Stranica 50 [50]
OCR
= ——— a: — The Commander of the Forces was induced to authorize this attack, not by any means as an act of wanton aggression, the troops under his command having been ordered at al] times to abstain from all acts of that nature ; but as one of a just and necessary retaliation Brockville, by a party from Ogdensburg, and in consequence of frequent depredations from that garrison committed on the person and property of His Majesty’s subjects within its reach; and, in announcing its results, his Excellency feels much pleasure in publicly expressing his entire approbation of the gallantry and judgment with which it appears to have been conducted. His Excellency directs the officers and men taken prisoners on this occasion to be sent to Montreal, there to remain until further orders. A salute to be fired immediately. JOHN HARVEY, Lieutenant-Colonel and Deputy Adjutant-General. LisT OF KILLED AND WOUNDED, IN THE ATTACK UPON OGDENSBURG, 22ND FEB, 1813. Royal] Artillery.—One rank and file killed. King’s Regiment.—One sergeant killed; twelve rank and file wounded. Newfoundland Regiment.—-One rank and file killed, and four rank and file wounded. Glengarry Light Infantry.—Two rank and file killed ; one lieutenant-colonel, one captain, one lieutenant, two sergeants, seven rank and file, wounded. Militia. — Two rank and file killed ; one captain, eight subalterns, one sergeant, fifteen rank and file, wounded. NAMES OF OFFICERS WOUNDED. Glengarry Light Infantry.—Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell, Captain Jenkins, severely ; Lieutenant McKay. Militia.—Captain J. McDonnell, Lieutenant Empy, severely ; Lieutenant McLean and Lieutenant McDermott. J. ROWEN, Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General. During the Summer of 1813, an American army under Wilkinson was assembled at Sackett’s Harbour, while General Hampton, with a large force under his command, waited at Chateauguay, prepared to march upon Montreal, in conjunction with Wilkinson, who was to descend the St. Lawrence to that point. Owing to delays, and the difficulty met with in securing transports, Wilkinson’s army was not prepared for offensive action until November, 1813. The force was first landed on Grenadier Island, with the view of capturing Kingston, but finding that place guarded by a strong British fleet, the American commander, on the 5th of September, suddenly embarked his troops, and sailed down the river. The transports consisted of three hundred small sailing vessels and boats, carrying about 8,000 men. The British force at Prescott was under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Pearson, who had taken the precaution to despatch Lieutenant Duncan Clark to Cole’s Ferry to observe the vessels navigating the river, and promptly report the first appearance of the enemy. At an early hour in the forenoon, an advance guard of vessels hove in sight, Lieutenant Clark promptly took possession of a farmer's horse, and in a few minutes rode into Brockville on his foam-covered steed, and announced “the enemy are at hand.” With only a moments pause he dashed away for Prescott with the report for his commanding officer. Ere night the American army reached Morristown, where it disembarked and passed the night. Brockville and Prescott were thronged with sturdy yeomanry and loyal citizens, ready to resist and harrass the enemy. At the latter place a battery commanding the river was planted, and every precaution taken to prevent Wilkinson from descending the rapids. To escape the fire from Prescott, Wilkinson landed his men at a point about three miles above Ogdensburg, marched them around that village, and reached the stream at a safe point below. During the night the boats were taken down by a few boatmen, who crept along the American shore. Next morning the troops were reembarked, and the Galops Rapids passed, a halt being made at Point Iroquois. There, the invaders met with a reception at the hands of a dozen Canadians, under the command of Jacob and Peter Brouse, and a hundred militiamen, who poured ina volley, by command of their Captain, Monroe. Wilkinson commanded his force to land, and Monroe and his little band were compelled to retreat. Part of the American force proceeded about a mile below Iroquois, the flotilla anchoring in the bay opposite. Remaining at this point for several days, the dilatory commander gave the necessary orders, and the boats passed down the Rapid du Plat, halting there to obtain pilots, and making the necessary arrangements for descending the dangerous rapids. At this point he was .reinforced by General Brown's brigade, which advanced by land to disperse the British troops and protect the brigade of boats. The intention was to seize Cornwall, and thus secure the Government stores at that place. At Hoople’s Creek, Brown encountered the Glengarry militia, under Major Dennis, but that officer did not dare risk an engagement. The Ameralso running the Sault. Croil, the historian of Dundas, gives the following account ofthe battle of Crysler’s Farm: “ When it was ascertained that Wilkinson had descended the st. Lawrence, Lieutenant Colonel Morrison, of the 89th Regiment, lost no time in setting out in pursuit of the enemy, who had so dexterously given him the slip at Kingston, and hastily embarked the small body of troops that could be spared at that important point, on board the several ships of war and a flotilla of gun-boats. These were necessarily af ae 4 ——
