Stranica 52 [52]
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of the gun-boats, added to the confusion, and
caused a wavering in the ranks. Morrison
now closed his columns with the enemy, and,
together with the troops under Colonel Pearson,
kept up such a destructive fire, that the enemy was
driven from his position, and compelled to retire
from the field, with the loss of one gun, two hun¬
dred prisoners, most of his cavalry horses, and a
stand of colors, which was found chained to a
stump. “This,”’ remarked a corporal of the Forty¬
ninth, “is liberty chained to a stump.”
The battle raged until half-past four in the after¬
noon, and was contested with the greatest bravery
by both parties. No pursuit was ordered, as the
officer in command was aware that the American
reserve would be encountered. After much delay,
the Americans, with the entire flotilla, moved down
the river to Barnhart’s Island. At that point,
Wilkinson received the news that Hampton would
not be able to join him in the attack upon Montreal,
having been compelled to retreat to Lake Cham¬
plain by General De Salaberry.
decided that the expedition should consequently
be abandoned, and the force retreated to Salmon
A council of war
River.
Thus ended, in ignominious failure, another
attempt to annex Canada to the great Republic.
INCIDENTS.
Among the incidents of the battle, the following
have been preserved :—
“Samuel Adams, of Edwardsburg, who, with his
father, acted as a bearer of despatches from
Montreal to Kingston, was, on the day of the
battle at Crysler’s in the neighborhood, and re¬
solved to tarry and see the fun. Having no
particular duty assigned to him by the officer~in
command, he resolved to have a foray on his oz
hook. Accordingly, in the morning, he left the
British lines, and, making a detour through the
Second Concession, came out to the river at Raney’s
farm, in the rear of the American army. Just as he
reached the King’s Road, which, at that time, fol¬
lowed the margin of the river, a troop of the enemy’s
cavalry, that had been quartered at Louck’s inn,
dashed up at full speed. Resistance and flight
being alike out of the question, he threw himself
down behind an old log, which barely served to
conceal him from the horsemen, who, in their hurry,
passed within a few feet without observing him.
He had not time to congratulate himself upon his
narrow escape, before the noise of accoutrements
warned him of the approach of a party on foot,
and caused him to repent the rashness of his
adventure.
should ascertain their numbers, and soon discovered
that his alarm was caused by a brace of American
officers, in dashing uniforms, who were leisurely
sauntering up the road, their swords dangling on the
ground, and a pair of pistols in each of their belts.
Adams felt quite relieved, that the odds were only
two to one, and at once made up his mind to bag
both of them. Leaving his ambuscade, he planted
himself in front of them, and, levelling his musket,
with an air of determination, summoned them to
surrender their arms, or their lives. To his surprise,
they surrendered at discretion, and, arming himself
with their pistols, for his musket was unloaded, he
marched them back to the woods, and reached
headquarters, by the same route he had left, with
his prize, in time to take part with the imilitia in
the battle."
Mr. Richard Holmes, of Kitley, relates the fol¬
lowing: When war was declared in 1812, among the
volunteers who were ordered to report at Brock¬
ville, was one Andrew Fuller, who, finding that he
was to be away from home for some time, resolved
to repair thither. He called upon his sergeant,
McSween, and asked permission, but was told that
Fuller, whose ideas of
military discipline were somewhat crude, declared
that “he would go.” As he attempted to depart,
McSween ordered him to halt. Fuller laughed,
but did not obey the command. McSween seized
his musket and fired, killing the unfortunate man
almost instantly. At the time of Forsyth’s capture
of Brockville, McSween was confined in the gaol,
and was the only prisoner not liberated by the
Americans. McSween was subsequently tried for
the murder of Fuller, convicted, and sentenced to
be hanged, but was after a time released.
“it was against orders."
During the war, Captain Forsyth made a descent
upon Gananoque, which, at that time, consisted of
afew houses, besides the residences of Col, Stone
Captain Braddish, and Seth Downs; also one small
log-house, on the east side of the river. Colonel
Stone was particularly obnoxious to the’Americans,
being a prominent United Empire Loyalist, and a
staunch defender of British interests. The Ameri¬
cans landed at Sheriff's (now Lindsay's) Point,
marched down to the village, and took peaceable
possession. They surrounded the residence of
Colonel Stone, but failed to find him. Hearing
some person moving upstairs, one of the soldiers
fired in that direction. The ball took effect in the
hip of Mrs. Stone, making a severe, but not
dangerous, wound. Imagining that they had
killed the Colonel, they immediately departed.
Forsyth, in his report to the American author¬
ities, gives a glowing account of the capture