quarter bill, that her crew consisted of 134 men, four of whom were absent in a prize. The cool and determined conduct of my officers and crew during the action, and their almost unexampled exertions afterwards, entitle them to my warmest acknowledgments, and I beg leave most earnestly to recommend them to the notice of government. By the indisposition of lieutenant Stewart, I was deprived of the services of an excellent officer: had he been able to stand the deck, I am confident his exertions would not have been surpassed by any one on board. I should be doing injustice to the merits of lieutenant Shubrick, and acting lieutenants Conner and Newton, were I not to recommend them particularly to your notice. Lieutenant Shubrick was in the actions with the Guerriere and Java. Captain Hull and commodore Bainbridge can bear testimony as to his coolness and good conduct on both occasions. With the greatest respect, I remain, &c. JAMES LAWRENCE. Hon. Wm. Jones, Secretary of the Navy. P. S. At the commencement of the action my sailing master and seven men were absent in a prize, and lieutenant Stewart and six men on the sick list. BRIGADE ORDER. SACKETT'S HARBOR, April 25th, 1813. When the debarkation shall take place on the enemy's shore, major Forsyth's light troops, formed in four platoons, shall be first landed. They will advance a small distance from the shore, and form the chain to cover the landing of the troops. They will not fire, unless they discover the approach of a body of the enemy, but will make prisoners of every person who may be passing, and send to the general. They will be followed by the regimental platoons of the first brigade, with two pieces of Brook's artillery, one on the right and one on the left flank, covered by their musketry, and the small detachments of riflemen, of the 15th and 16th infantry. Then will be landed the three platoons of the reserve of the first brigade, under major Swan; then major Eustis, with his train of artillery, covered by his own musketry; then colonel McClure's volunteers in four platoons, followed by the 21st regiment, in six platoons. When the troops shall move in column, either to meet the enemy or take a position, it will be in the following order, viz: 1st, Forsyth's riflemen, with proper front and flank guards; the regiments of the first brigade, with their pieces; then three platoons of reserve; major Eustis's train of artillery; volunteer corps; twenty-first regiment; each corps sending out proper flank-guards. When the enemy shall be discovered in front, the riflemen will form the chain, and maintain their ground, until they have the signal (the preparative) or receive orders to retire, at which they will retreat with the greatest velocity, and form equally on the two flanks of the regiments of the first brigade, and then renew their fire. The three reserve platoons of this line will form under the orders of major Swan, one hundred yards in the rear of the colours, ready to support any part which may show an unsteady countenance. Major Eustis and his train will form in the rear of this reserve, ready to act where circumstances may dictate. The second line will be composed of the 21st infantry, in six platoons, flanked by colonel M'Clure's volunteers, equally divided, as light troops. The whole under the orders of colonel Ripley. It is expected that every corps will be mindful of the honour of the American arms, and the disgraces which have recently tarnished our arms; and endeavour, by a cool and determined discharge of their duty, to support the one, and wipe off the other. The riflemen in front will maintain their ground at all hazards, until ordered to retire, as will every corps of the army. With an assurance of being duly supported, should the commanding general find it prudent to withdraw the front line, he will give orders to retire by the heads of platoons, covered by the riflemen; and the second line will advance by the heads of platoons, pass the intervals, and form the line; call in the light troops, and renew the action : but the general may find it proper to bring up the second line, on one or both flanks, to charge in columns, or perform a variety of manouvres which it would be impossible to foresee. But as a general rule, whatever may be the directions of line at the commencement of the action, the corps will form as before directed. If they then advance in line, it may be in parallel eschelons of platoons, or otherwise, as the ground or circumstances may dic tate. No man will load until ordered, except the light troops in front, until within a short distance of the enemy, and then charge bayonets; thus letting the enemy see, that we can meet them with their own weapons. Any man firing, or quitting his post, without orders, must be put to instant death, as an example may be necessary. Platoon officers will pay the greatest attention to the coolness and aim of their men in the fire; their regularity and dressing in the charge. The field officers will watch over the conduct of the whole. Courage and bravery in the field do not more distinguish the soldier, than humanity after victory; and whatever examples the savage allies of our enemies may have given us, the general confidently hopes, that the blood of an unresisting or yielding enemy, will never stain the weapons of the soldiers of his column. war. The unoffending citizens of Canada are many of them our own countrymen, and the poor Canadians have been forced into the Their property, therefore, must be held sacred; and any soldier who shall so far neglect the honour of his profession as to be guilty of plundering the inhabitants, shall, if convicted, be punished with death. But the commanding general assures the troops, that should they capture a large quantity of public stores, he will use his best endeavours to procure them a reward from his government. This order shall be read at the head of each corps, and every field officer shall carry a copy, in order that he may at any moment refer to it; and give explanations to his subordinates. All those found in arms in the enemy's country, shall be treated as enemies; but those who are peaceably following the pursuits of their various vocations, friends-and their property respected. By order of the brigadier general, Z. M. PIKE. CHARLES G. JONES, assistant aid-de-camp. SIR, UNITED STATES' SHIP MADISON, at anchor off York, Upper Canada, April 28th, 1813. Agreeably to your instructions and arrangements with major general Dearborn, I took on board the squadron under my command, the general and suite, and about 1700 troops, and left Sackett's Harbor on the 25th instant for this place. We arrived here yesterday morning, and took a position about one mile south