after to that commanded by captain Barclay (the Detroit), Hitherto the determined valour displayed by the British squadron had surmounted every disadvantage, and the day was in our favour; but the contest had arrived at that period when valour alone was unavailing. The Detroit and Queen Charlotte were perfect wrecks, and required the utmost skill of seamanship, while the commanders and second officers of every vessel were either killed or wounded; not more than fifty British seamen were dispersed in the crews of the squadron, and of these a great proportion had fallen in the conflict. The American commodore made a gallant and but too successful effort to regain the day. His second largest vessel, the Niagara, had suffered little, and his numerous gunboats, which had proved the greatest annoyance during the action, were all uninjured.

Lieutenant Garland, first lieutenant of the Detroit, being mortally wounded previous to the wounds of captain Barclay obliging him to quit the deck, it fell to the lot of lieutenant Inglis, to whose intrepidity and conduct the highest praise is given, to surrender his majesty's ship, when all further resistance had become unavailing.

The enemy, by having the weather-gauge, were enabled to choose their distance, and thereby availed themselves of the great advantage they derived in superiority of heavy long guns; but captain Barclay attributes the fatal result of the day to the unprecedented fall of every commander and second in command, and the very small number of able seamen left in the squadron, at a moment when the judgment of the officer, and skilful exertions of the sailor, were most eminently called for.

To the British seamen captain Barclay bestows the highest praise that they behaved like British seamen. From the officers and soldiers of the regular forces serving as marines captain Barclay experienced every support within their power, and states that their conduct has excited his warmest thanks and admiration.

Deprived of the palm of victory, when almost within his grasp, by an overwhelming force which the enemy possessed in reserve, aided by an accumulation of unfortunate circumstances, captain Barclay and his brave crew have, by their gallant daring and self devotion to their country's cause, rescued its honour and their own, even in defeat.

VOL. II.

E. BAYNES, Adj.-Gen. 3 N

Return of the Right Division of the Army of Upper Canada. Detachment serving as marines on board the squadron in the action of the 10th of September, 1813,-Killed, 1 lieutenant, 1 serjeant, 21 rank and file; wounded, 3 serjeants, 46 rank and file; prisoners, 2 lieutenants, 1 assistant surgeon, 4 serjeants, 4 drummers, 167 rank and file.

Killed, wounded, and missing in the retreat and in the action of the 5th of October, 1813,-1 inspecting field-officer, 1 deputy-assistant quarter-master-general, 1 fort-adjutant, 1 hospital mate, 1 lieutenant-colonel, 6 captains, 12 lieutenants, 3 cornets or ensigns, 1 paymaster, 1 assistant surgeon, 34 serjeants, 13 drummers, 559 rank and file, 46 horses.

Assembled at Ancaster on the 17th of October, 1813.

1 major-general, 1 major of brigade, 1 aid-de-camp, 1 staffadjutant, 3 captains, 5 lieutenants, 2 cornets or ensigns, 1 adjutant, one quarter-master, 2 assistant surgeons, 15 serjeants, 9 drummers, 204 rank and file, 53 horses.

Total strength of the Right Division on the 10th of September. 1 major-general, 1 inspecting field-officer, 1 major of brigade, 1 deputy quarter-master-general, 1 aid-de-camp, 1 staffadjutant, 1 fort-adjutant, 1 hospital mate, 1 lieutenant-colonel, 9 captains, 23 lieutenants, 5 cornets or ensigns, 1 paymaster, 1 adjutant, 1 quarter-master, 4 assistant surgeons, 57 serjeants, 26 drummers, 944 rank and file, 99 horses. Killed, lieutenant Gordon, Royal Newfoundland regiment. E. BAYNES, Adj.-Gen.

EXPEDITION AGAINST THE PEORIA INDIANS.

Copy of a Letter from Brigadier-General Benjamin Howard, to the Secretary of War.

Sir,

Head-Quarters, St. Louis, October 28th, 1813. I had the honour of expressing to you the opinion during the last summer, that a movement of troops to dislodge the Indians at the head of Peoria Lake was indispensable to guard against that pressure upon our frontier in autumn which I believed would take place. It was with pleasure I found the measure approved. In pursuance of the plan, on the 19th of September, the effective rangers of Missouri and Illinois, with about 100 from Indiana, 250 mounted men furnished by the executives of Missouri and Illinois, were concentrated at Tower-Hill, east of the Mississippi, 30 miles above the frontier. In embodying these troops, the

