Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-10-31

rear road, from Niagara to Camp. AT q
in the evening lieut. col. Stranahan : =.
y;msnt moved from Niagara Falls-ato
o O'clock Mead's-and at 9, lieut. colonel
Rlan's regiment marched from the same
mace. Al were in camp in good sea-
son son. Agreeably to ny order. ISSUED up.
on this occasion, the TWO columns "s1o
I TO mass over together; as soon as 'he
heights should be carried, lieut.. coienei
Fenwick's flying artillery was 20 pass
over; then major MaIlanys detachmen'
of regulars and the other troops 70 io''
low in order.
AT dawn of day the boats were IN rea-
diness, and the troops commences en-
| barking, under the cover OF acommaha-
ing battery mounting 2 eighteen pound
| ers and Q SKIES. The movement was
| soon discovered, and brisk hire OF mus
kerry " as poured from the whole line OF
| the Canada shore. Our battery then
| opened to sweep the shore; but 1t was
| for some minutes, too dark TO direcs
much FIRE with safety. A brisk cannon
| ade was now opened upon the boats from
three different batteries-sdr battery re-
tured their Ere, and occasionally threw
grape upon the shore, and was ltseH
served with shells from small mortar
Of the enemy's. Colonel Scott, or the
artillery, by fastening his march from
| Niagara Falls in the night, arrived IN
| season to return the enemy's are with
six Founders.
The boats were somewhat entbarras.
sed with the eddies, as well as with
shower of shot but colonel Van Renss
| selaer, with about 100 men, soon effect
ed his landing amidst tremendous hire
directed upon him from every point;
but to the astonishment OF all who wit
messed the scene, this van Of the column
| advanced slowly against the fire. 1t was
a serious misfortune to the van, and IN
deed to the whole expedition, that In
few minutes after landing. colonel Van
Rensselaer, received four wounds-a ball
passed through his right thigh, entering
lust below the hip-Eone-another shot
| passed through the same thigh, little
bclow-ths third through the calf OF his
left leg-and fourth confused his
heel Thi, was quite crisis in the ex-
petition. Under SO severe fire 1t was
| difficult to form raw troops. By some
Encouragement of the beatmen, lieut.,
col Christie did not arrive until some
time after this, and Sas wounded in the
hand in passing the river. Col. Van
Rensselaer, was still a>ls to stand and
wi,h great presence of mind ordered his
officers to proceed with rapidity and
storm the fort. This service WIS gel.
lantly performed, and the enemy driven
down the hill in every direction. Soon
after this both parties were considerably
reinforced, and the conflict was renewed
in various places-many Of the enemy
took shelter behind stone guard house,
where a piece of ordnance was now
briskly served. I ordered the fire of
our battery directed upon the guard
house; and it was SO effectually done,
that with or 10 shot tho fire was ST.
fenced. The enemy then rctreated be-
hind large store house; but In shet
time the route became general, and the
enemy's fire wa. silenced except from
one gun battery, so far down the river
as to be out Of the reach Of our heavy
ordnance, ana our light pieces could not
silence it. A number Of boats now pass
ed over unannoyed, except from the one
unsilcnced gun. For some time after
had passed over, the victory appeared
complete but in the expectation of
further attacks, was taking measures
for fortilying my camp Immediately
the direction of this service committed
to lieut. Tolten, of the engineers. But
soon the enemy were reinforced by
detachment Of several hundred Indians
from Chipawa-they commenced fu-
rious attack; but were promptly met
| and routed by the rifle and bayoRet. BY
this tine, perceived my troops were
embarking very slowly. passed i'm.
mediateiy over to accelerate their move
ments but to my utter establishment, |
found that at tbs very moment when
| complete victory was in our hands, the
ardor of the unengaged troops had en-
tirely subsidized rode in all directions
urged men by every consideration to
pas. over-but in vain. Lieut.. colonel
| Bloom, who had been wounded in action,
mounted his horse and rode through the
camp; as did also Judge Peck, who hap
pened 10 be here, exhorting the compa-
| MES to proceed-but all in vain.
AT this time large reinforcement
from Fort George were discovered COM
Ing up the river. AS the battery on the
hill was considered an important check
against their ascending the heights, mea.
sures were Immediately taken to send
them fresh supply of ammunition, as
bad learnt there were left only 90 shot
for the | DOunders, The reinforcement