and westward of the enemy's principal fort, and as near the shore as we could, with safety to the vessels. The place fixed upon by the major general and myself for landing the troops, was the site of the old French fort Tarento. The debarkation commenced about 8 o'clock A. M. and was completed about ten. The wind blowing heavy from the eastward, the boats fell to leeward of the position fixed upon, and were, in consequence, exposed to a galling fire of the enemy, who had taken a position in a thick wood near where the first troops landed; however, the cool intrepidity of the officers and men overcame every obstacle. Their attack upon the enemy was so vigorous, that he fled in every direction, leaving a great many of his killed and wounded upon the field. As soon as the troops were landed, I directed the schooners to take a position near the forts, in order that the attack on them by the army and navy might be simultaneous. The schooners were obliged to beat up to their position, which they did in a very handsome order, under a very heavy fire from the enemy's batteries, and took a position within about six hundred yards of their principal fort, and opened a heavy cannonade upon the enemy, which did great execution, and very much contributed to their final destruction. The troops, as soon as landed, were formed under the immediate orders of brigadier general Pike, who led in a most gallant manner the attack upon the forts, and after having carried two redoubts in their approach to their principal works, the enemy (having previously laid a train) blew up his magazine, which in its effects upon our troops, was dreadful, having killed and wounded a great many, and amongst the former, the ever to be lamented brigadier general Pike, who fell at the head of his column by a contusion received by a heavy stone from the magazine. His death at this time, is much to be regretted, as he had the perfect confidence of the major general; and his known activity, zeal and experience, make his loss a national one. In consequence of the fall of general Pike, the command of the troops devolved, for a time, upon colonel Pearce, who soon after took possession of the town. About 2 P. M. the American flag was substituted for the British, and at about four our troops were in quiet possession of the town. As soon as general Dearborn learned the situation of general Pike, he landed, and assumed the command. I have the honour of enclosing a copy of the capitulation which was entered into, and approved by general Dearborn and myself. The enemy set fire to some of his principal stores, containing large quantities of naval and military stores, as well as a large ship upon the stocks, nearly finished. The only vessel found here, is the Duke of Gloucester, undergoing repairs. The Prince Regent left here on the 24th, for Kingston. We have not yet had a return made of the naval and military stores; consequently can form no idea of the quantity, but have made arrangements to have all taken on board that we can receive; the rest will be destroved. I have to regret the death of midshipmen Thompson and Hatfield, and several seamen killed-the exact number I do not know, as the returns from the different vessels have not yet been received. From the judicious arrangements made by general Dearborn, I presume that the public stores will be disposed of, so that the troops will be ready to re-embark to morrow, and proceed to execute other objects of the expedition the first fair wind. I cannot speak in too much praise of the cool intrepidity of the officers and men generally, under my command, and I feel myself particularly indebted to the officers commanding vessels, for their zeal in seconding my views. Honourable William Jones, I have the honour to be yours, &c. Secretary of the Navy. SIR, HEAD QUARTERS, YORK, UPPER CANADA, After a detention of some days, by adverse winds, we ar rived here yesterday morning, and at 8 o'clock commenced landing our troops, about three miles westward of the town, and one and a half from the enemy's works. The wind was high and in an unfavourable direction for our boats, which prevented the troops landing at a clear field, the ancient site of the French fort Tarento. The unfavourable wind prevented as many of the armed vessels from taking such positions as would as effectually cover our landing, as they otherwise would have done; but every thing that could be done was effected. Our riflemen, under major Forsyth, first landed, under a heavy fire from Indians and other troops. General Sheaffe commanded in person. He had collected his whole force in the woods, near where the wind obliged our troops to land, consisting of about 700 regulars and militia, and 100 Indians. Major Forsyth was supported, as promptly as possible with other troops; but the contest was sharp and severe for near half an hour. The enemy was repulsed by a far less number than their own; and as soon as general Pike landed with 7 or 800 men, and the remainder of the troops were pushing for the shore, the enemy retreated to their works; and as soon as the whole of the troops had landed and formed on the clear ground intended for the first landing, they advanced through a thick wood to the open ground near the enemy's works, and after carrying one battery by assault, were moving on in columns towards the main works; when the head of the columns was within about sixty rods of the enemy, a tremendous explosion occurred from a large magazine prepared for the purpose, which discharged such immense quantities of stone, as to produce a most unfortunate effect on our troops. I have not yet been able to collect the returns of our killed and wounded, but our loss by the explosion, must, I fear, exceed 100; and among them, I have to lament the loss of the brave and excellent officer, brigadier general Pike, who received such a contusion from a large stone, as terminated his valuable life within a few hours. His loss will be severely felt. Previous to the explosion, the enemy had retired into the town, excepting a party of regular troops, which did not retire early enough to avoid the shock; it is said that upwards of forty of them were destroyed. General Sheaffe moved off with the regular troops, and left directions with the commanding officer of the militia, to make the best terms he could. In the mean time, all further resistance on the part of the enemy ceased, and the outlines of a capitulation were agreed on. As soon as I was informed of general Pike's being wounded, I went on shore. I had been induced to confide the immediate command of the troops in action to general Pike, from a conviction that he fully expected it, and would be much mortified at being deprived of the honour, |