Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-09-07

in the Peninsula Of Upper Canada, COM
manded BY Lieut.. Gen. Drummond, which
terminated in signal victory in favor of the
United american arms
Our position on the margin ofthe Lake at
the, entrance OF the Niagara River, being
nearly horizontal plain twelve To fifteen
feet above the surface of the water, possess
ing few natural advantages, had been
strengthened i'll front by temporary parapet
breastworks, entrenchmep,s and aba.tis.
with two batteries and six field pieces. The
small unfinished Fort, Erie. with "a, l8 and
II FOUNDERS, forms the North East, and the
Douglass Battery. with an 10 aud 6 FOUNDER
near the edge of the Lake, the South East
angle Of our right The left IS defended BY
a redoubt battery with six fed pieces just
throw a upon a small ridge Sxur rear WAS
lett open to the Lake, borderoe b; a rocky
shore of easy ascent. The, battery, on the
left wastiefendcd By Capt. Towson; Fort
Erie BY Capt. Williams, with Major Trim
ble,s command Of the 18th infantry; the
batteries on the front BY Captains Biddle b
Tanning ;thc whole, Of the artillery coms
handed by Msior Hindnan. Parts Of the
llth. 9Th, and 22nd. pfantry (of the late
veteran brigade of Major Gen. Scott) were
posted on the right under the CON nand Of
Lieut.. Col. AspinwalL Gen. Rip'ey's brig>
OS'scsSeA't6
ed the left, Gen. Porter's brigade of New
York and Pennsylvania Vnlun GERS, with
aur distinguished riiemen, occupied the cen.
ire. G
have heretofore omitted stating to you,
that during rhe 18th and 18th the enemy had
keptup brisk cannonade, whichywas sharp.
" returned from our batteries, without> any
considerable loss on our part. At 6 p. Nj;
one of their shells lodged in a small maya
zine in Fort Erie which was fortunately al
most empty. 1t blew up with an ex plosion
more awful in appearance thaR injurious in
Its effects, as il did not disable a man or de
range gun. 1t occasioned out a monenta
ry cessation of the thuul ers of the artillery
on both sides it was followed by loud and
Joyous shout by the British army, which was
instantly returned OIL our part. and Captain
Williams amidst the smoke of the explosi.
on renewed the contest by an animated roar
OF his heavy cannon.
From the supposed loss of our ammuniti-
on, and the Consequent depression such an
event was likely to produce upon the minds
OF our men. | felt pursuaded that this ex.
piosion would lead the enemy to assault, and
made my arrangements accordingly. The
annexed paper No. /. is a copy Of Lieuten.
ant General Drammond's order and pan Of
attack.
The night was dark and the early part
81 1t raining, but the fair hfui ccn,inel slept
not ore tNird = the trocSs ~sre us s<t their
posts. At half past O'Clock the rishs col.
ufnn OF the enemy approached, and though
enveloped in darkness black as his designs
and principles, was distinctly heard on our
LETT and promptly marked by our musquet
ry under Major Wood and cannon under
Captain Towson. Being mounted at the
moment. repaired % the point OF attack,
where the sheet ofir rolling from Towson's
battery and the masquetry of tke left wing
fthe 2lst infantry under MAJOR Wood, en-
abtcd me to see the enemy's column of about
1850 men approaching on that point his ads
vance was not checked until it had APP
preached within ten feet of our infantry. A
line Of loose brush representing an abattis
only in.ervened a column Of the enemy att
tempted to pass round the abattis through
the water where it was nearly breast deep.
Apprehending that this point would be car,
RED, ordered a detachment of r;flemen *
infantry TO lis support, but. having nDet with
the gallant commander Major Wood, was
assured by him that he could defend his po.
sitIon without reinforce ments. Asthis mo-
ment the enemy were repulsed, bat instant
ly renewed the charge and were az lin re
pulsed My attention was now called IL the
right, where our batteries and lines were
soon lightened by a most brilliant fire of cam
Ron and musquetry it announced the ap
proach OF the centre and left columns Of the
enemy, under Coronels Drummond and
Scott the latter was received by the vete.
ran 9th under the command of captain Fos
ter, and captains Boughton and Hardlng's
companies of New York and Pennsylvania
Volunteers, aided oy six FOUNDER judicis
ously posted by Major Nc Kee. Chief En-
gineer, who was most active and useful at
TINS point they were repulsed. That OF the
Centre led by Col. Dfuuimond was not long
kept 10 check it approached at once eve
ry assailabie point of the fort, and with cal
ing ladders assembled the parapet, but was
repulsed with dreadful carnage. The asr
ssult was twice repeated, & as often check.
ed, but the enemy having moved round in
the ditch covered by derkness added to the
heavy cloud or smoke which had rolled from
our Cannon aud musquetry, enyeloping sur
rounding objects, repeated tde charge, re-
assembled the ladders their pixies, bayonets
and spears tell upon our gallant artillerists
lhe gallant spirits of our favorite Captain
Williams and Lieutenants McDonough and
Watmough, with their brave men, were
overcome, Tae two former aud several of
their men received deadly wounds. Our
bsstion was lost. Lieutenant M'Donough,
severely wounded, demanded quarter. II
was refused by Col D.hmmond. The L..
then seized handspike, and nobiy defended
himself uutii he was shot down with pistol
~ the monster who had refused hum quar-
ter, who often reiterated the order" give
tie mned Yankees a. quarter." This of
ficer. whose bravery, If 1t had been seasoned
with virtue, would have entitled him TO the
admiration Of every sodier--this hardened
murderer soon met his fate. He was shot
throuqh the h,pasf hy e