The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-06-08
rRoM THE AURORA.
THE CAPTURE OF YORK, IN CANADA.


The following account of the enterpriZe against
The capita, OF Upper Canada. has been commune
GATED to one OF those whom the hero who fell before
that place had selected from the " scoud OF the
world" worthy of his friendship while living, and
OF his RENE mbrance even in the moment of victory
aud death. That remembrance is too precious not
TO excite, with sorrow for the loss which bls
try has sustained emotions too lively be expressed
in any form of words. The account ne II will APP
pear, written the special injunction OF gene
raj Pike, by one Of his companions in arms, aud
who fell by his side, aud com nuncsted from
the original for this paper. The following is the
unaffected aud interesting narrative ef the officer to
whom the general gave the injunction
Without the honor Of personal acquaintance,
address you at the particular order of the late gen.
ersl Pike. after he had been mortally wounded--hs
words were exactly these -" i sm
:. mortay woaaded1my rib: and back are stove in
you know of the battie-S to comfort my sss-c'"
Some things else he said, which shall again
write you; aud many things he said for your ear,
have escaped me through the severity OF my
bruizes. AS an order from general Pike While liv-
ihS, was an obligation of duty me TO obey, shalt
hardly disregard his ipjunetons, even though
have parted forever. >
We embarked on the 22d and esd Of April, brt
che weather being stormy returned into port,
and sailed again the 25th, ana arrived, at York,
In Upper Canads, the 2!th, about. o'clock, A. NJ.
and immediately prepared To iNnd opposite the old
settle Of fort Torento body of British grenaaiers
were paraded the ehore, and the Gengary tenci-
cib!es, corps which had been disciplined with great
pans Tor Sy months past, appeared at another point
Bodies Of Indians perceived in large groups in
different directions; and considerable number in
some woods and unGerwoods leeward flank.
About the settle of the old French fort of Toronto,
OF which scarcely any vestses at present remain,
we couil discern few horsemen, who perceived
afterwards moving 10 the town, where strong f=tl
works had been thrown sp TO oppose our landing.
AS SOM as the hnsscrnen had entered the town
saw t,e inlisns moving in gangs uiong the skirts
Of the woods under the direction OF British officers
taking post at stations pointed ons to them appa-
rently calculated with s5rhe skill 10 the point
which the water aud the weather coiapel US to
land
Ater'these Indians, acting IS ralleurs, were
shos disposed, We perceived very distinctly the
guitars moving out o their works in open columns of
piatoons 4 marshing along the bank nihat order !;
When they reached the plain, OF the old fort loren
90, they were wheeled off by heads OF piatoons into
the woods, and appeared in the order be-.
low the plain just at the position wivh troops
we're under the necessity OF. landing.
Major Forsytie, and his excellent and gallant ri
Ne corps, who had been.paced in two large bat
teaas, pulled undaentedy towards the clear ground
where he had been ordered 10 land but he was
forced by the strength OF the wind, considerable
distance below his destined point.
The Are of musketry and rifles here commenced
from the shore; the enemy being within few feet
Of the water and in considerable degree masked by
che wood and copse.
Here Major Forsythe ordered his men to rest for
afew moments upon their and soon opened a
CALLING IRE upon the emmy. In the moment when
Forsythes corps were lying upon their and
printing, general Pike was standing ON the deck,
and impatient at the apparent pause OF instant,
AMI seeing that the rifle corps bad been dyiyen BY
enc wind beyond the point at which they were
60 have embarked; eyeiained--" By---I can't
stsy here any ionger!' and addressing himself to
his staff, Come, jump into the boat,'' whiaswe i'm
medateiy did the commodore having reserved
boat specially for him and his suite the little cox.
swain wss ordered Immediately to steer for the mid
die OF the fray, and the bas whstled gproc sly a.
found probably their number WIS owing TO seeing
so many officers in tue same boat hut we laughed
at their clumsy efforts as pressed forward with
well pulled
The infantry had, according to orders, embarked
at the time, and formed in plsteons fast
they reached the shore. The gsuera took COM
Enand of the first platoon he reached, and formed il
below aud ordered the whole to jprrpare joy q
charge soon as reached the top OF the bank !;
we proceeded in high spirits and mounted the bank
under the yolley OF their nusGetry and rife shot ;
b1t We had not time ts form our platoon completely
when the British srenndiers showed US their backs
AT the very moment of their turning tail upon us
tae sound OF Forsythe's 6Agles was heard, with pc
euiar delight az ii was lhe Indication Of his
the effect ct The buge upon the nerves o! the British
Ldiaa allies wso electric for they sooner heard
it than they gave most diabolicai yell and fed in.
ali directions.
The Gieneary corps skirmished with Fnrsytbe'r
while the infantry were landing and brigade
jor Hunter formed the troops for action they Ian
dee and reached the plain
The volunteer corps commanded by colonel Ma
elure fsnked the reserve, and the light artillery
commanded by major I.asii,, acting as nisstry,
vered lie lett
Ii is properto state in :his place the gallant and.
mastery corporation OF commodore ChsunSey, and
the naval squadron under his eom,naDd ne sent his
schooners mounting heavy etal u fhe land
ing and kept up 30 wei! directed and ncessant
Ere OF grape the woods as ell ctualiy cover our
sight faux, and afforded great facility in forming
our plstOnns besides producing the utmost consier.
nation among The Indians Il shot nom one OF the
schooners killed a horse under the ad Of the Bri.
sish general but owing to the shsl!ownsss Of the
water neither the ship nor brig could be brought
In to participate in Inc action but the commodore
himself was through the whole of the acton in his
boat, encouraging aud giving orders to the different
eshhoHeTs. The navy lost two gallant young misip-
men, and about 30 ssatncn were killed and wounded
IN the service OF landing
TIE trnops ordered to- land by general Pike when
Re went CO Shore, the three eslnpaacs Of cap
Gain HopIsoce, (who was morally wounded in the
boat) captain Scott, and captain YounS of the ISL,
reg tont of the United States infantry al under the
command of usirr Sirg 81 M -e-i,pspt. (the
same who calamity distinguished himself az Queens.
towp,) teir orders were TO veInlorce major For
sgshe, and e6ect q landing they were forbid.
Den to load use powder; the rifemes OF FOrsytie
as the infantry came mp, opened heavy and efFee-
tive Gre upon the ene1pyi and the three companies
landed IN the most complete style the enepay gave
way before our troops could come TO the bayonet's
POINT and were pursued up the bank by ourtroOps
mt the top of the bank esl body Of Brush etna.
ders sril to be The 8th kings grenade III tasde
= formidable charge upon this column 81 ours
aud comprIled for instant to retro bat
ear tgoOps instantly rallied aud retained to
ae charge, aud with the most pete success not