and York fell into the hands of the Americans, with all its stores.

The command of the troops, one thousand seven hundred, detached for this purpose, was given to General Pike, at his own request. On the 25th, the fleet under Commodore Chauncey moved down the lake, with the troops, and, on the 27th, arrived at the place of debarkation, about two miles westward from York, and one and a half from the enemy's works. The British, consisting of about seven hundred and fifty regulars, and five hundred Indians, under General Sheaffe, attempted to oppose the landing, but were thrown into disorder, and fled to their garrison.

General Pike, having formed his men, proceeded towards the enemy's fortifications. On their near approach to the barracks, about sixty rods from the garrison, an explosion of a magazine took place, previously prepared for the purpose, which killed about one hundred of the Americans, among whom was the gallant Pike.

Pike lived to direct his troops, for a moment thrown into disorder, "to move on." This they now did under Colonel Pearce; and, proceeding towards the town, took possession of the barracks. On approaching it, they were met by the officers of the Canada militia, with offers of capitulation, At four o'clock the troops entered the town.

The loss of the British, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, amounted to seven hundred and fifty; the Americans lost, in killed and wounded, about three hundred.

Sec. 28. The news of the unfortunate occurrence at Frenchtown (Sec. 24.) reached Gen. Harrison, while on his march with reinforcements to Gen. Winchester. Finding a further advance of no importance, he took post at the Rapids, where he constructed a fort, which, in honor of the governor of Ohio, he named Fort Meigs. Here, on the first of May, he was besieged by Gen. Proctor, with a force of 1000 regulars and militia, and 1200 Indians. For nine days, the siege was urged with great zeal; but finding the capture of the place impracticable, on the 9th, Proctor raised the siege, and retreated to Malden. Gen. Harrison returned to Franklinton in

Ohio, leaving the fort under the care of General Clay.

When, at length, it was ascertained that the British were actually approaching to the siege of Fort Meigs, an express was sent to hasten the march of 1200 militia from Kentucky, who were approaching, under the command of Gen. Clay.

On the third day of the siege, and not until then, a flag was sent to the fort, and, for the first time, an officer summoned the place to surrender. The officer bearing the flag informed General Harrison, that the force of the British was so much superior to the garrison in the fort, that it would be impossible for the latter long to resist, and that it was the path of wisdom to surrender, while as yet the British commander had the power to restrain the Indians from a general massacre. To this Harrison replied, that while he had the honor to command an American fort, it should never be surrendered to a British force, supported and urged on by savage allies.

The siege now went on, and the firing was warmly maintained, on both sides. So determined were the Indians to succeed in their efforts to subdue the Americans, that they even ascended trees, adjoining the fort, from which they fired into it, and killed and wounded several.

On the 5th, it was announced that the troops under Gen. Clay were only a few miles distant. Orders were immediately dispatched from Harrison to him, to detach 800 of his men, who should cross the river, for the purpose of destroying the batteries, which the enemy had erected on that side; while a sortie should be made from the post, upon those who were on this side.

The simultaneous attack was well planned, and nobly accomplished. The batteries were taken, and the British and their Indian allies were compelled to flee, while the spirited Kentuckians, under their valiant leader, Col. Dudley, pursued them. Unfortunately for the latter, in their pursuit they came upon an ambush formed by a large body of Indians, under the celebrated Tecumseh, which body arrived just in season to surprise the now elated Kentuckians, the slaughter of whom was so terrible, that scarcely one hundred and fifty of the detachment of Dudley escaped, and even this valiant soldier was mortally wounded.

During the three following days, a cessation of hostilities took place, and prisoners were exchanged. On the ninth,

preparations were made to renew the siege; but, suddenly, the British general ordered it to be raised, and with his whole force retired.

Sec. 29. During the remainder of the spring, the war continued along the Canada line, and on some parts of the sea board; but nothing important was achieved by either power. The Chesapeake Bay was blockaded by the British, and predatory excursions, by their troops, were made at Havre de Grace, Georgetown, &c. Several villages were burnt, and much property plundered and destroyed. To the north of the Chesapeake, the coast was not exempt from the effects of the war. A strict blockade was kept up at NewYork. The American frigates United States and Macedonian, and the sloop Hornet, attempted to sail on a cruise from that port, about the beginning of May, but were prevented. In another attempt, they were chased into New-London harbor, where they were blockaded by a fleet under Com. Hardy, for many months. Fort George, in Canada, was taken by the Americans. Sacket's Harbor was attacked by one thousand British, who were repulsed with considerable loss.

