Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1813-07-29

dlCtory private statements which have been
published TO supply important details omit
ted In Certain official reports: and to CRAFTY
the venial ambition of gentlemen who have
deserved well of their country-I propose
giving you brief, but impartial sketch of
the principal occurrences of the present
campaign, not unmarked by brilliant and in
teresting events.
The CAPTURE OF YORK,
APRIL 27th, 1913.
laudable zeal TO do honor to the dead.
has induced many persons, (even of the AR
Iny) TO attribute this enterprise TO the late
Gen. Pike: but this is a mistake. Thar la.
mentcd hero was from the first designated
to command in the attack, ,he plan of which
was conceived and organized by the Com.
mander in chief. No doubt had Gen. Pike
but KEPT his feet another hour, he would
have captured Sheaffe and the whole British
force. His Immediate successor General
Dearborn did not land from the fleet, till he
heard of the fall of Pike) happened to be a
colonel without experience. and without any
knowledge OF the plan of the descent. Con.
sequentiy before Gen. ID. landed, tine enemy
Effected their escape.
Major King, upon this occasion. did what
he Always does--his duty. Major Eustice
landed his field train promptly and In good
order; but it was Forsythe and his CORPS
who were first to lard and who fought the
action. The fire of his rifernen was 50 eff
tective, that the few of the enemy that sur
vived it, fled Cor safety. The rife were al
so the frst to enter the fort, after the cx-
plosion, and to haul down the flag, which
has since been presented by sea officer 4,
the navy department !-Lieut. Riddle. of the
5th, with company of flankers, (rifemen)
did great execution. In fact the action was
fought almost exclusively by the riflemen
and but for the unfortunate explosion which
killed Gen. Pike, and some one hundred of
his column, while advancing upon the fort
and town, our loss would have been but tri
Hing. OF the 9Th regiment (the King's) 1874
OF which opposed the landing, only 10 escap
ed.
The navy on this occasion. rendered es-
sential services; not only in transporting &
landing the troops IN good order, but by a
cannonade on the fort and town; in which,
many OF its officers distinguished themselves.
These honors have been duly secured 70
them by their proper commander Not so
with the army. 1t is Gen. Dearborn's zyau
to treat with equal brevity the dying, the
distinguished and the dead. Indifferent to
praise or censure himself, he treats others
with Indifference.
In point OF geographical possession, the
capture OF York effected nothing. Never
theless, 1t was handsome couh de main,
well conceived by the General, and admira-
bly executed by the gallantry of the troops.
II crippled the enemy's resources, and
considerably multiplied the military stores
OF the captors.
THE FALL OF FORT GEORGE.
The BULwARK OF UPPER CANADA,
May 27fh, 1918.
Gen, Lewis commanded the army ON the
Niagara frontier, till about the 5th NAV.
when Gen. Dearborn arrived with the troops
from York. The feet was immediately
dispatched to Sackett's Harbor and return
ed the 21St, with Chambers brigade. The
junction of these troops gave us an effective
force OF about AGO men. Every prepara
ton was accordingly pushed for the grand
descent The indisposition of Gen. Dear
born, somewhat delayed, but did not Grip
pie these cxertions On sick bed, he gave
orders tor every thing. The Quarter master
general (Swartwont) answered all requisite
ons, and more than one hundred boats were
in readiness. The army lay on the lake, at
mile creek, cast Of the mouth Of the Mia