retreat was about to be cut off, re-embarked his troops 1813. so hastily, as to leave behind most of his wounded. 1. What events oc frontier about this a. May 27. curred on the Niagar time? 5. On the very day of the appearance of the British before Sackett's Harbor, the American fleet and land troops made an attack on Fort George, on the Niagara frontier; which, after a short defence, was abandoned by the enemy. The British then retreated to the heights at the head of Burlington Bay,* closely pursued by Generals Chandler and Winder at the head f a superior force. In a night attack on the Amer- D. June 6. can camp, the enemy were repulsed with considerable loss; although in the darkness and confusion, both Generals Chandler and Winder were taken prisoners. 6. During the remainder of the summer few events of importance occurred on the northern frontier. Immediately after the battle of the Thames, General Harrison, with a part of his regular force, proceeded to Buffalo,† where he arrived on the 24th of October. Soon after, he closed his military career by a resignation of his commission. General Dearborn had previously withdrawn from the service, and his command had been given to General Wilkinson. 7. General Armstrong, who had recently been appointed secretary of war, had planned another invasion of Canada. The army of the centre, under the immediate command of General Wilkinson, and that of the North, under General Hampton, were to unite at some point on the St. Lawrence, and co-operate for the reduction of Montreal. army The 8. After difficulties and unavoidable delays, many late in the season the scattered detachments of the of the centre, comprising about 7000 men, embarked from French Creek, down the St. Lawrence. progress of the army being impeded by numerous parlies of the enemy on the Canada shore, General Brown was landed and sent in advance to disperse them. On 2. What said of the remainder of the sum the change mer, and of of officers? 3. What is said of the plans of Gen. Arm strong? * Burlington Bay is at the western extremity of Lake Ontario, thirty-five miles W from Niagara. t Buffalo City, N. Y., is situated at the northeastern extremity of Lake Erie, nea: the outlet of the lake, and on the N. side of Buffalo Creek, which constitutes its harbor French Creek enters the St. Lawrence from the S. in Jefferson County, twenty miles N. from Sackett's Harbor 316 THE UNITED STATES. [PART IV. 1813. the 11th an engagement occurred near Williamsburg, in which the Americans lost more than 300 in killed and wounded. The British loss was less than 200. On the next day the army arrived at St. Regis,† when General Wilkinson, learning that the troops expected from Plattsburgt would be unable to join him, was forced to abandon the project of attacking Montreal. He then retired with his forces to French Mills,§ where he encamped for the winter. 1. What events occurred on The Niagara Mr the latter part of the year? a. Dec. 12. b. Dec. 10. 9. In the latter part of the year, a few events deserving notice occurred on the Niagara frontier.__In December, General McClure, commanding at Fort George, abandoned that post on the approach of the British; having previously reduced the Canadian village of Newark to ashes. A few days later, a force c. Dec. 19. of British and Indians surprised and gained possession of Fort Niagara; and in revenge for the burning of Newark, the villages of Youngstown, Lewiston,** Manchester,tt and the Indian Tuscarora village‡‡ were reduced to ashes. On the 30th, Black Rock and Buffalo were burned. Dec. 30. 2. What is said of the naval con flicts of the year 1813? 3. Give an III. NAVAL EVENTS, AND EVENTS ON THE SEACOAST, -1. During the year 1813, the ocean was the theatre of many sanguinary conflicts between separate armed vessels of England and the United States. On the account of 24th of February, the sloop of war Hornet, commanded etween the by Captain Lawrence, engaged the British brig-Peahe Peacock, cock, of about equal force. After a fierce conflict of d. Off the only fifteen minutes, the Peacock struck her colors, displaying, at the same time, a signal of distress. She the affair Hornet and coast of Demarara. * Williamsburg is on the northern shore of the St. Lawrence, ninety miles from Lake Ontario, and about the same distance S.W. from Montreal. †S Regis is on the S. bank of the St. Lawrence, at the northwestern extremity of Franklin County, N. Y., twenty-five miles N.E. from Williamsburg. Plattsburg, the capital of Clinton County, N. Y., is situated mostly on the N. side of Saranac River, at its entrance into Cumberland Bay, a small branch of Lake Cham plain. It is about 145 miles, in a direct line, from Albany. The place called French Mills, since named Fort Covington, from General Coving ton, who fell at the battle of Williamsburg, is at the fork of Salmon River, in Franklin County, ine miles E. from St. Regis. Newark now called Niagara, lies at the entrance of Niagara River into Lake On sario, opposite Fort Niagara. (See Map, p. 306.) Youngstown is one mile S. from Fort Niagara. ** Lewiston is seven miles S. from Fort Niagara. (See Map, p. 306.) tt The village of Manchester, now called Niagara Falls, is on the American side of the "Great Cataract," fourteen miles from Lake Ontario. (Map, p. 306, and p. 319.) #The Tuscarora Village is three or four miles E. from Lewiston. (See Map, p. 306.;. was found to be sinking rapidly, and although the 1813. greatest exertions were made to save her crew, went down in a few minutes, carrying with her nine British seamen, and three brave and generous Americans. 