immediate safety of the frontier was steadily kept in view, by moving detachments in such directions as would enable them to discover and dislodge any parties which might be upon our borders. The 1st regiment commanded by colonel M'Nair, was marched on the west side of the Mississippi, and crossed just below the rendezvous; the 2d, commanded by colonel Stephenson, was marched on the east side of the river, crossing the Illinois a few miles above its mouth; a detachment of about 200 regulars under the command of colonel Nicholas, of the 1st regiment of United States infantry, at the same time ascended the Illinois in armed boats. It was soon ascertained, upon the arrival of those several detachments at points a little beyond the settlements, that the enemy had descended the Illinois to invade the frontier. A skirmish took place between some of colonel Stephenson's command and a party of Indians; the latter were driven. From appearances in the route of the 1st regiment some parties had crossed in the west side of the Mississippi, upon the approach of the troops. I have no doubt of the Indians having returned to their canoes in the Illinois, when they found lieutenant-colonel Nicholas rapidly ascending the river, and fled before him without injuring a single citizen-believing that the frontier would be safe for the moment, I marched the mounted troops up the Mississippi bottom to Christy's creek, passing opposite the encampment of the Sac nation, who have professed themselves friendly, but many of whom I believe have taken part in the war against us, while others were undecided. At this time, Mr. Boilvain, Indian agent, was in the neighbourhood, sent by governor Clark to conduct them to the Missouri, where they had agreed to winter.However unsettled their neutrality might have been before, the display of troops in their vicinity soon confirmed it; they immediately descended the Mississippi to the Portage de Sioux, from whence they were sent up the Missouri from Christy's creek. The army was marched across the country towards Peoria, and on the evening of the 28th arrived within a few miles of the old village. That night three men were sent to discover whether the command of lieutenant-colonel Nicholson had arrived, and bearing a letter to that officer, stating my position, and calling for such information in regard to the enemy as he might possess. During the night he descended the Illinois to my encampment, and reported to me, that the day before, an attack was made upon his command at Peoria, where he had commenced building a fort agreeably to my orders; however the enemy were soon dis

persed by a well-directed discharge of musketry, with the aid of a six-pounder from two unfinished block-houses. It was evident that the assailants suffered in this attack; but to what extent could not be ascertained. None of our men were killed, and only one wounded. On the 29th the mounted troops arrived at Peoria; and so soon as provisions could be drawn, were marched up the Illinois to the villages at the head of the lake, which was the direction in which the enemy appeared to have retired from Peoria.-Upon my arrival at those villages, I found them deserted. From my examination made by reconnoitring parties, I had no doubt of the Indians having ascended the Illinois in canoes, which is so situated, from swamps on both banks, that it was impossible to pursue them by land. The villages were destroyed, and some property of inconsiderable amount taken. The army then returned to Peoria, and remained until the garrison was put in a state of defence. Shortly after my return, I sent a detachment in two armed boats, under the command of major Christy, in pursuit of the enemy. This detachment ascended the Illinois above the mouth of the Vermillion to the Rapids, and within 75 miles of Chicago; but it was impossible to come up with the Indians, notwithstanding the great efforts of the commanding officer and his command. Soon after the departure of major Christy, major Boone was sent with about 100 men in the direction of Rock river, to examine whether there were any parties in that quarter.

He penetrated the country northwardly from Peoria, in my opinion within 45 miles of Rock river, and reported that there were several encampments on the Maquoine which appeared to have been deserted about the time the army arrived at Peoria. The mounted troops remained near Peoria from the 2d until the 15th of October, during which time they were actively engaged, together with the United States infantry, in erecting Fort Clarke, which stands at the lower end of the lake, completely commanding the river. This important fort was erected under many disadvantages-the weather being unusually cold for the season, and without the aid of a single team the timbers were hauled by the troops a considerable distance to the lake (nearly a mile in width), and rafted over. This fort is unquestionably one of the strongest I have ever seen in the western country, and certainly highly important to the safety of the three territories with the defence of which I have been entrusted.

On the 15th the mounted troops moved from Peoria for the settlements, pursuing generally a south course until they

arrived at Camp Russell on the 21st instant, when the mounted militia were discharged. The Indiana rangers on the march were sent across from the old Kickapoos towns to Vincennes under the command of captain Andre. The safety to the frontier which was anticipated from this movement has been fully realized, and the same enemy that has kept our exposed settlements under continual apprehensions of danger was compelled to fly before a force in their own country less than that assigned by the government for the immediate defence of the frontier. It is with pleasure I acknowledge the energetic and intelligent execution of my orders by those officers to whom I confided the command of detachments, and laudable conduct of the officers and men generally during the campaign, but more particularly on those occasions (not unfrequent), when it was hoped and believed by all that the enemy had determined to give us battle.

I am, sir, with high consideration, your humble servant, BENJ. HOWARD.

The Hon. John Armstrong.

P. S. I have delayed the transmission of this communication, until I heard of captain Andre, who was sent across direct from the Kickapoos towns to Vincennes--he has reported to me his safe arrival.

B. H.

BRITISH ACCOUNT OF A SKIRMISH WITH THE ADVANCED GUARD OF THE ARMY UNDER GENERAL HAMPTON.

Head-Quarters, A Fourche, on Chateauguay River,
October 27th, 1813.

General Orders.

His excellency the governor in chief and commander of the forces has received from major-general De Watteville, the report of the affair which took place at the advanced position of his post at 11 o'clock on Tuesday morning, between the American army under the command of major-general Hampton, and the advanced pickets of the British, thrown out for the purpose of covering working parties, under the direction of lieutenant-colonel De Salisberry. The judicious position chosen by that officer, and the excellent disposition of his little band, composed of the light company of Canadian fencibles and two companies of Canadian voltigeurs, repulsed with loss the advance of the enemy's principal column, commanded by general Hampton in person, and the American