Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-01-13

WASHINGTON City, Jan. 20.
COM afa latter from Gen Af'Cl,tyr, Of fhe'
.Nsvy York stare froofs, 20 The Secretary
Head Quarfrrs. Br6aio.
Dec. 22d. 1873 IS
S1R,--f regret 10 be under the necessity Of
announcing 20 you the mortifying intelligence
of ,he loss Of Fort Niagara. On the morn
ing OF the 'iy;h instant, about 4 o'clock, the
enemy crossed the river at the Five mile
Meadows in great force, consisting Of regu
lars and Indians, who made their way undis.
covered to the garrison, which from the
most correct, information can collect, was
completely surprised. Our men were near
" All asleep in their tents the enemy rush.
eel in and Commenced most .horrid slaugh>
ter. Such as escaped the fury of the first
onset, retired.to the old mess house. where
they kept up destructive fire on the ene>
my. until want of ammunition compelled
them to surrender. Altho' our force was
very inferior and comparatively small in
deed, am induced to think that the disas-
ter is not attributable to any nan of froohs,
but to gross neglect in the cos,manding Off
Ger oftAe fort, Capt. Leona 4 /, in not pre-
Sparing. being ready, and looking out fer the
expected attack. ~ ~
have net been abiet ascertain correct-l
1y the number of killed and wounded. About
twenty regulars have escaped out of the fort
some badly wounded. Lit. Peck, oath re
giment is killed, aidi is said three others.
You will perceive, sir, by the enclosed Ge-
ra, Orders, that unprecedented an attack,
andsmadc the necessary arrangements to
meet Il. but have reason tobelieve, from in
formation received by those who made their
escape, that the con,mandant did not in any
respect comply with those orders.
On the sane morning a detachment of
militia. nns.er Major Bsnnet, stationed at
I4ews,own He:ghts. was attacked by par
ty Of savages; but the Major and his little
corps. by making desperate charge, effect
ed sheir retreat after being surrounded by
several hundred, with the loss of SIX or 8,
who doubtless were killed; amcng whom
were two sons Capt Joses Indian im.erpre-
ter The villages OF f,sungstown, lewiston,
Manchester, and the Indian Tuscarora VIII
lage, syere reduced to ashes, and the inof-
feDsfye Inhabitants who could not escape,
were with sut regard to age or sex, lnhu-
manly butchered by savages headed by Bri
tish officers ftatn<ed. A British officer who
is taken prisoner avows that many small
children were murdered by their Indians
Maj Mallory, who was stationed at Schlos-
Ser, with about 40 Canadian volunteers, adj
yanced to Lewiston Heights, and compelled
the advanced guard of the enemy to fall
back to the foot the mountain. The Ma.
jor is a me,itor.ous officer--he fought the
enemy two days, and contended every inch.
OF ground to the lantawanty Greek. In
these actions Lit. Love, 23d regt. u. S: ar
my, and ofthe Canadian volunteers were
killed. Ihad myself, three d US previous to
the attack OH the Niagara, left it with view
OF providing for the defence of this place,
Black Rock. and the other villages on this
frontier. i came mere without troops, and
have called out The militia of Gennesse, Mi
agara and Chataugue counties enmasse
This place was then thought to be in most
imminent danger, as we'll as the shipping,
but have no doubt is now perfectly secure.
Volunteers are coming in in great numbers !;
they are, however, d species of troops that
cannot be expected to continue in service for
a long time. In few days, one thousand
detached militia, lately drafted, will be ON.
! have the honor to lie &c.
GEO. MCCLURE,
Brig. Gen. Commanding
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