OCR
—S a TE S + — — 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 hundred prisoners, most of his cavalry horses, and a stand of colors, which was found chained to a stump. “This,”’ remarked a corporal of the Fortyninth, “is liberty chained to a stump.” The battle raged until half-past four in the afternoon, 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 Champlain 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 resolved 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, followed 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 following: When war was declared in 1812, among the volunteers who were ordered to report at Brockville, 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 Americans 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 authorities, gives a glowing account of the capture