From a contemporary Map drawn and published Map to illustrate the War of 1812. by John Melish of Philadelphia Stoney Battle of Procter's retreat. a place named Stoney Creek, about seven miles from the In the west, in the same way, the issue of events depended upon the mastery of Lake Erie. As the American force grew in strength, Procter recognized the weakness of his position. Captain Robert Barclay, who was in command of the British. fleet, although he knew his inferiority, risked a battle (September 9), which ended in the annihilation of the British fleet. The battle of Lake Erie compelled Procter's retreat from Amherstburg. After a delay of ten days he retreated along the road which ran due north along the Detroit river to Sandwich, then eastward along the southern shore of Lake St. Clair to the mouth of the river Thames, and afterwards along the course of that river. The Americans in pursuit came up with Procter, at Moraviantown, on the Thames, on October 5. The contest was soon over, the British troops being obliged to surrender. Among the other losses of this disastrous day was the death of Tecumseh, the brilliant Shawnee chief, whose chivalry and skill made him the finest soldier whom the Indian tribes have ever produced. Procter, who had never reached the front, escaped by the fleetness of his horse'; but the large amount of private baggage was a juster ground of condemnation. The court martial, which afterwards considered the case, found Procter guilty of having neglected the necessary measures for the retreat. He was sentenced to be publicly reprimanded, and to be suspended from rank and pay for six months. The Duke of York, Commander-in-Chief, took a yet more serious view of Procter's conduct, and expressed his extreme disapprobation. Kingston. Meanwhile a new American general, Wilkinson, took up Plan of the command at Sackett's Harbour in August, with the de- campaign against termination to carry through an elaborate plan of campaign Montreal against Montreal. Kingston was the real objective; but it and was held that this place could be more easily reduced by first attacking Montreal and cutting communication between the two places. Accordingly a combined expedition was planned from Lake Ontario and Lake Champlain. Wilkinson, however, and General Wade Hampton, who commanded at Lake Champlain, were on bad terms, so that the first requisite for a combined movement was lacking. The intention was that the armies should meet at the mouth of the river Chateauguay, and then descend upon Montreal by Lachine. Wilkinson's force began the descent of the St. Lawrence on November 5, its course being harassed by British gunboats and troops. A small British column under Colonel Morrison defeated the rearguard of the enemy at Chrystler's Farm, on the north bank of the St. Lawrence Chrystler's (November 11). Farm. Chateau Meanwhile a more serious check had been received by General Hampton's forces. They had entered Canada on September 20, advancing from Plattsburg to the Chateauguay river, whence they intended to proceed to Lake St. Louis. Colonel de Salaberry, in command of some three hundred French-Canadian militia, took up his position on the Chateau- Battle of guay, near its junction with the Outard river, where, on guay. October 25, he was reinforced by Colonel Macdonell, the captor of Ogdensburg. The American general was aware of the presence of the Canadians and sent a force to circumvent them. Meanwhile the main body attacked in front and were at first successful. They were, however, checked by suddenly coming upon the second line under Macdonell. The occasion was used by de Salaberry to rally his men, who drove back British successes. the Americans under a murderous fire. The other American force, surprised by Macdonell's men as they approached the ford of the Chateauguay, panic-stricken by the yells of the Indians and the presence of an unknown enemy, beat a hasty retreat. The battle of Chateauguay, won by some nine hundred French Canadians with about fifty Indians against overwhelming odds, was perhaps the most brilliant exploit of the war. It was further strategically of great importance, as it was the direct cause of the abandonment for the year of the expedition against Montreal. Moreover, its political bearings cannot be exaggerated as causing the French Canadians to take pride in a national war. In the western district, also, the close of the year brought British successes. The Americans had weakened their garrisons, so as to strengthen Wilkinson's army, and on the approach of the British their forces evacuated Fort George, which was occupied by the British on December 12. On their retreat the Americans burnt the unfortified town of Newark, an act of barbarism which called forth afterwards terrible reprisals. The new Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, General Gordon Drummond, a brilliant soldier, who had been born in Canada, arrived at the front on December 15. Fort Niagara was taken on the 19th, and on the approach of the British the Americans evacuated Lewiston. The settlements of Black Rock and Buffalo were destroyed, having been abandoned by their population. Drummond recognized that the command of Lake Ontario was the principal hinge on which the safety of Upper Canada depended, and strained every nerve to place the fleet in a position to meet the enemy. In April, 1814, he proposed in vain to Prevost a plan of attack upon Sackett's Harbour. The destruction of the enemy's stores at Oswego helped to reduce the American ascendancy, and Yeo for some time maintained a successful blockade of Sackett's Harbour. But the loss of a portion of his fleet compelled him to retire to Kingston. |