Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-08-12
FROM TIE BUFFALO GAZETTE, JULY 90.
BATTLE OF BEAVER DAM

FROM TIE BUFFALO GAZETTE, JULY 90.
BATTLE OF BEAVER DAM.
On Wednesday night last, Maj c. Chap;n
arrived IN this village, having, tO,,e lher with
his company, escaped from the enemy on Mon
day preceding.- major has given us the
following aarraiion of the action at Beaver Dam,
&c. which we now lay before the public.
On the I'D oil June Last, party OF the regu,
lar troops consisting OF $50 infantry and 20
light draSoons) undsr tie command oil lieu,en
ant colonel Q. u. Bo,rstier, together with ~
mounted rideinen, composed Of militia from the
: country, under Chaplin, werc detached from the
! AMERICAN encampment at Fort George, for The
tparsbse OF quitting oil the supplies OF the ene-
.iNy, and b1etklns mp the small encampments
they were corning through the country. On
the oath about niIh. mics west OF Queenstown
they were attacked by body of above 500 In,
dians and nearly one hundred regulars, who lay
concealed IN tho woods near the road they were
passing. The attack commenced OH the Ora
rooms who wcte placed In the rear. The isf,n-
try was soon brought into position to return
Rue enemy's fire to advant sge and suco eeded in
driving tuein some distance into the woods-
In f. short time the Indians having taken cir-
cuitous rou,e, appear ed in front and opcncd a
FIRE rpon the mounted ri1emen, who were STA
t;cned there-here they met with so warm a
reception, that they were compelled q second
time to retreat in much haste. After this eve
nv exertion was made TO draw the Indians from
tile woods to the open ground, but without
much effect the few WHO were bold enough
to venture, were handled so roughly, that they
soon returned to their lurking places In the
meanwhile the enemy were Receiving consider.
able achievements, which atlength gave them
agreat superiority. A re rcat, form Si151t dis
lance was ordered, and effected <efy lit
tie loss. The Indians soon mgde'5Asir appear
ancc upon our right and lief and the regulars
and some militia in front; our troops were
formed into close columns Tor the puc1r8e of
opening themselves way thro' the ensmpWith
their bayonets. At this juacture British officer
rode up and demanded the surrender of the A.
mercan party.--The demand was made, he
said, TO prevent the further etfusion of blood
lie asserted upon his honor, and declared in
the most solemn manner, that the British regu-
lar force was double that of the American, and
shat the indians were 70U IN number. Lieuten-
ant col Bocrstier under belief of these facts,
and thinking it impracticable to get off he
wounded, whom he was unwilling to sb,ndon
20 the mercies Of the savages, and deemng ii
extremely uncertain whether retreat could
be effected, thought proper to agree to terms
of capitulation, which were at length signed
by himself oil the one part, and Lieut.. Bishop
on the other, BY the sc il was stipulated that
the wounded should be taken care of-the Jffi-
GERS permitted TO retain their side arms-pgi.
vate property 10 DC respected, and the militia
permitted TO return home immed ately. The
articles Of capitulAtion were sooner signed
than they were violated. Tine Indians imme-
diately commenced their depredations & plum.
dered the officers OF their side arms. The sol
diers too were stripped OF every article of
cloathins TO which the savages took fancy
such as hsts, coats, shoes, &c. II IS inpos bic
10 give any correct account ut tire kulcd anu
wounded, as the enemy did not furnish . liz.
The loss Of the enemy is supposed to be MIC
greater than ours. Between 20 an 40 Intiisns
We're counted, that lay dead on th> fie.u. From
their known practice ofcarrying eft TIER ki,-
ed and wounded, it is believed they have SIT
3cred severely
The regular troops were in a few days sent
90 Kingston, from whence it is probable they
bave proceeded to Quebec.
Major Chaplin and his corps were d, tain, d
hinder guard at the head OF Lake Oa,ario, anu
no attention PAID the articles of captulati n
whichprovided for their Being puoled---O
the twelfth instant they we've ordered down the
Lake 70 Kingston-ior wbit4f place tie, were
embarked in 2 boats, accom- paSied by guard
OF fifteen men umdcr lieut. Thinc'n oi (he
mcn with the lieutenapt were stationed in the
forward boat with Major ChapLH and tie O,i,cr
officers, while tic r naming twO e. SERGEANT
and one mani took tire dire ctIon oftke Osier
boat which contained the so ditrs. An agree
ment liah been entered INTO tfCYtOus 10 their
depar, ure of ssizing the his up rtUnity that
offered "a regain their liberty, ", ich they de-
termned TO effect or die in IA, attempt. " hen
they were within fifteen miles Oi YO k the boat
that was filled with the prisoners was rowcd
by them along side the other, und the pre-
tence Of taking something to drink. The sig
nal being given they sPraDg upon the guard,
who little expected such a man@uvre, ard IN a
short time dsarmed them and iined pos,essi-
on Of tn boats They Immediately tered
their course from Kingston to 'FUri Magyar
and after rowing hard for most the ~ H.
and escaping with difficulty { ON one Of the
nemy's schooners which gave them schas, az
rived safely with their prisoners, az the Amer,
can garrison.
When the major and his company arrived ~
this village they were welcomed with severa
demonstration Of thc public feeling.
Gen. Vincent remains at Burlington heights,
with not more than one huHdred and fifty troops
The enemy have a small garrison at that plac,
near the lake, mounted with few pieces o
cannon \
The main British army lies within three !
miles Of Queenstown, at village on uIe four
mile creek
At the 10 mile creek Gen Rulteuburr. Iaie.