University of Virginia Library

65. CHAPTER LXV.
BRILLIANT ACHIEVEMENTS.

Our hero stedfastly adhered to his good resolutions,
and suffered no consideration to divert
him from the path of duty. Not long after his return
to the army, a general battle took place on
the peninsula, (near the mighty cataract of Niagara,
and within the sound of its terrific thunders)
which continued from five o'clock in the evening
until near nidnight, and terminated in the defeat
of the British army, although their force, including
Indians, was more than double that of the
Americans.

The action was commenced by the gallant
Scott, with less than two thousand men under his
command, and continued for an hour and forty
minutes before he was supported by the reserve
under Brown. The British were commanded by
general Drummond, seconded by general Riall,
and their advance line was posted in great
strength on a very commanding eminence, near
Lundy's lane. A formidable battery of nine
pieces of artillery (two of which were brass twenty-four
pounders) occupied the summit of this
eminence, supported by an extensive and heavy
line of infantry. This was the key of the whole
position, and gave the enemy such superior advantages,
that it was determined at once to seize
the artillery and occupy the height.

This hazardous duty was assigned to the brave
colonel Miller (the hero of Maguaga) who, perfectly
aware of the mortal perils attending so desperate
a service, cheerfully replied to his general,
“I'll try, sir,”[1] and immediately advanced
with his regiment (seconded by that of the intrepid
M`Farland) under a most rapid and destructive
fire, which was poured down upon them from
every piece of artillery, and a heavy line of musketry.
M`Farland gallantly fell at the head of
his regiment, and was succeeded in command by
major Brooke, an officer of equal intrepidity and
valor. The undaunted Miller steadily and silently
ascended the eminence, followed by his eager
countrymen, and after a short but bloody contest
on the summit, succeeded in carrying the whole
battery, drove the British down the hill, and turned
the fire of their own cannon against them.

In the course of half an hour, however, the enemy
being strongly reinforced from Fort George,
determined to return to the charge and regain his
artillery. Brown was informed that his broken
corps were rallied, and were advancing in good
order and great force. Doubting the correctness
of this information, and wishing to ascertain
the truth, he immediately passed with his
suite in front of the American line, and discovered
by the faint light of the moon, a more extended
and solid phalanx, than had yet opposed him,
advancing rapidly to the charge. Captain Spencer,
without saying a word, put spurs to his horse,
and galloping up to the right of the advancing
line, demanded in a strong and firm voice—
“What regiment is that?” He was as promptly

answered, “The Royal Scots, sir.” Having obtained
this information, the daring Spencer rejoined
his commander-in-chief, who retired with
his suite behind the American line.

The enemy advanced slowly and firmly, while
the most perfect silence was preserved throughout
the ranks of both armies. The muskets of the
Americans were levelled with a deadly aim, and
the ready lighted matches were suspended over
the well-directed cannon. A general discharge
was received from the advancing foe, and still no
American trigger was pressed, until the assailants
were within twenty paces of their muzzles, when
the word was given to fire, and most awful and
tremendous was the effect. The British sustained
their ground as long, perhaps, as ever men stood
such a deluge of destruction, and then retired in
confusion.

Three similar attempts, equally daring, desperate,
and unsuccessful, were made by the exasperated
enemy to regain his cannon; in each attempt
he was defeated with dreadful slaughter,
and finally relinquished the contest, and retired
beyond the borders of the field, which was thickly
strewed with the dead and wounded of both armies.

The Americans being now much exhausted by
fatigue, and faint for want of refreshments, retired
in good order to their camp, while every possible
attention was paid to the wounded of both armies.

Thus terminated the best fought battle which
ever took place on the American continent, in
which the Americans successfully contended with
more than twice their number, drove the enemy
from all his positions, stormed his batteries, carried
his artillery, and after keeping possession of
the conquered field for three hours, retired to

camp without interruption. All this was performed
by moon-light, while the hostile lines were
generally within twenty yards of each other, and
frequently so intermingled, that officers would
order an enemy's platoon.

But the loss of the Americans was severe, being
one hundred and seventy-one killed, five
hundred and seventy-two wounded, and one hundred
and seventeen missing. The British loss
was eighty-four killed, five hundred and fifty-nine
wounded, and two hundred and thirty-six missing,
one hundred and sixty-nine of whom were taken
prisoners. Among the enemy's wounded were the
generals Drummond and Riall—the latter was
taken prisoner by captain Ketchum of Jesup's
regiment, as was also his aid.

Brown was severely wounded through the
thigh, and in the side. Scott, who had as usual
exposed his person in the most dauntless manner,
was wounded in the right shoulder, and in the left
side; had two horses killed under him, and his
aid, lieutenant Worth, with his brigade major,
Smith, were both wounded by his side. More
than thirty officers of this brigade were killed or
wounded.

