born, with the fleet, arrived before the town of York and immediately commenced a disembarkation. The commanding general intrusted the further prosecution of the expedition to General Pike, and remained on board the fleet. To oppose their landing, a corps of British grenadiers, the Glengary fencibles, and several bodies of Indians, appeared at different points on the shore. At eight o'clock the troops commenced their landing, three miles westward of the town, and a mile and a half distant from the British works. The place first designed for their landing, was a cleared field near the site of the old French fort Tarento; but the wind was high, and prevented the first division from landing at that place, and also prevented the ships from covering their disembarkation. The riflemen, under Major Forsythe, first landed, under a heavy fire from the enemy. Major General Sheaffe had collected his whole force, consisting of about seven or eight hundred regulars and militia, with a hundred Indians, to oppose their landing, and commanded in person. Major Forsythe, although supported by the troops as promptly as possible, was obliged to sus tain alone a sharp conflict with the whole British force, for nearly half an hour. As soon as General Pike had effected his landing, with about eight hundred men, British retreated to their works. The main body of the Americans landed and formed at old fort Tarento, and quickly advanced through a thick wood to an open ground near the British works. The first battery was carried by assault, and the columns moved on towards the main works: when the head of the column had arrived within about sixty rods, a tremendous explosion took place, from a magazine prepared for that purpose, and killed and wounded one hundred men. General Pike was mortally wounded by a stone which was thrown up by the explosion, and struck him on the breast. He was immediately conveyed on board the commodore's ship, and soon expired. After the confusion which these events necessarily occasioned, the American troops proceeded to the town, and agreed to a capitulation with the commanding officers of the Canadian militia, by which

the

it was stipulated, that all the public property should be delivered to the Americans, the militia surrendered prisoners of war, and private property protected. Immediately after the explosion, Gen. Sheaffe, with the regulars, retreated out of the reach of the American arms. Two hundred and fifty militia, and fifty marines and regulars, were included in the capitulation. The American loss was fourteen killed in battle, and fifty-two by the explosion; twenty-three wounded in battle, and one hundred and eight by the explosion. One large vessel on the stocks, and a quantity of naval stores, were set fire to by the British, and consumed; but more naval stores were taken by the Americans than could be carried away. The public buildings for military, use, and the military stores which could not be removed, were destroyed. York was the seat of government for Upper Canada, and the principal depot for the Niagara frontler, and Detroit. General Sheaffe's baggage and papers were taken. In the government hall, a human scalp was found suspended over the speaker's chair, with the mace and other emblems of power. This building was burned, contrary to the orders of the American general."*

111. Battle on Lake Erie.

The American fleet consisted of nine vessels, carrying fifty-four guns, commanded by Commodore Perry, a young officer. The British fleet, of six vessels and sixty-three guns, under Commodore Barclay, an old and experienced officer, who had served under Nelson. The line of battle was formed at 11 o'clock, September 10, 1813. At fifteen minutes before twelve, the enemy's flag-ship," Queen Charlotte," opened a furious fire upon the Lawrence," the flag-ship of Commodore Perry. The wind being light, the rest of the squadron were unable to come to his assistance, and he was compelled for two hours to sustain the fire of two of the enemy's ships, * Perkins.

each of equal force. By this time the Lawrence had become unmanageable, every gun was dismounted, and her crew, except four or five, were all killed or wounded.

In this desperate condition, Commodore Perry, with great presence of mind, formed the bold design to shift his flag, and leaping into an open boat, waving his sword, he passed unhurt through a shower of balls, to the Niagara, of twenty guns. At this critical moment the wind increased, and Perry bore down upon the enemy, passing the " Detroit," Queen Charlotte," and "Lady Provost," on one side, and the "Chippewa" and "Little Belt" on the other, into each of which, while passing, he poured a broadside. He then engaged the "Lady Provost," which received so heavy a fire that the men ran below. The remainder of the American squadron, one after another, now came up. After a contest of three hours, the American fleet gained a complete victory, and captured every vessel of the enemy. Commodore Perry announced this victory in the following laconic style: We have met the enemy, and they are

ours!"

The Americans lost in this action twenty-seven killed and ninety-six wounded. The British had about two hundred killed and wounded-the Americans took six hundred prisoners, which exceeded the whole number of Americans engaged in the action.

112. Death of Tecumseh.

On the 5th of October, a battle was fought between the American army under Gen. Harrison, and the British under Gen. Proctor, in which the British were defeated, and Detroit fell into the hands of the Americans.

The British were assisted by a body of 1200 or 1500 Indian warriors, led on by Tecumseh, a celebrated Indian chieftain. Upon the left, the onset was begun by Tecumseh, with great fury. He was opposed by Col. Johnson, of Kentucky. The Indians seemed determined to