Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

braces about one hundred miles of sea-coast, and includes that intermediate tract of country which separates the province of New Brunswick from Lower Canada.

We have taken twenty-six pieces of ordnance, serviceable and unserviceable, with a proportion of arins and ammunition, returns of which are enclosed; and I have the pleasing satisfaction to add, that this service has been effected without the loss of a man on our part.

I cannot refrain from expressing, in the strongest manner, the admirable steadiness and good conduct of the 29th regiment, under Major Hodge. The advance, under Major Todd, are also entitled to my warmest thanks.

A detachment of thirty seamen from his Majesty's ship Bacchante, under Mr. Bruce, master's mate, were attached to the royal artillery under the command of Lieutenant Daniell, of that corps, for the purpose of dragging the howitzer, as no other means could be procured to bring it forward; and to their unwearied exertions, and the judicious arrangement of Lieutenant Daniell, I am indebted for having a five and a half inch howitzer con

veyed through a country the most difficult of access I ever witnessed. - To Captain Parker, of his Majesty's ship Tenedos, who commanded the squadron, I feel every obligation; and I can assure you the most cordial understanding has subsisted between the two branches of the service.

I have the honour to be, &c.

A. PILKINGTON, Lieut.-Col. Deputy Adjutant Gen. To Lieut. Gen. Sir J. C. Sherbrooke, K. B. &c.

COLONIAL DEPARTMENT.

Downing-street, Nov. 16. Extract of a dispatch from Lieutenant General Sir George Prevost, Bart. to Earl Bathurst, dated head-quarters.

Montreal, Sept. 30, 1814.

I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship the enclosed copy of a dispatch I have received from Lieut. General Drummond, reporting the result of a sortie made by the enemy, with a large proportion of his force from Fort Erie, on the 17th inst. in which the very superior numbers of the American army were at length repulsed with great loss, by the intrepid valour and determined bravery of the division of troops under the Lieutenant General's command. A copy of Major General De Watteville's report, and the return of killed, wounded, and missing, on the occasion, are annexed; and although in this affair we have suffered a considerable loss, it will be satisfactory to your Lordship to learn that Lieutenant Gen. Drummond represents the conduct and spirit displayed by the officers and men engaged as deserving of his highest commendation.

Extract of a letter from Lieutenant General Drummond to Lieutenant General Sir G. Prevost, dated

Camp before Fort Erie,
Sept. 19, 1814.

My letter to your Excellency of the 17th gave a short account of the result of an attack made by the enemy on my batteries and

position on that day. I have now the honour to transmit a copy of Major General De Watteville's report, together with a return of killed, wounded, and missing, on that occasion.

To the information which your Excellency will derive from those documents, I have to add, that as soon as the firing was heard, I proceeded towards the advance, and found the troops had moved from camp, and the Royals and 89th had been pushed by Major Gene ral De Watteville into the wood on the right towards No. 3 battery, and that the 82nd was moving to the support of the batteries on the left. At this moment it was reported to me that the enemy had gained possession of the batteries No. 2 and 3, and that our troops were falling back; a report which the approach of the fire confirmed (your Excellency will have in recollection that the whole line of operations lay in a thick wood); I immediately directed Lieutenant Colonel Campbell to detach one wing of the 6th regiment to support the 82nd in an attack which I ordered to be made for the recovery of battery No. 2. I directed Major General De Watteville to superintend this movement; Major General Stovin took the direction of the troops and guns left in reserve. I threw forward the Glengarry light infantry into the wood in front of the centre, to check the advance of the enemy, and support the troops retiring from that point; both these movements were executed to my entire satisfaction, and being combined with a judicious attack made by Lieutenant Colonel Gordon, with part of the 1st brigade, consisting VOL. LVI.

of the 1st battalion of the Royal Scots, supported by the 89th; the enemy was every where driven back, and our batteries and entrenchments regained, not, however, before he had disabled the guns in No. 3 battery and explod ed its magazine. The enemy did not again attempt to make a stand, but retreated in great disorder to the fort, and was followed by our troops to the glacis of the place.