The following officers need no eulogium on
their conduct, for they all bear upon their persons
the most honorable testimony of their courage
and patriotism—wounds, obtained in their
country's service, and which many of them will
carry to their graves: colonels Brady and Dobbin;
majors Leavenworth, M`Neill, Jesup, and
Wood; captains Biddle, Foster, Bliss, Pentland,
Foulk, Burbank, and Odell; lieutenants Campbell,
Schmuck, J. D. Smith, Worth, Fowle,
Browning, Fisher, Cushman, Hale, Cooper,

Stephenson, Culbertson, Ferguson, Armstrong,
Bean, Shaylor, M`Glassin, Giafford, Vasquez,
Bissel, Cilley, Fisk, Whiting, Ingersol, Tappan,
Abeal, Dietereich, Lamb, O'Fling, Dick, and
Webster; ensigns Thomas, Camp, J. P. Jacobs,
G. Jacobs, Blake, Bedford, Thompson, and
Jones. Captain Pentland and lieutenant Webster,
were made prisoners.

In this affair every man did his duty, every officer
was a hero; and no one was distinguishable
from another, except by their good fortune in
being ordered into situations of peculiar peril.
Of this class were the following: generals Ripley
and Porter; colonels Miller, Dobbin, Nicholas,
Gardner and Wilcox, (the latter commanded the
Canadian volunteers); major Jesup, Hindman,
Jones, M`Ree, and Brooke; captains Austin,
Spencer, Ketchum, and Towson; and lieutenant
Randolph.

Adjutant Poe, major M`Farland, captains Spencer,
Ritchie, Hull, Kinney, Goodrich, and Hooper;
lieutenants Bigelow, Turner, and Burghard;
and ensign Hunter, all gloriously fell in the contest,
and swell the number of those names which
will ever be cherished in the remembrance of
their grateful and admiring countrymen.

The disabled Brown and Scott were conveyed
to Buffalo, while the command of the army devolved
on the gallant Ripley, until the third of
August, when it was assumed by general Gaines.
In the mean time, the works of Fort Erie were extended,
and the original fort much strengthened.

In the foregoing affair, captain Willoughby was
not idle, but conducted himself with his characterestic
coolness and intrepidity; as he did also
during the subsequent siege of Fort Erie, which

commenced on the third of August, and continued
until the seventeenth of September; during
which period the post was assailed in the
most determined manner, and defended with
equal resolution—an almost unceasing cannonade
being kept up between the besiegers and
besieged. Captain Biddle, lieutenant Zantzinger,
adjutant-lieutenant Watmough, and lieutenant
Patterson, the heroes of many a desperate
conflict, were wounded, among many others, by
the shot and shells thrown from the enemy's
works.

On the morning of the fifteenth of August, the
British made a furious attempt to carry the place
by storm; and for this purpose attacked it at
three points in the same moment, their centre column
being led by lieutenant-colonel Drummond.
The attack was expected by Gaines; who, not
knowing at what points it would be made, prepared
to receive it at every one which was
thought assailable. The night was dark and
rainy, but the faithful sentinel slept not, and one
third of the American troops were at their posts.
At half past two o'clock the approach of the
enemy was distinctly heard; and a most tremendous
fire of cannon and small arms immediately
opened upon him. Three times did he attempt
to mount the walls with scaling-ladders, and was
as often thrown back by the destructive tempest
that was poured upon him from the flaming
batteries.

After the third repulse, Drummond took advantage
of the extreme darkness of the morning,
(which concealed all his movements from the
view of the garrison) and silently moved his remaining
troops to an unexpected point, where

he repeated the charge. He ascended the scaling-ladder
in the midst of his men, who mounted
with such velocity as to gain footing on the
parapet before any effectual opposition could be
made. Here they were ordered to charge with
pikes and bayonets and give no quarter! Captains
Williams and Willoughby, with the brave lieutenants
M`Donough and Watmough, fought arm
to arm with the assailants, and were all severely
wounded—the gallant Williams, mortally. M`Donough's
wounds soon rendered him unable to
resist, when Willoughby threw himself before
him, and deeply dyed the sword of Washington
in the blood of his enemies, whom he kept at
bay until the blade snapped in twain, when he
received a cut on his head which threw him on
his wounded friend M`Donough, who now reluctantly
demanded quarter. “Give no quarter!”
exclaimed the tiger-hearted Drummond, and
darted forward to stab the fallen suppliant; who,
seizing a handspike, successfully defended himself
against a numerous party that now rushed
upon him, until a pistol-shot from the hand of
Drummond terminated his existence. Our hero
had now recovered himself, and regained his
footing on the slippery platform, running with
blood, when seeing the fate of his friend, he
drew forth a pistol and shot his inhuman assassin
through the heart, and then effected his retreat
from the bastion.

