thickness of the woods and swampiness of the ground. A measure altogether novel was therefore determined on, which was crowned with the most signal success.-The American backwoodsmen ride better in the woods than any other people. A musket or rifle is no impediment to them, being accustomed to carry them on horseback from their earliest youth. A charge was determined on, and accordingly the regiment was drawn up in close column, with its right at the distance of fifty yards from the road, that it might in some measure be protected by the trees from the artillery, and the left upon the swamp.

The army moved on in this order but a short distance, when the mounted men received the fire of the British line, and were instantly ordered to charge. The horses in the front of the column recoiled from the fire; but, on receiving a second fire, the column got into motion, and immediately, at full speed, broke through the enemy with irresistible force. In one minute the contest was over in front. The British officers, seeing no hope of reducing their disordered ranks to order, the mounted infantry wheeling upon them, and pouring in a destructive fire, immediately surrendered. Only three of the Americans were wounded in this charge.

Upon the American left, however, the contest with the Indians was more severe. Colonel Johnson, who commanded on that flank of his regiment, received a most galling fire from them, which was returned with great effect. The Indians still further to the left advanced, and fell in with the front line of infantry, near its junction with the division en potence, and for a moment made an impression upon it. Governor Shelby, however, who,

as already stated, was stationed near this point, brought up a regiment to its support. The enemy now received a severe fire in front, and a part of the mounted men having gained their rear, they immediately retreated with precipitation.

§ 5. The moment had now arrived which was to prove whether the stigma which had been thrown on our Kentucky brethren was founded on truth or falsehood; when it was to be seen whether they were "a ferocious and mortal foe, using the same mode of warfare" with the allies of Britain. The troops who had now completely in their power the army under whose eyes had been acted the tragedy of the river Raisin, and that which was acted on the Miami after the defeat of colonel Dudley, were almost exclusively composed of Kentuckians, of men who had lost their brothers or friends in those shocking scenes. Nor were even the instruments of vengeance wanting. They were accompanied by the savages, that had perpetrated those deeds, who had just been suing for mercy, and would gladly have shown their claims to it, by re-acting upon the Thames the bloody scenes of the river Raisin. But how did they avail themselves of the opportunity which now presented? Did they turn the tide of horrible warfare which had deluged their borders in the blood of wounded prisoners, and of helpless age and infancy, upon the heads of its abettors? No: to their honour and to the honour of their country be it spoken, they did not. The moment they were in their power all injuries were magnanimously forgotten, and the prisoners received the most honourable and delicate treatment from the hands of those whom they had stigmatised as savages, the employment of whom justified the use of the Indians.

Of the British troops, 12 were killed and 22 wounded in this action, and six hundred and one regulars were taken prisoners. General Proctor escaped by the fleetness of his horses, escorted by 40 dragoons and a number of mounted Indians. The Indians suffered the greatest loss. Thirty-three were found dead on the ground, besides numbers who were killed in the retreat. On the day of the action six pieces of brass artillery were taken, and two twenty-four pounders the day before. Several others were discovered in the river, which were expected to be saved. Of the brass pieces, three were trophies of the revolutionary war, that were taken at Saratoga and York, and surrendered by general Hull. The number of small arms captured by the Americans, or destroyed by the enemy, must have exceeded

General Brock's proclamation, for which see page 33 of Official Docu

5000; most of them had been taken by the British at Detroit, the river Raisin, and the Miami. The loss of the Americans was seven killed and twenty-two wounded, five of whom have since died.

The American troops certainly deserved great praise for their conduct in this action; for, although they considerably outnumbered the British, it must be recollected that they were only militia, and that the British had chosen a position that effectually secured their flanks, and which it was impossible for the Americans to turn, or to present a line more extended than that of the enemy.

As soon as Harrison took possession of Amherstburg and Sandwich, and re-occupied the territory of Michigan, several of the Indian tribes submitted and brought in hostages for their good behaviour, and while he was in pursuit of the British, five more tribes followed their example, and brought hostages to Detroit. They were received by general M'Arthur, whom Harrison had left in the command of that place, and it was agreed that hostilities should cease for the present, on condition that they should "take hold of the same tomahawk with the Americans, and strike all who are, or may be, enemies to the United States, whether British or Indians."

The army returned to Detroit shortly after the battle, where they embarked on board the fleet for Buffaloe, in order to join the army under general Wilkinson.

6. About the middle of September an expedition was sent from St. Louis, on the Mississippi, against the Indian settlements on the Peoria lake on the river Illinois. It consisted of about 200 regulars of the 1st regiment of United States infantry, with a considerable body of rangers and mounted militia, under the command of brigadier-general Howard. The regulars ascended the Illinois in boats; the mounted troops proceeded up the Mississippi in two divisions, one on each side of the river, for a considerable distance, and then crossed the country to the Peoria lake. The different detachments had not proceeded far before it was discovered that the enemy were descending the Illinois to ravage the frontier; and a skirmish took place between a party of Indians and the detachment on the east side of the Mississippi, who, however, soon drove them before them. On the evening of the 28th of September, the two detachments that had marched up the Mississippi, and thence across to the Illinois, arrived within a few miles of the old village, and three men were sent forward to discover whether the regulars had arrived. During the night lieutenant-colonel Nicholson, who commanded the regulars, descended the Illinois to the encamp