To Major General De Watteville's report I must refer your Excellency for the cause of the enemy's success in the first instance, viz. the overwhelming number of the enemy, to which we had only the King's and De Watteville's regiments to oppose. The spirit which the troops displayed in all the subsequent operations deserves the highest commendations, and entitles them to my warmest approbation. I have only to regret that the scene of action (a thick wood) was so unfavourable to the display of the valuable qualities which are inherent in British troops. The charge made by the 82nd regiment under Major Proctor, and detachments of the 6th under Major Taylor, led to the recovery of the battery No. 2, and very. much decided the precipitate retrograde movement made by the ene my from the different points of our position, of which he had gained a short possession.

Major General De Watteville reports most favourably of the steadiness evinced by the 1st Battalion Royal Scots, under Lieutenant Colonel Gordon (commanding 1st brigade), and the remains of the 2nd battalion 89th, under Captain Basden. I myself witnessed the good order and spirit with which ́

S

the Glengarry light infantry, under Lieutenant Colonel Battersby, pushed into the wood, and by their superior fire drove back the enemy's light troops. Lieut. Colonel Pearson, Inspecting Field Officer, accompanied this part of his demibrigade, and I am sorry to say, received a severe, though I hope not a dangerous wound. To Major General De Watteville, who commanded in camp, and by whom the first directions were given and arrangements made, I am under great obligations for the judgment displayed by him, and for his zeal and exertions during the action.My acknowledgments are also due to Major General Stovin, who arrived at my head quarters a few hours before the attack, for the assistance I received from him. I cannot sufficiently appreciate the valuable assistance which I have received from Col. Myers, Deputy Quarter Master General, and Lieutenant Colonel Harvey, Deputy Adjutant General, during the present service, and which have been of the more importance, as, from my own state of health of late (in consequence of my wound), I have not been able to use those active exertions which I otherwise might. I avail myself of this opportunity of again expressing my sincere concern at the loss which this division of the army sustained, by the accident which deprived it of the services of Major General Couran, from whose energy and ability much was justly to be expected. To Major Glegg, Assistant Adjutant General; to Captains Chambers and Powell, Deputy Assistants Quarter Master General; to Captain Foster, Military Secretary; Lieutenant Colonel Hager

man, Provincial Aide de Camp, and to Lieutenant Nesfield, 89th regiment, acting Aide de Camp, who have rendered me every assistance in their respective situations, my best acknowledgments are due; they are likewise due to Major D'Alton, Brigade Major, with the right division, for his uniform correctness, zeal, and attention to his duty.

To Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, of the 6th regiment, I am also much indebted, as well in his capacity of Commanding Officer of that excellent corps, as in that of senior officer of the reserve of this division. Colonel Fischer, of De Watteville's regiment, and Lieutenant Colonel Ogilvie, of the King's, are entitled to my thanks. The zeal and exertions of Major Phillot, commanding the Royal Artillery; Captains Walker and Sabine, and the officers and men of that corps, have been unremitting, and merit every commendation. I have reason to be pleased with the activity and zeal which Major Lisle, and the officers and men of the squadron of the 19th light dragoons, have uniformly displayed.

The enemy, it is now ascertained, made the sortie with his whole force, which, including the militia volunteers by which he has lately been joined, could not consist of less than five thousand. About two hundred prisoners fell into our hands, and I cannot estimate the enemy's loss in killed and wounded at less than that number.

The dreadful state of the roads and of the weather, it having poured with rain almost incessantly for the last ten days, renders every movement of ordnance or heavy stores exceedingly difficult. By great

exertions the commanding artillery officer has succeeded in moving the battery guns, and mortars, with their stores, &c. towards the Chip pawa, to which place I mean to withdraw them for the present.

Camp, hefore Fort Erie,

Sept. 19, 1814.

Sir, I have the honour to report to you, that the enemy attacked, on the 17th, in the afternoon, at three o'clock, our position before Fort Erie, the second brigade, under Colonel Fischer, composed of the 8th and De Watteville's regiments, being on duty.