The day now began to dawn, and never before
did it rise upon such a scene of human carnage
as this devoted bastion now exhibited. The
contest still continued with augmented fury, and
several desperate but unsuccessful charges were
made on the assailants by the Americans, led on

by the undaunted Birdsall, who was severely
wounded, and compelled to give back, while the
gallant Hindman, Hall and Foster, charged at
different points, with no better success.

A most tremendous assault was, however, just
on the point of being made by four hundred
Americans, who were resolved to turn the tide
of victory, or perish in the attempt, when a
dreadful explosion took place beneath the platform
of the contested bastion, which destroyed
nearly all the British who occupied it, and at
once decided the fate of the conflict. The enemy
were now in a few moments entirely defeated,
taken, or put to flight, leaving on the field two
hundred and twenty-one killed, one hundred and
seventy-four wounded, and one hundred and
eighty-six prisoners. Fourteen officers were
among the killed, and seven among the prisoners.
The American loss in this affair, was seventeen
killed, fifty-six wounded, and eleven missing.
Among the killed, were the brave captain Williams
and lieutenant M`Donough. Lieutenant
Watmough defended the contested bastion until
his wounds rendered him incapable of further
resistance; while the gallant Fontaine was thrown
from the walls, and fell into the hands of the Indians,
who, unlike their white allies, did not refuse
quarter to a wounded and yielding foe.
Lieutenants Belknap, Brown, and Bushnell, and
ensign Cisna, were also severely wounded while
gallantly contending with the enemy.

Besides those already mentioned, the following
officers bore a conspicuous part in this desperate
contest, and made a brilliant display of that chivalric
spirit which so eminently characterises the
American soldier, viz. Generals Ripley and Porter;

colonel Aspinwall; majors Trimble, Hindman,
Wood, M`Kee, Hall, and Jones; captains
Seymour, Towson, Chunn, Biddle, Fanning, Foster,
Boughton, Harding, Birdsall, Marston,
Ropes, and Harris; lieutenants Fraser, Gleason,
Jewitt, Larned, Bowman, Byrd, Riddle, Hall,
Zantzinger, Childs, Douglas, Cushman, Foot,
and Belton; ensigns Benn, Jones, Cummings,
Thomas, Keally, Green, and Blake.

Soon after the above affair, general Brown
was so far recovered of his wounds as to repair
to Fort Erie, and resume the command of the
army, which had been, in the mean time, reinforced
by new levies of militia. He immediately
conceived a plan for dislodging the enemy from
his intrenched works, and communicated it in
the strictest confidence to the officers of his staff,
who gave it their most cordial approbation. Fraser
and Riddle, being well acquainted with the
intervening woods, were consulted on the subject
of opening a road through them, by which the
works of the enemy might be assailed from an
unexpected point, and they readily undertook to
open such road in a direction hitherto deemed
the most inaccessible. Accordingly, on the morning
of the sixteenth of September, they proceeded
from Fort Erie with a fatigue party, and
penetrated the woods which surrounded the enemy's
encampment, until they arrived within pistol-shot
of his works. Here they determined to
commence their operations, and cut their way
back towards the fort. A messenger was immediately
dispatched to inform Brown, that the
party were in readiness to begin, when a brisk
cannonade was opened upon the enemy's works,
in order to drown the sounds of the American

axes, while the whole party fell to work in felling
trees and filling morasses.

In the course of the day, a convenient road
was constructed, concealed from the enemy's
view only by a little thicket in front of his third
battery; and through this road, on the following
day, did Fraser and Riddle lead the advance of
the assailing columns, with so much rapidity and
secrecy, that the sentinel who was walking to
and fro in the area in front of the battery, was
surprised and slain before any alarm was given,
and the battery was instantly stormed in the most
gallant manner, and the cannon spiked.

Had the attention of the enemy been at all
directed to a point so admirably defended by
nature, the wary assailants might still have anproached
unobserved; for a stratagem was adopted
by their advance similar to that recorded by
Shakspeare of Macduff, in his march against the
tyrant of Scotland. Independent of a dress
corresponding to the color of the foliage through
which they proceeded, each man was so enveloped
by branches stuck in his belt and other
parts of his body, that no semblance of a human
being could have been traced; and the astonished
foe might have thought, like Macbeth, that a
forest was marching against him.

