The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-12-01

heavy Cannonading opened upon them from
| the batteries, in despite of which our brave
| little band crossed the river. dro9e the enc
my before them. assembled the eminepce
| where one of their batteries stood mcun ed
| with five cannon. and planted the standard
ct liberty upon tit was now thought that
Fortune had decided the victory in favor of
the sons OF freedom, and that the command
ing fortress of Queenstown would be the
reward OF their vaior but the tickle Cod
dess smiled not long upon them in the
midst Of their exultation a reinforcement
was discovered On the way from TT. George.
A numerous body of the militia who were
ON the shore could not be induced either by
| solicitations OF force TO cross to their sue
cor--the enemy who had been in the bat
terry and driven to the woods returned with
renewed hopes TO the charge, and our hand
ful of men were enclosed between two fires.
What courage driven to desperation could
do was done; dreadful! Slaughter ensued
on both sides the event YVES yet doubtful
| until, their ammunition failing and the das.
ta'dy militia not daring although urgently
called upon to bring them fresh supply
this remnant of heroes wefe forced to sur
rcnder.--It is almost impossible to form a
correct estimate of the loss sustained in this
disastrous affair, and am confident it will
come to your ears greatly exaggerated, es-
pecialle as or 900 hundred of the militia
took fright and deserted: these were at first
reported to be slain or taken. al the in
formation that l have gathered leads me to
conclude that there were between 7 and
500, including killed, wounded and prison.
ers. The regulars who were engaged a
mounted to about 400 from 18th and 23d
Regiments, and there were not more than
900 at any time in the action. The militia
who survived have been released. And /
sHPpose the Volunteers will be also-The
Regulars are sent to Montreal, and thence
their destination will probably be Quebec
On our side not less than $50 were left dead
on the field, and many badly wounded; "a
mong the latter is Col Van Rensselaer, of
the militia Aid to the General of the same
name, and Col. Fenwck of the Light Ar
tillery who was wounded in three places,
the leg, arm and face; the surgeons who
attend almost despair of his recovery. He
was yesterday by consent of the enemy
brought to this place. Gen. Wadsworth,
Lieut.. Coils. Christie and Scott (of Virgo &
Major Mullany, arc among the prisoners.
The loss of the enemy in killed is more
considerable, among them is General Brock
and his aid. The death of Brock will be
severely felt, as he was a great comman
der; and general Sheaffe who succeeds
him in com and is reported te be very de-
fcient in military talents.--In the evening
by the enemy, desiring that a cessation of
arms might take place few days-The
principal force of the enemy consisted i'll In
oians, the same sCoundrels l suppose who
we're at Detroit. We have one now in cop
finement, who together with or English
men were taken and brought over in the
commencement of the action.
+" 1t is much to be regretted that an at
tempt should have been made, which had
so unfortunate termination. These re-
peated defeats will have a two fold opera
ration against us: 1t will elate the enemy &
induce them to hold cut in their unjust pre-
fences, and affect the feelings of our own
countrymeh. The failure appears to me to
be entirely owing TO the General, who &C
knowledges his incompetency to comMard
both by words and in resigning 70 Brig.
General Smyth the entire command of the
force, regulars and militia upon these lakes,
whilst he himself has retired to his own
home. That he did not take trot1er nlea-
spres to ensure success, ahhears from two
circumstances First, that Gen. Smyth
who was encamped only IS miles from this
place with ID or Is hundred regulars was
not called in and waited for to cooperate !;
and secondly, that he did not provide boats
enough, although plenty might have been
procured to take over a large force.
Three days previous to the battle. a
messenger 7cdS sent TO our camp two miles
from BufFaloe which is situated directly up
on lake Erie, informing Gen. Smyth Of the
projected attack and ordering him to march
with all possible dispatch to the scene of
action. We accordingly set out in violent
rain & proceeded ID or IA miles on the way,
over the very worst road that ever wss
| fcrmed, with mud at each step up to our
knees, when another messenger met US with
orders to return, as something had rendered
it impraCtioable to make the attempt. We
then wheeled back, and returned to our
former ehcanipment the next day; where we
remained until the next day, until the eUel-
ing of the bette 7vhen another messenger
arrived, sent at the moment the battery
was taken, bringing the joyful intelligence
that permanent landing was effected IN
Canada by the taking Of Queeustown: We
Immediately commented q march and con
triued it till late hour at night when
@e,were again forced to remain oct without
tents But this was not at all regarded !;
every one Teasing himself with The prospec CT
# beng actively employed and of distin-
gushing himself Hsw cruel then was our
disappointment in the morning when an OF
hcer, who had beeu cent forward, r turne i
and informed US of the melancholy Grange {!
With slow and pensive step we continued
our march and arrived at this place the
third day. We have now moved miles
further up. How long We shall continue
here, or what may be our final destination,
| il is not in my power to say. Perhaps no
thing further will be attempted, unless a
al. !