Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-11-02

10 me that lie had procured the man who |
bore h's letter to the Governor Instruc- |
tons were given him; he passed over-ob-
tanned such information as warranted AN
attack. This was CONFIDENTIAL,
comnunicatedt to several OF my first officers,
anu pro'Mced great zeal 70 act (; more espc-
cia3y as 1t might have a controlling effect
upon the movements at Detroit, where it
was suppressed General Brock had gone with
all the force he dared spare from the Mia
CARA frontier. The best preparations in nv
power were therefore, made to dislodge the
enemy from the Heights of Queenstown, and
possess ourselves of the village. where the
troops might be sheltered from the distress
ing inc!ciuencv of the weather.
.fcol. Fenwick's f1ying artillery. and
detachment of regular troops under his
Command, were ordered to be up in season
from Fort Niagara. Orders were also sent
| to General Smyth to send down from Buffa-
Zoe such detachment of his brigade as exist
fins circumstances in that vicinity might war
rant. The attack was TO have been made
| at O'Clock in the morning of the 18th by
crossing over IN boats from the Old Ferry
opposite the Heights. To avoid any embar-
! raSsment IN crossing the river (which is here
sheet of violent eddies) experienced boat
men were procured to take the boats from
the landing belew'to the place of embarka-
ton Lieut. Sim was considered the man Of
greatest skill fer this service. He wen. a.
head, and in the extreme darkness, passed
the Intended place far up the river; and
there, In most extraordinary manner, fas-
tened his boat to the shore, and abandoned
the detachmena In this front boat he had
| oarrled nearly every oar which was prepai--
cd Tor all the boats In this agonizing diem.
ma, stood officers and men, Whose ardor had
not been cooled by exposure through the
night TO one Of the most tremendous north
| east storms, which Continued, undated. for
twenty-eight hours, and Delayed the whole
camp. The approach of daylight extin-
suished every prospect Of success, and the
de,achment returned to camp. Col. Van
Rausselaer was to have commanded the de-
| tachnent.
Atterthis result, had hoped the patience
| OF the troops would have continued until
could submit the plan suggested In nv letter
| OF the 9th, that | might act under and in
conformity TO the opinion which might be
then expressed. Buthope was idle the pre-
viously excited ardor seemed to have Gained
new heat from the mscarriage-the brave
were mortified TO stop short Of their object.
and the timid thought laurcs half won by an
attempt.
On the morning of the 18th. such WIS the
became satisfied that my refusal to act mirht
| involve ME in suspicion and the service in
disgrace
Viewing affairs at Bufaloe as vet unset
tied, / had Immediately countermanded the
! march of General Smyth's brigade, uDon
the failure of the first expedition; but ha-
wing now determined to attack Queenstown.
| sent new orders to GeneralSmyth to march:
not with the view of his cid in the attack. for
/ considered the force detached sufficient.
but to support the detachment should the
| conflict be obtained and long continued.
Lieut.. Colonel Christie, VINO had just arri-
| we'd at the -Four Mile Greek, had late in the
| night OF the first contemplated attack, gal
| lantly offered me his own and his mems SER
vice but he got my permission too late. He
now again came forward !; had conference
| with Col. Van Rensselaer,, and begged that
he might have the honor of a command in the
expedition. The arrangement was made.
Coi. van Rensselaer, was to command one
Column of 30 militia and Lieutenant Colo
mel Christie a column of the same number of
regular. troops.
Every precaution was now adopted as to
boats. and the most confidential and expert
enced men to manage them. At. an early
hour in the night. lieut. colonel Christie
marched his detachment, by the rear road.
from Niagara to Camp, Az in the even.
ing lieut.. col Stranahan's regiment moved
from Niagara Falls--at 8 o'clock Mead's-
and at lieut. colonel Blan's regiment march.
ed rom the same place All were in camp
| IN good season. Agreeably to my orders is
sued upon this occasion, the two columns
we're to pass over together and soon as the
| heights should be carried, lieut.. colonel
| Fee lwick's fling artillery was to pass over
then major Mullany's detachment of repu-
lars and the other troops to follow in or
der.
At dawn.of day the boats were in rcadi-
ness, and the troops commenced embarking.
under the cover ut a commanding battery
mounting eighteen Founders and SKIES.
The movement was soon discovered, and
brisk ire of musketry, was poured from
the whole line of the Canada shore Our
battery then opened to sweep the shore bnt
was, for some minutes, too dark to direct
much fire with safety. A brisk canncnade
was now opened upon the boats from 3 diff
terent batteries--our battery returned their
tlre, and occasionally threw grape upon the
shore, and was itself served with shells from
small mortar ofthe enemy's. Col. Scott.
ct the artillery, by Fastening his march from
Niagara Falls in the night, arrived in sea-
son to return the enemy's FIRE with six
Founders.
The boats were somewhat embarrassed
with the eddies, as well as with shower
of shot but colonel Van Rensselaer,. with
about 100 men, soon effected his landing a.
midst tremendous fire directed upon him
from every point; but to the astonishmept of
all who Witnessed the scene, this van of the
column advanced slowly against the fire.
1t was serious misfortune to the van, and
indeed TO the whole expedition, that in a
few minutes after landing, col. Van Rans,e