The assault was made at two points, by two
divisions of the American forces—one of them
commanded by Porter, and the other by Miller;
and with so much bravery and address was the
whole executed, that the British batteries were
all carried, one of his magazines blown up, his
cannon spiked, and above one thousand of his
troops either captured, killed, or desperately
wounded. The Americans lost eighty killed,

two hundred and fourteen wounded, and two
hundred and sixteen missing, which latter were
principally militia who lost their way in the
woods, and were captured after the regulars had
returned in triumph to the fort. The severity of
our hero's recent wounds prevented his sharing
in the glory of this enterprise.

During this brilliant sortie, the following valuable
officers fell, while galiantly leading their
men to the charge; but their names and examples
will live to guide the soldier in the path of
duty, so long as true heroism is held in estimation:
General Davis, colonel Gibson, and lieutenant-colonel
Wood; captains Buel, Bradford,
Hale, and Armistead; ensigns O`Fling, Blakesley,
Brown, and Belknap.

The following heroes survived the contest, but
their blood has consecrated the soil on which that
conflict was sustained, and enriched it for the
growth of Freedom—viz. Generals Ripley and
Porter; lieutenant-colonel Aspinwall; major
Trimble; captains Ingersol, Knapp, Gillet, Hale,
Cobb, Ramsey, and Bigger, (the latter of the
Canadian volunteers); lieutenants Bailey, Grant,
Stephenson, Clark, Hale, Brown, Childs, and
Crawford; ensigns Cummings and Neely. The
ever gallant Fraser, (who was Porter's brigade-major,)
received a shot in the leg, while spiking
one of the enemy's cannon, and his friend Delapierre,
[2] who was a volunteer aid to the general,

was also severely wounded. The brave Riddle,
with quarter-master Greene, of the volunteers,
as soon as the first battery was carried, descended
into the enemy's magazine, and after securing a
quantity of fixed ammunition, blew up the magazine,
and suffered severely from the explosion.
The patriotic conduct of major Hubbard, with
that of fourteen men exempted by age from military
duty, who voluntarily served under him on
this occasion, will long be remembered by their
grateful country; while the bravery and patriotism
of twenty young gentlemen who volunteered from
Batavia, and followed captain Elliott in this hazardous
enterprize, will excite an irresistible glow of
emulation in the bosom of every youthful soldier.
But it is impossible to do justice to all who signalized
themselves on this occasion; it is sufficient
that I record the names of all that can be
collected, for it will one day be the proudest boast
of many a father to his son, while opening his
tender mind to the sentiments of patriotism and
honor, to conclude his lesson with—“Your father
was in the sortie from Erie;” and he will then mention
with enthusiasm the names I have already
recorded, to which he will add those of Miller,
Ripley, Snelling, Gardner, Beedle, M`Donald,
Upham, M`Bee, Dobbin, M`Burney, Fleming,
Hopkins, Churchill, Crosby, Hall, Jones, Brook,
Chambers, Austen, Lee, Marcle, Wilson, Lawrence,
Burr, Dunham, Kellogg, Ganson, Shortridge,
Ballard, Dobbins, Bates, and Robinson—
all of a rank superior to captain. Also, captains
Hull, Simms, Bradford, Fleming, Parker, Chatfield,
Richardson, and Kennedy; together with
lieutenants Lee, Goodall, Ingersol, Livingston,
Bissell, Armstrong, Shore, Kirby, Bridnot, Watts,
Holding, and Davis; and ensign Brant.

On the third day after this brilliant sortie, the
enemy raised the siege, broke up his encampment,
hastily retreated towards Fort George, and
rested under the protection of its cannon.

Our hero was still confined with the wounds he
received in the assault of the fifteenth, when the
following letter was handed him from O'Hara:

After the enemy had been compelled to raise
the siege of Fort Erie, nothing material occurred
during the remainder of the campaign, except an
affair which took place at Lyon's Creek, between
a detachment of nine hundred Americans, under
general Bissell, and eleven hundred British, under
the marquis of Tweedale, in which the latter were
defeated and driven into their intrenchments,
with a loss of nearly two hundred, in killed,
wounded, and prisoners. The American loss
was only twelve killed, and fifty-five wounded.
The action took place on the nineteenth of October;
captain Willoughby was engaged in it, and
with so much courage and address as to excite
the admiration of his brethren in arms. The
other officers who distinguished themselves on
this occasion, were—Colonels Pinkney, Snelling,
and Pearce; majors Barnard, Barker, and Grindage;
captains Dorman, Irvine, and Allison;
lieutenants Horreil, Gassaway, Prestman, and
Anspack.

On the fifth of November, according to previous
arrangements, Fort Erie was destroyed, and
the American army went into winter-quarters on
the eastern side of the Niagara.