A the ground on which it had been attacked, encamped on a plain about a mile in width, with its right flank on the lake, and its left on the creek which skirts the base of a perpendicular mountain of a considerable height. On my route I received Nos. 5 and 6 enclosed. At six in the evening the hostile fleet hove in sight-though its character could not be ascertained with precision. We lay on our arms all night. At dawn of day struck our tents, and descried the hostile squadron abreast of us, about a mile from the shore. Our boats which transported the principal part of our baggage and camp equipage lay on the beach-it was a dead calm--and about six the enemy towed in a large schooner which opened her fire on our boats. As soon as she stood for the shore, her object being evident, I ordered down Archer's and Towson's companies, with four pieces of artillery, to resist her attempts. I at the same time sent captain Totten of the engineers (a most valuable officer) to construct a temporary furnace for heating shot, which was prepared and in operation in less than 30 minutes. Her fire was returned with vivacity and effect (excelled by no artillery in the universe), which soon compelled her to retire. A party of savages now made their appearance on the brow of the mountain (which being perfectly bald, exhibited them to our view), and commenced a fire on our camp. I ordered colonel Christie to dislodge them, who entered on the service with alacrity, but found himself anticipated by lieutenant Eldridge, the adjutant of his regiment, who with a promptness and gallantry highly honourable to that young officer, had already gained the summit of the mountain, with a party of volunteers, and routed the barbarian allies of the defender of the christian faith. This young man merits the notice of government. These little affairs tost us not a man. Sir James L. Yeo being disappointed of a tragedy, next determined in a true dramatic stile to amuse us with a farce. An officer with a flag was sent to me from his ship, advising me, that as I was infested with savages in my rear, a fleet in my front, and a powerful army on my flank, he, and the officers commanding his Britannic majesty's land forces, thought it their duty to demand a surrender of my army. I answered that the message was too ridiculous to merit a reply. No 7 was delivered to me at about six this morning; between 7 and 8 o'clock the four waggons we had being loaded first with the sick and next with ammunition, &c. the residue of camp equipage and baggage was put into the boats, and a detachment of 260 men of the sixth regiment detached to proceed in them. Orders were prepared to be given them to defend the boats, and if assailed by any of the enemy's small vessels, to carry them by boarding. By some irregularity, which I have not been able to discover, the boats put off without the detachment, induced probably by the stillness of the morning. When they had progressed about three miles a breeze sprung up, and an armed schooner overhauled them; those who were enterprising kept on and escaped, others ran to the shore and deserted their boats; we lost twelve of the number, principally containing the baggage of the officers and men. At ten I put the army in motion on our return to this place. The sayages and incorporated militia hung on our flanks and rear throughout the march, and picked up a few stragglers. On our retiring the British army advanced, and now occupies the ground we left. The enemy's fleet is constantly hovering on our coast, and interrupting our supplies. The night before last, being advised of their having chased into Eighteen Mile Creek two vessels laden with hospital stores, &c., I detached at midnight 75 men for their protection. The report of the day is (though not official), that they arrived too late for their purpose, and that the stores are lost. I have the honour to be, &c. MORGAN LEWIS. Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary at War. No. 5, referred to in the Report of General Lewis. (Copy) Niagara, June 6, 1813. Dear General, a ship having appeared this morning steering towards the head of the lake, which is undoubtedly one of the enemy's ships; and as others are appearing, you will please to return with the troops to this place as soon as possible. Yours, with esteem, H. DEARBORN. P. S. The object of the enemy's fleet must be either to cover the retreat of their troops, or to bring on a reinforce ment. Major-General Lewis. H. D. Report of the killed, wounded, and missing, in the action of the 6th of June, at Stoney Creek. Killed-1 serjeant, 1 corporal, 15 privates. Wounded-1 captain, 1 serjeant, 2 corporals, and 34 pri vates. Missing-2 brigadier-generals, 1 major, 3 captains, 1 subaltern, 9 serjeants, 4 corporals, and 80 privates. Total killed, wounded, and missing, 154. Correct return from the reports of the different corps in the action of the 6th instant at Stoney Creek. J. JOHNSON, Assist. Adj.