The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-08-31

Gen. Brosvn's re,iorf Of The battle Of tie 25lh
Jaiy, az he Fails Of Niagara
S;r--Con6ned as was, and have been, since the
last engagement with the enemy, fear that the ac-
count am about TO give, may be less full and sats-
factory, than under other circumstances it might
have been made. I particularly fear that the con-
duct Of Tie gallant men it WAS my good fortune to
lead, will not be noticed in way, due to their fame
an d the honor Of our country.
You are already apprized that the army had on
the 25th ult. taken y position at Chippewa About
noon of that day, Col Swift, who wac posted at Lew
isloan. advised me By express, that the enemy APP
penred in considerable force At Quee0stown, and on
its heighs--,hat four of the enemys fleet had arri.
we'd during the preceding night and were then lay
ing Fort Niagara, and that number OF boats
were in view, moving uv the strcght Within a
few minutes after this Intelligence had been rcceW
ed, was further informed by Capt Denmon, OF the
quarter masters department, that the enemy was
landing at Lewstown, and that our baggage and
stores at schlosser, and on their way thier, were
ip danger of immediate capture. II is proper here
10 mention, that having received advices as late as
the Doth from Gen. Gaines, that our fleet was then
in port, and the Commodore SICK ceased to look
for cooperation from that quarter, and determined
Ia disencumber ourselves of baggage, and march
directly for Burling,sn Heights To mask this in
tention. aud to draw from sclosscr small supply
of provisions, I fell back upon Chippewa.
As this arrangement, uTder the increased force
of tie enemy, left much at hazard on our own side
of the Niagara, and as it appeared by the before
stated information that the enemy was about to a.
vail hiascif CT az, i conceived that The must eftSc.
tuai method of recalling him from this object, was
to put myself in motion towards Queenstown. Gen.
Scott, with the isi brigade, Towson's artillery, and
all the dragons and mounted mee, we're according
~ put in march on the road leading thitber, with
orders TO report f the enemy appeared, and te call
for assistance, if that was necessary On the CEN
erals arrival at the Fails. he learned that the enemy
was in force directly in his front-a piece of
woods alone ntercepting his view OF them.--Wait-
ing only TO give this information, he advanced upon
them. Ey the time asst adjt gen Jones bad dev-
cred his message the action began, and before the
remaining part of the division had crossed the Chip
rewa, il had became close and general between the
advanced corps Though Gen. Ripley with the I'd
brigade, Mai. Hindman with the corps OF artillery,
and Gen. Porter at the head Of his command, had
respectively pressed forward with ardor 1t was not
less than an hour before they were brought to sus-
tain Gen. Scott, during which time his command
most skfuly and ga!lantly maintained the conflict
rIpon my arrival found ,ha. the general had pas
sed the wood aud engaged the enemy at Queens.
town road and the ground to the lst OF At, with
the 9Th, 1.th and 22d regts. and To0son's arulle-
ry. The 18th had been thrown TO the right TO be
governed by circumstances. Apprehending that
these corps were much exhausted, and knowing that
they had suffered severely, determined to inter-
pose new line with the advancing troops, and thus
dsengage Gen Scott aud hold bis brigade in reserve.
Orders were accordingly given to General RIPLEY.
The cnemys artillery at this moment occupied hill
which gave him great advantages. and was the Key
of the whole position. II was supported by a 'lne
of infantry To secure the victory, it was necessa-
ry to carry this artillery and seize tie height This
duty assigned to Col Miller, while, to favor ITS
execution, the lst regt under the command OF Col.
Nicholas, was directed to menace and amuse the
infantry. To my great modification ibis regiment
after a discharge or two, gave way and retreated
some distance before il could be rallied, though il
is believed the officers Of Tie regiment excrted
themselves to shorten this distance. 10 the mean
time Col Miller, without regard 10 this occurrence,
advanced steadily and galantly To his object, and
carried the height and the cannon. Gen Ripley
brought mp tie 23d (Which bod also fauiered) to
bis support, and the enemy disappeared ron be-
fore them. The LIST rcgt. now brought INTO iIne
on the left Of the 2is, and the detschmens of the
i7t, and 10Th, General Porter. occupying, with BIS
command, the extreme left. About tile time Col
Miller carried the encny's cannon, the 18th regt
under MAJOR Jessup, was sngaged IN more oosl,-
nate conflict with all that remained to dispute wi,h
us the field Of battle The Major, AS had been al'
ready stated had been ordered by Gen Scott at the
commencement Of the action, TO take ground 10 hs
right fie had succeeded in turning the enemys
left hank--had captured (by detachment under
Capt Ketcbum) Gen. Rail and sundry other ON
GERS, and Showed himself again to s own army, ~
a blaze Of FIRE, which defeated or destroyed very
superior iorcc Of the enemy. lie was ordered 10
form the right of the "a regt. The enemy rany,
ing bis forces, and as is believed, having received
rcinforceasnis, now attempted to drive us from our
position and regain his artillerys-Our line was IN
shaken, and the enemy rcpulscd. Two otner at
temp,s, having the same object, had the same ,s-
sue. Gen. Scott was again eagaged IN repclIing the
former of these and the las, saw OF him on thc
field of battle he was near tho head vt his column,
and giving to its march adirection that wou.d have
placed him on the encmy's right. II was wdh gteats