Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-06-07
FROM THE AURORA.
THE CAPTURE OF YORK 1NcAaNn.


VINO fell before that place had selected from
the croud of the world" as worthy of hit
friendship while living, and Of his remem
prance even IN the moment of victory and death
Ihat remembrance is too precious not to e1
cite, with the sorrow for the loss which his
country has sustained, emotions too lively to
be expressed in any form Of words. The &C
count, as 1t viii appear, was written on the
specnl injunction of general Pike, By one Of
his companions in arms, and who fell by his
SIDE, and are communicated from the original
LOT this paper. The following il the unafect.
ca ana interesting narrative of the officer 10
whom the general gave the injunction:
without the honor of personal acquaint.
ance, address you at the particular order of
the late general Pike, after he had been NOR
tally wounded-his words were exactly these ::
-" am mortally woundcd--my ribs
:. and back are stove in-write my friend ID
- and tell him what you know Of the bat.
"te-and TO Comfort my -" Some things
else he said, on which shall again write you
and many things he said for YOUR ear, have
escaped me through the severity of my own
bruizes AS an order from general Pike willie
living, was an obligation of duty on me to obey
shall hardly disregard his injunctons, even
though we have parted for ever
We embarked the 22d and 23d of April but
the weather being stormy we returned into
port, and sailed again on the 25th, and arrived
at YORK, in Upper Canada, the 9th, about
O'Clock, "A. NJ aud Immediately prepared to
land opposite the old scite of fort Toronto
body oil British grenadicrs were paraded on the
shore, and tin Glengsry fencibles, corps
which has been disciplined with great pains
Tor SIX months past, appeared Ut another point.
Bodies OF Indians were perceived in large
groups in different directions; and a consider
able number Ia some woods and underwoods
OH orr iceward flank
About the settle ofthe old French fort of To-
rento, OF which scarcely any vcstiges at pre-
sent remain, we could discern few horseRen,
who wsperceived afterwards moving into thu
town; where strong field works had been thrown
up to oppose our landing.
AS soon as the horscmen had entered the
town We saw the Indians moving in gangs along
the skirts of the woods under the direction
OF Brlt.2a officers taking post at stations point
ed out 10 them; apparently calculated with
some skill as TO the point which the water and
che weather must compel us to land.
After these Ih&Rns, acting as tirailleurs,
were thus.disPosed, We perceived very distinct
ly the regulars moving out of their works in
open columns of platoons, and marching along
the bank in that order; when they reached the
PLAN, OF the old fort Toronto, they were wheel"
ed Oft by heads of piaioons into the woods, and
soon appeared IN the same order below the
plan just at the position at which our troops
we're under the necessity of landing.
Major Foysythe, and his excellent and gal
liant rifie corps, who had been placed in two
large 6atteaus, pulled undauntedly towards the
clear ground where he had been ordered 10
land; but lie was forced by the strength of the
wind, a considerable distance below his dos.
tined point.
The fire of musketry and rifles here com
menced from the shore the enemy being with
an a few feet ct the water and in considerable
degree masked by a wood and copse.
Here major Forsythe ordered his men to
rest tor a few moments upon their and soon
opened CALLING fire upon the enemy. In the
moment when Forsythe's corps were lying upon
their oars and printing, gen. Pike was standing
ON the deck, and impatient at the apparent
pause OF AN instant, and seeing that the rife
corps had been driven by the wind beyond the
point at which they were 10 haye embarked /;
exclaimed" BY - can't stay here any
longer" and addressing himself to his staff,
come jump into the boat" which we immedi-
ately did; the commodore having reserved a
boat specially for hm and his suite the little
coxswain was ordered Immediately 10 steer for
the middle OF the fray, and the balls whistled
gloriousiy around probably their NUMBER was
owing to seeing so many officers in the same
boat; but we laughed at their clumsy efforts
as we pressed forward with well pulled oars
The infantry had, according to orders, EN-.
barked at the same time, and formed in pla.
toons as fast as they reached the shore. The
general took command of the first platoon he
reached, and formed it below and ordered the
whole TO prepare for a charSs soon as we
reached the top Of the bank, we proceeded IL
high spirits and mounted the bank under
yolley OF their musEetry and rifle shot; but we
had not time 10 form oARplatoon completely
when the British grenadiers Showed us then
backs-at the very moniegt Of their turning
tail upon US tie sound of'forsythe's bagies was
heard, with peculiar delight, it was the in
dication of his success the effect of the buglt
upon the nerves of the British Indian allies wa
electric for they no sooner heard it than the,
gave most diabo.ical yell, and fed ia all di
Tections.
The Glengary corps :kirmsbed with For
sythe's while the infantry were landing: ant
brigade major Hunter formed this troops 10
action as they landed and reached the plain.
The volunteer corps commanded by colone
. Mcclure fanked the reserve, and the light al
tillery commanded by major Eustis, acting a
infantry, covered at the left.
It is proper to state in this place the gallan
and mastery cooperation ofcommOdore Chaun
cey, and tile naval squadron under his com
Inand; he sent his scbooners mounting heav
metal to cover the landing, and kept up wei
directed and ihcessant fire of grape on tn
wosdg, as 20 eilectually cover our right flank
-s6t.l e'sorded US great facility in forming OF
platoons besides producing the utmost con
.sterna alton among the Indians. A shot froi
one of the schOoncts killed horse under tn
aid of the British general but owing to I'll
sballowuess of the water, neither the ship no
brig could be brought in TO participate in ii
action. but the commodore himself was thr
-. II IL. Of tI,e action in his boat encourai