the enemy left about 15 dead on the different grounds. He is supposed to have brought his whole force into the field; but finding our position so strong, desisted from a general attack. Sir George Prevost was in person at the attack. His force is withdrawn out of our reach into his strong holds. I have the honour to be, sir, your respectful, obedient servant,

JOHN P. BOYD, Brig.-Gen.

Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary at War.

Extract of a Letter from Brigadier-General M'Clure to his Excellency Governor Tompkins, dated

Fort George, half past 5 o'clock,

P. M., 6th October, 1813.

Since writing the above we have commenced offensive operations against the enemy. About 500 militia volunteers and about 150 Indians, commanded by colonel Chapin, attacked the picket guard of the enemy about a mile and a half from Fort George, and drove them into the main body, when the enemy opened a fire from several field-pieces. Our men retired in good order into the fort, with the loss of one man killed and two or three wounded. The enemy's loss was seven killed, many wounded, and four prisoners. In a short time the enemy appeared in considerable force within 500 yards of the fort, at the edge of the woods; Chapin again sallied out with about 300 men and some Indians, commenced a brisk fire on the whole of the enemy's line, and drove them half a mile-but perceiving by the movements of the enemy that they would outflank us, I ordered 200 to reinforce him, and in two detachments to attack the enemy's flank. We succeeded in driving the enemy into the woods, when night coming on put an end to the conflict. Our loss was trifling; I have not ascertained that of the enemy. Colonel Chapin is a brave man. Every officer and soldier did his duty.

Address to the Inhabitants of the Upper Province of Canada. Brigadier-general M'Clure, commanding on the Niagara frontier, finds the upper province deserted by the British army, and abandoned by its government-In the peculiar situation of the inhabitants, it is essential to their security that some regulation should be established for their government, while the American army has the power of enforcing them. The general regrets to say, that illegal, unauthorized, and forbidden pillage has been committed by a few, who are lost to

all honour, and insensible of the obligations of a soldier Tc arrest such practices, to afford all the protection in his power, and to ensure safety to the property and persons of the inhabi tants who are now under his controul, the general has issued this address.

The employment of the Indians has been a source of extreme regret to the general. But finding them called out by the government of the United States, and expecting to attack an army who had long employed them in scenes of atrocity and outrage, at which humanity shudders, he was driven to the only alternative left him of using the same weapon against our enemies which they had used against ourselves.-That the British army had abandoned their encampments and fled before the American force, does not weaken the necessity which he was under, of employing the Indians before he knew that the enemy had absconded. At the same time, it is due to them to say, that the Indians have conducted themselves far better than had been expected, if the example of the British officers and British savages be a criterion. Not a single individual has been scalped or tomahawked by them, no prisoner of war has been burnt, the dead have not been thrown into the public highways, women and children have not been massacred, nor has private property been destroyed, except in cases where the former conduct of the owners required exemplary retaliation. The property which they have plundered, was, in cases where it was possible, restored to the inhabitants at the expence of the United States, and when the necessity for their employment ceased to exist, the Indians were sent to the American side of the river, beyond the reach of temptation, to wait until circumstances justified another call upon them.-The relation of these facts is due to the honour of our government, to the reputation of the general, and to the merits of the Indians. From it also, the inhabitants of Canada may learn what they may expect from American for bearance and clemency.

To insure that forbearance, the inhabitants have an easy duty to perform. Let them be perfectly neutral, let them abstain from communications with the British army, and remain at home quietly pursuing their avocations. Those who conduct differently will incur the penalties of rigorous mar. tial law. The character of our free republican government, and the nature of our institutions, will justify your expecta tion of security and protection. All civil magistrates will continue to exercise the functions of their offices merely as conservators of the peace; as far as they are able, they will

preserve order and quiet among the inhabitants. The existing laws of the province, so far as they regard the public peace, and not interfering with the regulations of the army, will be considered in force until other measures are taken. The magistrates are particularly required to give information at head-quarters, of all violences committed by American troops on citizens, unless they are authorized by a written order. The general enjoins the inhabitants to submit to their magistrates, and those who refuse obedience must be reported to head-quarters. The brigadier-general invites all the inhabitants who are disposed to be peaceable, orderly, and neutral, to return to their homes and their business. He cannot promise complete security, but he engages, as far as his power extends, to protect the innocent, the unfortunate, and the distressed. GEO. M'CLURE, Commanding Niagara Frontier.

Head-Quarters, Fort George, October 16, 1813.

SIEGE OF LOWER SANDUSKY.

Copy of a Letter from Major-General Harrison to the Secretary of War, dated

Sir,

Head-Quarters, Seneca Town, August 4, 1813. In my letter of the 1st instant, I did myself the honour to inform you that one of my scouting parties had just returned from the lake shore, and had discovered, the day before, the enemy in force near the mouth of the Sandusky bay. The party had not passed Lower Sandusky two hours, before the advance, consisting of Indians, appeared before the fort, and in half an hour after a large detachment of British troops; and in the course of the night they commenced a cannonading against the fort with three six-pounders and two howitzers; the latter from gun-boats. The firing was partially answered by major Croghan, having a six-pounder, the only piece of artillery.