-Gen. Extract from the British General Orders, dated Head-Quarters, 7th June, 1813. Brigadier-general Vincent congratulates the troops on the success which crowned the attack made by the King's and 49th regiments on the enemy's position and camp at Gages yesterday morning, when his force, consisting of not less than. 3500 men, advantageously posted, and protected by a considerable number of guns, was completely routed and driven off the field; 4 pieces of cannon, with their tumbrils, horses, &c. 2 brigadier-generals, 5 field officers and captains, and upwards of 100 prisoners, were the trophies of this brilliant enterprise. Immediately after our troops had retired towards their cantonments, the enemy abandoned the position to which he had fled, and after burning and destroying a quantity of baggage and provisions, carriages, blankets, arms, &c. commenced a precipitate retreat, and did not halt until he reached the Forty Mile Creek, 12 miles (through the worst possible roads) from the scene of action: here he effected a junction with a reinforcement which was on its march to join him. Head-Quarters, Kingston, 8th June, 5 o'clock, P. M. His excellency the commander of the forces has just received an express, announcing that a strong division of the American army had advanced to the Forty Mile Creek, with the intention of attacking the position occupied by brigadiergeneral Vincent at the head of Burlington bay. The enemy's plan was however anticipated by the gallant general, and completely defeated by a spirited attack at day-break on the 6th instant on the American army, which was completely defeated and dispersed. Twelve officers, two of whom are generals, and five pieces of cannon were taken-and the fugitives were pursued in every direction by a numerous body of Indians under the chief Norton. The enemy's force is stated at 200 cavalry and 4000 infantry, besides a strong force in boats. The intelligence was communicated off York, at 2 P. M. to commodore sir James Yeo, who had sailed with the fleet on the 3d instant, to co-operate with general Vincent and immediately proceeded with reinforcements on board to support the general's further attack upon the enemy. Further reinforcements under major De Haren, proceeded this day from Kingston to join general Vincent. The British loss has been very slight. The official despatch is hourly expected. E. B. A G. AMERICAN AND BRITISH ACCOUNTS OF THE CAPTURE OF THE DETACHMENT UNDER COLONEL BOERSTLER. Sir, Copy of a Letter from Major-General Dearborn to the Fort George, June 25th, 1813. I have the mortification of informing you of an unfortunate and unaccountable event which occurred yesterday. On the 23d, at evening, lieutenant-colonel Barstler, with 570 men, infantry, artillery, cavalry, and riflemen, in due proportion, was ordered to march, by the way of Queenstown, to a place called the Beaver Dams, on the high ground, about eight or nine miles from Queenstown, to attack and disperse a body of the enemy, collected there for the purpose of procuring provisions, and harassing those inhabitants who are considered friendly to the United States. Their force was, from the most direct information, compo sed of one company of the 104th regiment, above eighty strong; from 150 to 200 militia, and from fifty to sixty Indians. At eight o'clock, yesterday morning, when within two miles of the Beaver Dams, our detachment was attacked from an am buscade; but soon drove the enemy some distance into the woods, and then retired to a clear field, and sent an express for a reinforcement, saying he would maintain his position until reinforced; a reinforcement of 300 men marched imme diately under the command of colonel Christie; but on arriv ing at Queenstown, colonel Christie received authentic infor mation that lieutenant-colonel Barstler with his command had surrendered to the enemy, and the reinforcement returned to camp. A man who belonged to a small corps of mounted volun teer riflemen, came in this morning, who states that the ene my surrounded our detachment in the woods, and towards twelve o'clock commenced a general attack-that our troops fought more than two hours, until the artillery had expended the whole of its ammunition, and then surrendered; and at the time of the surrender the informant made his escape. Why it should have been deemed proper to remain several hours in a position surrounded with woods, without either risking a decisive action or effecting a retreat, remains to be accounted for, as well as the project of 'waiting for a reinforcement from a distance of 15 or 16 miles. No information has been received of the killed or wounded. The enemy's fleet has again arrived in our neighbourhood. With respect and esteem, I am, sir, yours, &c. H. DEARBORN. Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary at War. From the London Gazette, September 11. Downing Street, September 7. A Despatch, of which the following is an extract, has been received by Earl Bathurst, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, from Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart. Kingston, Upper Canada, July 3, 1813. I have the honour to transmit to your lordship copies of letters from colonel Vincent and lieutenant-colonel Bishop, and of the papers accompanying them, containing the highly gratifying intelligence of the capture, on the 24th ultimo, of a body of the enemy's forces, consisting of 2 field-officers, 21 other officers of different ranks, 27 non-commissioned officers, and 462 privates, together with a stand of colours and 2 field-pieces. The details of this gallant affair, which reflects so much credit, on our Indian allies, as well as upon lieutenant Fitzgibbon, for the promptitude and decision with which he availed himself of the impression their attack hal made upon the enemy, will, I have no doubt, be read by your lordship with great satisfaction. Since the surprise of the enemy's camp at Stoney Creek, on the 6th ultimo, and their subsequent retreat from the Forty Mile Creek, in which almost the whole of their camp equipage, together with a quantity of stores and provisions, fell into our hands, majorgeneral Dearborn has withdrawn the troops from Fort Erie, and has concentrated his forces at Fort George. Colonel Vincent has, in consequence, made a forward movement from the head of the lake, in order to support the light infantry and Indian warriors, who are employed in circumscribing the 3 |