Sec. 30. On the first of June, the American navy experienced no inconsiderable loss, in the capture of the Chesapeake, by the British frigate Shannon, off Boston harbor-a loss the more severely felt, as on board of her fell several brave officers, among whom was her commander, the distinguished and lamented Capt. Lawrence.

Capt. Lawrence had been but recently promoted to the command of the Chesapeake. On his arrival at Boston, to take charge of her, he was informed that a British frigate was lying off the harbor, apparently inviting an attack. Prompted by the ardor which pervaded the service, he resolved to meet the enemy, without sufficiently examin

ing his strength. With a crew, chiefly enlisted for the occasion, as that of the Chesapeake had mostly been discharged, on the first of June, he sailed out of the harbor.

The Shannon, observing the Chesapeake put to sea, immediately followed. At half past five, the two ships engaged. By the first broadside, the sailing master of the Chesapeake was killed, and Lieut. Ballard mortally wounded; Lieut. Brown and Capt. Lawrence were severely wounded at the same time. A second, and third broadside, besides adding to the destruction of her officers, so disabled the Chesapeake in her rigging, that her quarter fell on the Shannon's anchor. This accident may be considered as deciding the contest; an opportunity was given the enemy to rake the Chesapeake, and, toward the close of the action, to board her. Capt. Lawrence, though severely wounded, still kept the deck. In the act of summoning the boarders, a musket ball entered his body, and brought him down. As 5 he was carried below, he issued a last heroic order, Don't give up the ship;" but it was too late to retrieve what was lost; the British boarders leaped into the vessel, and after a short but bloody struggle, hoisted the British flag.

In this sanguinary conflict, twenty-three of the enemy were killed, and fifty wounded; on board the Chesapeake, about seventy were killed, and eighty-three wounded.

Sec. 31. The tide of fortune seemed now, for a short time, to turn in favor of Great Britain. On the 14th of August, the Argus, of eighteen guns, another of our national vessels, was captured by the Pelican of twenty guns.

The Argus had been employed to carry out Mr. Crawford, as minister to France. After landing him, she proceeded to cruise in the British channel, and, for two months, greatly annoyed the British shipping. At length, that government was induced to send several vessels in pursuit of her. On the 14th of August, the Pelican, a sloop of war, of superior force, discovered her, and bore down to action. At the first broadside Captain Allen fell severely wounded, but remained on deck for some time, when it was necessary to carry him below. After a hard fought action, the Argus was obliged to surrender, with a loss of six killed and seventeen wounded. On board the Pelican there were but three killed and five wounded. Captain Allen died soon after, in England, and was interred with the honors of war.

Sec. 32. After the loss of the Chesapeake and Argus, victory again returned to the side of America. On the 5th of September following, the British brig Boxer surrendered to the Enterprise, after an engagement of little more than half an hour.

The Enterprise sailed from Portsmouth on the 1st, and was on the fifth descried by the Boxer, which immediately gave chase. After the action had continued for fifteen minutes, the Enterprise ranged ahead, and raked her enemy so powerfully, that in twenty minutes the firing ceased, and the cry of quarter was heard. The Enterprise had one killed, and thirteen wounded; but that one was her lamented commander, Lieutenant Burrows. He fell at the commencement of the action, but continued to cheer his crew, averring that the flag should never be struck. When the sword of the enemy was presented to him, he exclaimed, "I die contented." The British loss was more considerable. Among their killed was Captain Blythe. These two commanders, both in the morning of life, were interred beside each other, at Portland, with military honors.

Sec. 33. During these occurrences on the sea board, important preparations had been made for decisive measures to the westward, and the general attention was now turned, with great anxiety, towards the movements of the northwestern army, and the fleet under command of Commodore Perry, on Lake Erie.

This anxiety, not long after, was, in a measure, dispelled, by a decisive victory of the American fleet over that of the British, on Lake Erie, achieved, after a long and desperate conflict, on the 10th of September.

The American squadron consisted of nine vessels, carrying fifty-four guns; that of the British, of six vessels, and sixty-three guns. The line of battle was formed at eleven, and at a quarter before twelve, the enemy's flag ship, Queen Charlotte, opened a tremendous fire upon the Lawrence, the flag ship of Commodore Perry, which was sustained by the latter ten minutes before she could bring her carron