The fire of the enemy was continued at intervals, during the second instant, until about half after five, P. M., when, finding that their cannon made little impression upon the works, and having discovered my position here, and apprehending an attack, an attempt was made to carry the place by storm. Their troops were formed in two columns; lieutenant-colonel Short headed the principal one, composed of the light and battalion companies of the 41st regiment.

This gallant officer conducted his men to the brink of the ditch, under the most galling and destructive fire from the garrison, and leaping into it was followed by a considerable part of his own and the light company; at this moment a masked port hole was suddenly opened, and a six-pounder with a half load of powder and a double charge of leaden slugs, at the distance of 30 feet, poured destruction upon them, and killed or wounded nearly every man who had entered the ditch. In vain did the British officers exert themselves to lead on the balance of the column; it retired in disorder under a shower of shot from the fort, and sought safety in the adjoining woods. The other column headed by the grenadiers had also retired, after having suffered from the muskets of our men, to an adjacent ravine. In the course of the night, the enemy, with the aid of their Indians, drew off the greater part of the wounded and dead, and embarking them in boats descended the river with the utmost precipitation. In the course of the 2d instant, having heard the cannonading, I made several attempts to ascertain the force and situation of the enemy; our scouts were unable to get near the fort, from the Indians which surrounded it. Finding, however, that the enemy had only light artillery, and being well convinced that it could make little impression upon the works, and that any attempt to storm it would be resisted with effect, I waited for the arrival of 250 mounted volunteers, which on the evening before had left Upper Sandusky. But as soon as I was informed that the enemy were retreating, I set out with the dragoons to endeavour to overtake them, leaving generals M'Arthur and Cass to follow with all the infantry (about 700) that could be spared from the protection of the stores and sick at this place. I found it impossible to come up with them. Upon my arrival at Sandusky, I was informed by the prisoners that the enemy's forces consisted of 490 regular troops, and 500 of Dixon's Indians, commanded by general Proctor in person, and that Tecumseh, with about 2000 warriors, was somewhere in the swamps, between this and Fort Meigs, expecting my advancing, or that of a convoy of provisions.

As there was no prospect of doing any thing in front, and being apprehensive that Tecumseh might destroy the stores and small detachments in my rear, I sent orders to general Cass, who commanded the reserve, to fall back to this place, and to general M'Arthur with the front line to follow and support him. I remained at Sandusky until the parties that were sent out in every direction returned-not an enemy was to be seen.

I am sorry that I cannot transmit you major Croghan's official report. He was to have sent it to me this morning, but I have just heard that he was so much exhausted by 36 hours of continued exertion, as to be unable to make it. It will not be amongst the least of general Proctor's mortifications to find that he has been baffled by a youth who has just passed his twenty-first year. He is, however, a hero worthy of his gallant uncle (general George R. Clark).

Captain Hunter, of the 17th regiment, the second in command, conducted himself with great propriety; and never were a set of finer young fellows than the subalterns, viz. lieutenants Johnson and Baylor, of the 17th, Anthony of the 34th, Meeks of the 7th, and ensigns Shipp and Duncan of the 17th.

The following account of the unworthy artifice and conduct of the enemy will excite your indignation. Major Chambers was sent by general Proctor, accompanied by colonel Elliott, to demand the surrender of the fort. They were met by ensign Shipp. The major observed, that general Proctor had a number of cannon, a large body of regular troops, and so many Indians whom it was impossible to controul; and if the fort was taken, as it must be, the whole of the garrison would be massacred. Mr. Shipp answered, that it was the determination of major Croghan, his officers and men, to defend the garrison or be buried in it; and that they might do their best. Colonel Elliott then addressed Mr. Shipp, and said, "you are a fine young man; I pity your situation; for God's sake surrender, and prevent the dreadful slaughter that must follow resistance." Shipp turned from him with indignation, and was immediately taken hold of by an Indian, who attempted to wrest his sword from him. Elliott pretended to exert himself to release him, and expressed great anxiety to get him safe in the fort.

I have the honour to enclose you a copy of the first note received from major Croghan. It was written before day; and it has since been ascertained, that of the enemy there remained in the ditch one lieutenant-colonel, one lieutenant, and 25 privates: the number of prisoners, one serjeant and 25 privates; 14 of them badly wounded: every care has been taken of the latter, and the officers buried with the honours due to their rank and bravery. All the dead that were not in the ditch, were taken off in the night by the Indians. It is impossible, from the circumstances of the attack, that they should have lost less than 100. Some of the prisoners think that it amounted to 200. A young gentlemen, a private in