Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-01-13
WASHINGTON CITY Jan. 10.

Conn of a letter from Gen. VI, Ctnre,
az the .Ns,o. FORK state troops, to
the Secretary Of Var.
Head quarters, Buffalo,
Dec. 22d, 1873.
sIR-I regret to he under the ne
,essity Of announcing 10 you the
nortirying Intelligence Of the loss OF
Fort niagara. On the morning Of
the f9th inst. aboHt b o'clock, the
enemy crossed the river at the Five
nile Meadows in great force, con-
s;sting of regulars and IEd'ans whe
made their way undiscovered to the
garrison. which from the most cor
rect Information can collect. was
completely surprised. Gar men
were nearly all asleep in theirtents !;
the enemy rushed in and commenced
a mos. horrid slaughter. Such MS
escaped the fury OF the first onset,
retired to the old nes shouse. where
they kept M destructive lire on the
eneny, until want OF ammunition
compelled them 70 surrender. Al
tho our force was very inferior and
comnaratiyeIy smal, indeed. j am in
duced 10 think that the disaster is not
attributable to any 7cunt Of troops.
but TO gross neglect in the cemmasd-
ing officer Of the forf, Capt, Lso-
nard, in not preparing. being ready.
anil looking out fer the expected at
tack.
/ have not been able 70 ascertain
correctly the number 81 killed AID
woundea. About twenty regulars
have escaped ont OF the fort--some
ba5iy wounded. 1t. Peck. 2&th
regt. is killed, & tits said three others.
You will perceive. sir, by the en-
closed General Orders. that appre-
hen,iea an attack, and mate the ne
eessary arrangements 10 meet 1t. but
have reason TO believe, from iafor-
nation received by these who have
made their escape, that the com
mandau; did not in any respect com.
ply with those orders.
On the same morning detach-
ment Of militia. under Major Ben
net, stationed at I4ewistowOn Heights,
vas attacked by party Of saVases ;
but the Major and his little corps,
by making Desperate charge, effect
ed thsir retreat after being surround
ed by several hundred. with the loss
of six or eight, who doubtless were
killed among whom were two sons
Of Capt. Jones, Ia1ian interpreter.
The villages Of Youngstown, Lewis
ton. Manchester and the Indian
Tusearora village were reduced to
ashes, and the ipofansive inhabitants
who could not escape, we're, without
regard to age or sex, inhnmanly
butchercd by saYagss headed by
British ofieers painted. A British
officer who is taken prisoner aVows
that maay small children were MUIR
dere;l by their Indians. Maj. NAL
lory, who was stationed at sehiosser,
with about 10 Canadian volunteers,
advanced to Lewiston Heights, and
compelled tie advanced guard of The
enemy 10 fall back TO the foot OF the
mountain. The M&jsr Is mer'to-
rious otiieer--he fought the enemy
two days, and conieRded every inch
Of ground TO the Iautswan,y Greek.
In these actions 1t. Lowe, Esd rest.
u S. army, and s CT the Canadian
volunteers were killed. | had nay
self. three days previous TO the at
tack on the niagara, left it With a
view. OF providing for the defence OF
this place, Black Rock, and the o.
Their Villages on this frontier. |
came here without troops, and have
called out the militia Of tennessee,
Niagara and Chgtausue counties en-
n.assc.
This place was then thought to be
in mast naminent danger as well rs
shc shipping, but | have M doubt Is
now perfectly secure. Volunteers
are coming iii in great numbers
they are, however. species OF
troops that cannot be expected to
continue in service fer long time.
In a few days, one thousand aetach-
ed militia, lately drafted viii be ON.
have the honor to be, ne.
GEO, Mcclure,
Brig. Gen. Commanding.
Hon. John armstrong.