The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-05-20
U.s. Nail.
Official accounts of the
Capture Of YORK.
DIS. COL.

DIS. COL WashiagtOn-uty, IiGy IL.
Copies of Letters from MAjor.Gcncral Dearborn, to
the Secretary at War, 4" Head. Quarters, York.
Capital of Upper Canada, April 27th, !SlS,
o'cioIk, r. M.
Sr-We are in full possession of this
place, after short conflict, IN which We lost
some brave offit ers aud soldiers.
Gen. Shealle commanded the British
troops, militia and iudians' IN person.
We shall be prepared to sal! for the next
object OF the expedition the hrst favorable
wind.
have to lament 'ae loss OF the brave and
active risadier-generai Pike. am, SC.
H. DEARBORN.
TIE hon. Con John armstrong, ,See'ry War, UashnsIOn
II @ York. Capital Of U. Canada, April 2sth, 1913.
Sr--Afer a detention of some days by ed.
verse winds, we arrived al this place yes,er-
day MOI ming, and at O'Clock commenced
landing the troops about three miles westward
from the town, and one and halt from the
cncmy's works. The wind was high and in
an uniavorable direction for the boats, which
prevented the landing Of the troops at clear
field, the scite Of the ancient French tort a.
rento. 1t prevented also many of the armed
vessels from taking positions, which would
have most effectualiy covered our landing-
but every thing that could b. done was effect
ed The riflemep under Maj ForsyIh, h'st
landed, under heavy fire from Indians and
other troops. Gea Shcaffe commanded in
person. He had collected his whole fofee III
the woods near the point where the wind COM
PEELED our troops to land. HIS force consist
e>.of seven hundred regulars and militia, and
one Sundred Indians. Major Forsyth was
supportet as promptly as possible but the
contest was sharp and severe Tor nearly halt
an hour, and the cHcmy we've repnlsed by
number far inferio: 10 theirs. AS soon AS
Gen. Pike landed with seven or eigSt hun.
drcd men, and the rcunalCdcr OF the troops
were pushing for the shore, the enemy re-,
treated 10 their works. Our troops were now
formed on the ground originally Intended fo'
their landings g,advanced through ,hiok wood,
and after carrying one battery by asssuit,were
moving in columns towards the main work
when within sixty rods Of this, Tremendous
explosion took place from magazine prc.i-
ausly prepared, and which threw out such
immense quantity of stone as most seriously
to iniure our troops have not been able 10
collect the returns Of the killed and wound
ed but our loss will, fear, exceed one hun
drcd and among these have TO lament the
loss of that brave and cxcellen, officer briga-
dier general Pike, who received confusion
from large stone, which terminated his val.
uable life i'm few hours. His loss will be
severely felt Previously to this explosion,
the enemy had retired Into The town, except
ing party Of regulars, to the number OF 40,
who did not escape the effects OF the shock,
and were destroyed. Gen. Sheaffe moved of
with the Regular troops and left directions
with the commanding officer OF the militia 10
make the best terms he could. In the mean
time, all further resistance ON the part OF the
enemy ceased, and the outlines Of capitula-
ton were agreed on. A soon as learned
that Gen. Pike had been wounded | went on
shore. To the general had been iDduced
to col..,c the immediate attack, from knowl-
edge that il was his wish, and that he would
have felt mortified had il not been given to
him. Every movement was under my view.
The troops behaved with great hrmncss and
deserve much applause, particularly those
! frs, engaged, and under circumstances which
would have tried the s;eadincss OF veterans
| Our loss in the morning and in Carrying the
| first battery WAS not great, perhaps forty or
| fifty killed and wounded, and of them full
| proportion Of officers. Notwithstanding the
enemy's advantage in position and numbers
I IN the commencement OF the action, their
loss was greater than ours, especially in otfi-
GERS. IL was with great excrtions that the
| small vessels Of the feet could work into the
harbor against a gale Of wind but as soon as
they cot into proper position a Tremendous
cannonsde opened upon the cncmy's batteries
nd was kcp, up against them, until they
| we're carried or blown up, and had, no doubt,
a powerful effec, upon the enemy. am un.
der tho creates. obligations sv Com. Chasn.