Stranica 64 [64]
OCR
Captains Dunham Jones, S. Fraser, and Henderson s companies of the 1st and znd Grenville Militia, with one company of the Dundas Militia, under Major Clark, amounting altogether to about 150 men, being placed under the command of Colonel Duncan Fraser, of the’ Grenville Militia (an officer well known in the Province for his remarkable energy and bravery), with instructions to move round some marshy ground, and attack the enemy in that men of the 83rd Regiment, and commanded by Lieutenant Johnson, and the gth Battalion Johns‘own Militia, with Captain Edmondson and his few men attached (about 16o in all), under charge of Lieutenant-Colonel Gowan, by the high road on the bank of the river, from Prescott to Johnstown, and, if successful in dislodging the enemy from the walls behind which they were posted, make an effort, in conjunction with Colonel Fraser s column, to carry the mill and other stone buildings. The charge of protecting the town, and watching the movements on the opposite shore, was entrusted ledge of those he had to deal with, was well calculated for this duty. Information having been received. about three o’clock in the morning, of the approach of a detachment of the Stormont Militia, under Colonels Crysler and Markley, a dragoon was dispatched to meet and conduct them through the intricate country they had to traverse, and, when on the point of putting the columns in motion, Colonel Young had the satisfaction to see them arrive on the ground. The steamers under Captain Sandom dropping down towards the mill, no time Half of them, about eighty men, were instantly attached to each of the previously formed columns, when the order to advance was given, and the whole moved off towards their destined points. Both columns advanced in silence and with marked regularity, could be spared to refresh the weary troops. and in twenty minutes were within rifle-shot of the enemy, posted in force some distance in front and flank of the windmill. was the first to receive their fire, and the action soon became general. The intervening ground was open, and Colonel Young, who accompanied the column that was advancing by the high road, being apprehensive that every shot from the men protected by the walls would tell, perceived at once the advantage of closing rapidly with them, and his order being obeyed in the most enthusiastic and determined manner, the enemy were, in less than an hour, dislodged in succession from all of the walls, some houses, and a grocery which they occupied, and compelled to fly for refuge to the mill and two or three stone buildings close to it; but, on approaching these buildings, we found that they were well manned, and a destructive fire, by which several valuable lives were lost, being kept up from the upper windows of the mill, and a strong stone store which flanked it as completely as if built for that purpose, the troops were placed under partial cover, within one hundred yards, in the hope that a breach would be made by the armed steamers, from which an incessant fire of shot and shell had been maintained from the commencement of the operations. At this time it was considered to be impracticable to make an effectual impression by such means upon the buildings, the balls glancing off without doing any injury. Colonel Young, unwilling to risk the advantage he liad already gained, and the certain destruction of many more of his men, decided on drawing a cordon of sufficient force round the brigands, until heavier guns could be procured, Accordingly, having established the necessary posts, and removed the wounded from the field, he ordered the remainder of the force back to Prescott at 3 P.M. Late in the evening, Lieutenant-Colonel Gowan's battalion returned to Brockville. In the engagement, the detachments of the 83rd Regiment, the Royal Marines, and the Militia, displayed most fully the characteristic coolness and bravery of British soldiers, and the severe loss they suffered (74 killed and wounded) is the best proof of their determination to free their country from the band of miscreants who had dared to invade it. The faithfulness with which the Militia performed various harrassing duties, being exposed to wet and cold, was highly creditable to them. When the cordon was about to be formed, fatigued as they were, every man wished to remain—the entire body actuated by the same feeling—a full determination to prevent the escape of one of the murderous gang in the mill, and this determination was so fully carried out that all were eventually captured. The service had to deplore the loss of Lieutenant Johnston, of the 83rd Regiment, a brave and valuable officer, who was killed within sixty yards of Battalion of Grenville Militia, who was killed at the head of his men. Lieutenant-Colonel Gowan was slightly wounded. Lieutenant Parker, of the Royal would not leave the field. Lieutenant Parlow, of Dundas Militia, and Ensign A. McDonnell, of the Lancaster (Glengarry) Highlanders, having given ample proof of their gallantry, were also wounded. Every officer and soldier engaged did his duty to the utmost, Colonel Fraser and Captain George