2. The tide of fortune, so long with the Americans, now turned in favor of the British. On the return of Captain Lawrence to the United States, he was promoted to the command of the frigate Chesapeake, then lying in Boston harbor. With a crew of newly en listed men, partly foreigners, he hastily put to sea on the 1st of June, in search of the British frigate Shannon; which, with a select crew, had recently appeared off the coast, challenging any American frigate of equal force to meet her. On the same day the two vessels met, and engaged with great fury. In a few minutes every officer who could take command of the Chesapeake was either killed or wounded; the vessel, greatly disabled in her rigging, became entangled with the Shannon; the enemy boarded, and, after a short, but bloody struggle, hoisted the British flag. 3. The youthful and intrepid Lawrence, who, by 2. What is his previous victory and magnanimous conduct, had capt. Larobecome the favorite of the nation, was mortally wound-in ed early in the action. As he was carried below, he Ludlow?, issued his last heroic order, "Don't give up the ship;" words which are consecrated to his memory, and which have become the motto of the American navy. The bodies of Captain Lawrence and Lieutenant Ludlowthe second in command-were conveyed to Halifax, where they were interred with appropriate civil and military honors; and no testimony of respect that was due to their memories was left unpaid. 4. On the 14th of August, the American brig Argus, after a successful cruise in the British Channel, in which she captured more than twenty English vessels, was herself captured, after a severe combat, by the brig Pelican, a British vessel of about equal force. In September following, the British brig Boxer surrendered to the American brig Enterprise, near the coast of Maine, after an engagement of forty minutes. commanders of both vessels fell in the action, and were The 318 THE UNITED STATES. [PART IV, 1813. interred beside each other at Portland, with military honors. 1. What is related of frigate 1314. * 5. 'During the summer, Captain Porter, of the frig Capt. Por- ate Essex, after a long and successful cruise in the ter, and the Atlantic, visited the Pacific Ocean, where he captured Essex? a great number of British vessels. Early in the folMarch 28, lowing year, the Essex was captured in the harbor of Valparaiso, by a British frigate and sloop of superior 2. What of force. The numerous privateers, which, during this privateers year, as well as the former, visited all parts of the world, and seriously annoyed the British shipping, in general sustained the high character which the American flag had already gained for daring and intrepidity, and generous treatment of the vanquished. American 6. Meanwhile, on the seacoast, a disgraceful war of havoc and destruction was carried on by large detachments from the British navy. Most of the shipping in Delaware Bay was destroyed. Early in the season, a British squadron entered the Chesapeake, and plundered and burned several villages. At Hampton,† the inhabitants were subjected to the grossest outrages from the brutal soldiery. The blockade of the northern GENERAL SCOTT. 4. What is some events ports fell into the hands of Commodore Hardy, a brave and honorable officer, whose conduct is pleasingly contrasted with that of the commander of the squadron in the Chesapeake. SECTION IV. PRINCIPAL EVENTS OF 1814. DIVISIONS. 1. Events on the Niagara Frontier.-II. Events in the vicinity of Lake Champlain.-III. Events on the Atlantic Coast.-IV. Events in the South, and Close of the War. remarked of I. EVENTS ON THE NIAGARA FRONTIER.-1. 'A few of Indian events of Indian warfare, which occurred in the early b. See p. 313. part of this year, have already been narrated in the warfare? Valparaiso, the principal port of Chili, is on a bay of the Pacific Ocean, sixty miles N.W. from Santiago. t Hampton, in Virginia, is situated north of James River, near its mouth, and on the W. side of Hampton River, about a mile from its entrance into Hampton Roads. pos previous section. Early in the season, 2000 men, The 1814. 1. Of the of General Brown's movements July 3. 2. Give an account of the events that occur red on the 3d, 4th, and 5th of July? July 5. preceded the Lane. 3. General Riall, after his defeat, fell back upon 3. Of the Queenstown, and thence to Burlington Heights, where subsequent he was strongly reinforced by General Drummond, Pre who assumed the command. The Americans ad- Lundy's vanced and encamped near the Falls of Niagara.§ About sunset on the evening of the 25th, the enemy July 25 again made their appearance, and the two armies engaged at Lundy's Lane,|| within a short distance of the Falls, where was fought the most obstinate battle tha occurred during the war. *Fort Erie is on the Canada side of Niagara River, nearly opposite Black Rock (See Map, p. 306.) t Chippeway Village is on the W. bank of Niagara River, at the mouth of Chippeway Creek, two miles S. from the falls, and sixteen miles N. from Fort Erie. The battle of July 5th was fought in the plain on the S. side of the creek. (See Map; also Map, p. 306.) Burlington Heights lie W. and S. of Burlington Bay. (See Note, p. 316.) The Falls of Niagara, between Lakes Erie and Ontario, are probably the greatest natural curiosity in the world. The mighty volume of water which forms the outlet of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie, is here precipItated over a precipice 160 feet high, with a roar like that of thunder, which may be heard, at times, to the distance of fifteen or twenty miles. The Fails are about twenty miles N. from Lake Erie, and fourteen S. from Lake Ontario. (See Map; also Map, p. 306.). Lundy's I ine then an obscure road, is about half a mile N.W. from the Falls. (See Ma)) VIC. OF NIAGARA FALLS. |