Under cover of a heavy fire of his artillery from Fort Erie, and much favoured by the nature of the ground, and also by the state of the weather, the rain falling in torrents at the moment of his approach, the enemy succeeded in turning the right of our line of picquets without being perceived, and with a very considerable force attacked both the picquets and support in their flanks and rear; at the same time another of the enemy's columns attacked in front the picquets between No.2 and No. 3 batteries, and having succeeded in penetrating by No. 4 picquet, part of his force turned to his left, and thereby surrounded our right, and got almost immediate possession of No. 3 battery. The enemy then directed his attacks with a very superior force towards No. 2 battery, but the obstinate resistance made by the picquets, under every possible disadvantage, delayed considerably his getting possession of No. 2 battery, in which, however, he at last succeeded.

As soon as the alarm was given, the 1st brigade being the next for

support, composed of the Royal Scots, the 82nd, and 9th regiments, under Lieutenant Colonel Gordon, received orders to march forward; and also the light demi-brigade, under Lieutenant Colonel Pearson; the 6th regiment remaining in reserve under Lieutenant Colonel Campbell. From the Concessionroad, the Royal Scots, with the 89th as support, moved by the New-road, and met the enemy near the block-house, on the right of No. 3 battery, whom they engaged, and by their steady and intrepid conduct, checked his further progress. The 82nd regiment, and three companies of the 6th regiment were detached to the left, in order to support No. 1 and 2 batteries: the enemy having at that time possession of No. 2 battery, and still pushing forward seven companies of the 82nd, under Major Proctor, and the three companies of the 6th, under Major Taylor, received directions to oppose the enemy's forces, and immediately charged them with the most intrepid bravery, driving them back across our entrenchments, and also from No. 2 battery, thereby preventing their destroying it, or damaging its guns in a considerable degree; Lieutenant Colonel Pearson, with the Glengarry light infantry, under Lieutenant Colonel Battersby, pushed forward by the centre road, attacked and carried with great gallantry the new intrenchment then in full possession of the enemy.

The enemy being thus repulsed at every point, was forced to retire with precipitation to their works, leaving prisoners and a number of their wounded in our hands. By five o'clock the intrenchments

[blocks in formation]

Return of Casualties of the Right Division of the army, in action with the Enemy, Camp before Fort Erie, Sept. 17, 1814. General Total-1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 7 serjeants, 105 rank and file, killed; 3 lieutenant colonels, 3 captains, 10 lieutenants, 1 ensign, 13 serjeants, 1 drummer, 147 rank and file, wounded; 2 majors, 4 captains, 3 lieutenants, 2 ensigns, 1 adjutant, 1 assistantsurgeon, 21 serjeants, 2 drummers, 280 rank and file missing.

Extract of a Letter from Sir G. Prevost to Earl Bathurst, dated

Head-quarters, Montreal,
October 4, 1814.

I have the honour to transmit to your Lordship the inclosed extract of a letter I have just received from Lieut. Gen. Drummond :

Extract of a Letter from Lieut.-
General Drummond to his Ex-
cellency Lieut.-Gen. Sir George
Prevost, dated

District Head-quarters, Falls
of Niagara, Sept. 24.
The troops, fell back at 8 o'clock

on the evening of the 21st to the position alluded to in my letter of that date, and bivouacked for the night under torrents of rain. Soon after daylight on the 22nd the enemy discovered our movements, and pushed out his picquets posted on the plain opposite Black Rock, and immediately retreated, after exchanging a few shots, without attempting to molest them. Having waited until two o'clock, (as well for the purpose of giving battle to the enemy should he have ventured out, as of giving time for the movement of all incumbrances behind the Black Creek,) I ordered the troops to retire across Frenchman's Creek, and the bridge over that creek to be destroyed. A cavalry picquet was left to watch this brigade; and the troops then proceeded to take up the cantonments. The whole of the movements has this day been completed; and the troops are now in comfortable quarters, where it is my intention to give them a few days

repose.

Foreign Office, Dec. 26, 1814.

Mr. Baker arrived this afternoon at this Office, with a Treaty of Peace and Amity between his Majesty and the United States of America, signed at Ghent, on the 24th instant, by Admiral Lord Gambier, Henry Goulburn, Esq. and William Adams, Esq. D. D. L. Plenipotentiaries of his Majesty ; and by John Quincy Adams, J. A. Bayard, Henry Clay, Jonathan Russell, and Albert Gallatin, Esqrs. Plenipotentiaries on the part of the said United States.

« ForrigeFortsett »