tual destruction, can never balance the evils, even could they be realized. That the mode of savage warfare is more dreadful than that of the more civilized, is undoubted; but the inference is not therefore in favour of hostilities, in any degree. That the loss of blood, and treasure, and moral feeling, are more than a fair equivalent for any supposed benefits in expectation, is evident to every reflecting mind, even without bringing into the account the dreadful inroads which it makes in the domestic circle. But, if we add to this, the violence which it does to the principles of the Christian religion, who shall fathom it? CHAPER XV. Operations of the Army on the Frontiers. General Brown and his officers were employed in disciplining the troops, and collecting forces, destined to dislodge the British from the American posts which they still occupied. In the beginning of July, the American forces amounted to but two brigades of regulars, and one of New York volunteers, under generals Porter and Swift, with a few Indians. In the meantime, the force of the enemy, under general Drummond, had been greatly increased, by the addition of a number of veteran regiments, which since the pacification of Europe, Great Britain had been enabled to send to this country. The first attack was on Fort Erie, which was garrisoned by one hundred and seventy men, which was taken by surprise. The second attempt was upon major-general Riall, who occupied an entrenched camp at Chippewa. This led to the first regular pitched battle during the war, and victory declared for the Americans, and the British were compelled to retire into the camp. The events of the war now began to thicken, and its character assumed the most sanguinary aspect. The victory already obtained by the Americans over men superior in numbers and discipline, enraged general Drummond to madness. But the enemy was obliged to fall back to Queenstown, and finally took post at Burlington heights. The flush of victory on one side, and the pride of military glory on the other, led to deeds of intrepid daring, unexampled in the former progress of the war. Skirmishing was constant and severe, and every movement seemed to be of a decisive character. In these rencontres, the loss on both sides, especially of officers, was very great. A specimen of the obstinate perseverance of the American troops, was exhibited near the cataracts of Niagara, which has few parallels. The enemy occupied an eminence well fortified, and defended by thrice the number of men mustered by the Americans, while the latter sustained the unequal conflict more than an hour, when orders were given to advance, and charge the enemy's heights, and break the British line. But the order was countermanded. The British now pressed forward on the ninth, which with wonderful firmness withstood the attack of their overwhelming numbers; but reduced at length to nearly one half, and being compelled at every moment to repel fresh charges of the British, colonel Leavenworth despatched a messenger to general Scott, to communicate its condition. The general rode up in person, roused the flagging spirits of his brave men with the pleasing intelligence, that reinforcements were expected every moment, and besought them to hold their ground. Lieutenant Riddle, already well known as a reconnoitering officer, was the first to come to the assistance of his fellow soldiers, having been drawn to the place by the sound of the cannon, while out with a scouting party. The same circumstance induced general Brown to proceed rapidly to the scene of action, giving orders to general Ripley to follow, with the second brigade. On his way he was met by major Jones, and from his information, he was induced to order up general Porter, with the volunteers, together with the artillery. So far, the Americans had repelled every attack with the most unyielding courage, but the situation of the brigade was very critical. The desperate efforts of the troops led general Riall to overrate the numbers to which he was opposed, and he sent to general Drummond for reinforcements. About this time an awful pause ensued between the two armies; for a time no sound broke upon the stillness of the night, but the groans of the wounded, mingling with the distant din of the cataract of Niagara. The shattered regiments were consolidated into one brigade, and placed as a reserve under colonel Brady, who, though severely wounded, refused to quit the field. The silence was once more interrupted by the arrival of General Ripley's brigade, major Hindman's artillery, and general Porter's volunteers, and at the same time, of general Drummond, with reinforcements. In the meantime, that accomplished young officer, major Jessup, who had been ordered in the early part of the action, to take post on the right, had succeeded, during the engagement, after encountering great difficulty, in turning the left flank of the enemy. At the present moment, taking advantage of the darkness of the night, and the incaution of the enemy, he threw his regiment in the rear of their reserve, and surprising one detachment after