clouds of night were fast descending, he penetrated the British line and cut off its left wing, making prisoners of General Riall, and suit, while General Drummond narrowly escaped the same fate one of his aids was however taken, and by this the execution of a manœuvre, which would have at once overpowered the strength of the Americans, was prevented.

'Ripley's brigade at length arrived, and in order to relieve the troops of General Scott, now almost exhausted, they displayed in front. The enemy occupied a commanding height, on which was planted his artillery, a formidable battery. Ripley conceived the bold design of making an attempt to carry the height, as the only movement that appeared likely to bring the battle to an issue, and on this being communicated to the commander, it was approved. Accordingly assigning to Colonel Miller the arduous duty of leading the charge, at the head of the 25th, he resolved to follow with the 23d, the younger regiment. They advanced in column to the perilous charge, but faultered on receiving the first fire; they were again formed, and advancing with a steady and firm step, seized the whole battery. The enemy fled in astonishment and dismay, while the Americans turn-` ed their own artillery upon them, and together with their own pieces, posted themselves with great strength. The enemy stung with shame, and receiving reinforcements which enabled them to outflank the Americans in both extremes, came on with a furious charge, but were driven back with great loss; they were driven back a second, and a third time, having each time received reinforcements. The Americans were left in quiet possession of the field; it was now midnight, and having been so long engaged in this dreadful combat, they were

ordered to retreat; but unfortunately the trophies of this splendid victory, could not be secured from the want of the means of conveying the artillery, the carriages having been shattered, and the horses killed. The total loss of the British amounted to eight hundred and sixty, the loss of the Americans very little short of the same number. When we consider that the forces engaged did not exceed four thousand five hundred on the British side, and three thousand on the American, this may rank amongst the most bloody battles any where recorded. The disproportionate loss of the Americans, is to be ascribed to the advantages of the enemy in the commencement of the action, over the brigade of General Scott; this brigade suffered so much that several regi ments were so thinned, that when united, they scarcely formed more than one. Generals Brown and Scott were both severely wounded, and the command devolving on General Ripley, he retired to Fort Erie. General Porter, of the volunteers, gained great honors for himself and his brave volunteers. Colonel Leavenworth, Major Jessup, and a number of other officers were highly complimented in the orders of the day.

On the 15th of August, after the fort had been for some time invested by General Drummond, with a large force, and after having made his regular approaches, he resolved to attempt to carry it by storm. The assault and defence, were of the same desparate character as the pitched battles before described, and terminated alike to the glory of the American officers and soldiers. By this time the bravery of American troops had made no light impression on these haughty foes. The loss of the British was immense, and General Gaines who com

manded, General Ripley and other officers, acquired imperishable renown.

General Brown having recovered from his wounds, on the 2d of September, resumed the command. From the time of the unsuccessful assault, both sides were actively engaged, the enemy in erecting batteries and other works, the Americans in completing their defences. The enemy's batteries were becoming every day more formidable to the fort, two of which were within five hundred yards, and a third was rapidly constructing, for the purpose of infilading the American works. A spirited measure was thought of by General Brown, to avert the impending danger. On the 17th, a sortie was executed in a gallant style, which could only be equalled by the admirable skill displayed in the formation of the plan. The British were completely surprised; the American troops taking a circuitous rout through the woods, came suddenly upon the enemy's flank, and charging in column, took possession of all the enemy's batteries, though not without a severe conflict and great carnage. The batteries in two hours were destroyed. The Americans had to deplore the loss of some gallant officers, among whom were Brigadier General Davis, of the volunteers, Colonels Gibson, and Wood, two valuable officers. The loss of the enemy was upwards of eight hundred men. About three hundred Americans were killed and wounded, among the latter General Ripley.

The Wellingtonian " Invincibles," after this, thought proper to retire, and accordingly Generals Drummond and De Watteville, broke up their camp on the night of the 21st, and sought safety in the works of Chippewa. About this time, General Izard arrived from Plattsburgh

with a reinforcement of fourteen hundred men, and pla ced the security of the post beyond doubt. Considering that nothing could be gained by maintaining his present position, this General who now assumed the command as the senior officer, removed to the American side, after destroying Fort Erie, and ordered his troops into winter quarters, at Buffalo. Thus terminated the campaign of 1814, on the Niagara, in which the enemy was four times beaten in fair and equal combat. The American soldiers had at last retrieved the character of the military, and in the estimation of the country, were placed on a level with the heroes of the navy. The names of Brown, Scott, Ripley, Miller, Porter, Davis, Jessup, Mr. Ree, Gibson, Wood, Hindman, Towson, Trimble, will be written in letters of gold, on the arch of Ameri can glory..

In the course of the campaign, a considerable part of the English army had arrived from the Garrone; several regiments marched to the upper Provinces, to afford the American soldiers an opportunity of plucking from their brows, the laurels won in Spain and France, under their renowned leader. The greater part of the British troops were retained, however, in the lower province, by Sir George Prevost, in order to accomplish a subsequent plan of operations which will be detailed in its proper place. The circumstance of General Izard having withdrawn from Plattsburgh, with the main body of the troops, left that quarter, much exposed, Sir George having concentrated a large body of troops in this neighbourhood, with the intention, as it afterwards appeared, of penetrating the State of New-York.

After the army of Niagara had retired into winter quarters, all was quiet with the exception of a handsome

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General

affair in which the Americans were victorious. Bissell was detached with about nine hundred men to destroy some military stores, and was met by the Marquis of Tweedale with about the same number. After a fair pitched battle, the Marquis was soundly drubbed, and precipitately retreated, leaving the American General to execute his orders without further molestation.