another, made prisoners of so many of their officers and men, that his progress was greatly impeded. The laws of war would have justified him in putting them to death; "but the laurel, in his opinion, was most glorious when entwined by the hand of mercy;" he therefore spared them, under circumstances where they certainly would not have spared him. One of his officers, captain Ketchum, had the good fortune to make prisoner of general Riall, and of the aid of general Drummond; the latter a most fortunate circumstance, as it prevented the concentration of the British force, contemplated by that officer, before the Americans were prepared for his reception. After disposing of his prisoners, major Jessup felt his way to the place where the hottest fire was kept up on the brigade to which he belonged, and drew up his regiment behind a fence on the side of the Queenstown road, but in the rear of a party of British infantry, drawn up on the opposite side of the same road; he suddenly gave them a destructive fire, on which they broke and fled. "The major," says general Brown, " showed himself to his own army in a blaze of fire." He was ordered to form on the right of the second brigade. The following instance of generalship, by which this sanguinary contest was decided, is of so daring a nature, and so completely developes the American character, that it will be inserted entire. General Ripley's brigade had by this time been formed for action, when orders were given for it to advance to the support of general Scott, against whom a fire was now directed, which he could not long withstand. General Ripley, with the quick discernment which characterizes the real commander, seeing that too much time would be lost before he could make his way through the skirt of the woods, in the darkness of the night, decided at once upon his own responsibility, to adopt the only measure from which he saw a hope; and which being made known to the commander in chief, he instantly sanctioned. The enemy's artillery occupied a hill, which was the key to the whole position, and it would be in vain to hope for victory, while they were permitted to retain it. Addressing himself to colonel Miller, he inquired whether he could storm the batteries at the head of the twenty-first, while he would himself support him with the younger regiment, the twenty-third. To this the wary, but intrepid veteran replied, in an unaffected phrase, I WILL TRY, SIR;—words, which were afterwards given as the motto of his regiment. The twenty-third was formed in close column, under its commander, Major M'Farland, and the first regiment, under colonel Nicholas, was left to keep the infantry in check. The two regiments moved on to one of the most perilous charges ever attempted; the whole of the artillery opened upon them as they advanced, supported by a powerful line of infantry. The twenty-first advanced steadily to its purpose; the twenty-third faultered on receiving the deadly fire of the enemy, but was soon rallied by the personal exertions of General Ripley.— When within a hundred yards of the summit, they receiv ed another dreadful discharge, by which major M'Farland was killed, and the command devolved on major Brooks. To the amazement of the British, the intrepid Miller firmly advanced, until within a few paces of their line, when he impetuously charged upon the artillery, which, after a short but desperate resistance, yielded their whole battery, and the American line was in a moment formed in the rear, upon the ground previously occupied by the British Infantry. During the charge, general Riall was taken prisoner, and the effect may easily be imagined. But this brilliant exploit seemed to spur on the enemy to redoubled exertions. Being reinforced, the British marched with quick step on the Americans, who reserved their fire, until it could become deadly. The whole British division came within twenty paces of the lines, when the well directed fire from our troops put thein into confusion. But they rallied to the attack, and the conflict became tremendous. But the enemy yielded, and retired down the hill. The contest was, however, soon renewed by the British, with the same results. Disheartened by these repeated defeats, the British were on the point of yielding the contest, when they received fresh reinforcements from fort Niagara, which revived their spirits, and induced them to make another and still more desperate struggle. After taking an hour to refresh themselves, and recovering from their fatigue, they advanced with a new and more extended line, and with confident hopes of being able to overpower the Americans, who thus far had been denied both refreshment and repose. Our countrymen had stood to their arms during all this time, their canteens exhausted, and many almost fainting with thirst; and, from the long interval, they had begun to cherish hopes that the enemy had yielded. In this they were disappointed; but on discovering the approach of the British, their courageous spirit returned, and they resolved never to yield the glorious trophies of their victory, until they could contend no longer. |