Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-11-04
From the Boston Patriot.
Facts, relative to the Cnpture of yor1
Ulfy3er frnoJo = 90

.,Sf"'"a'y " LIceits ny a .Hember of
1ae massachusetts Historical Society. /
noticed the following paragraph =
Little York, the capital of Upper Ca
naaa. was taken, sacked, and the public
buildings wantonly destroyed, in the for
mer part or the campaign, by troops under
Zen DsAEsoRS but the Americans were
soon forced to abandon it, with considera-
injustice to myself, the troops which |
hau the honor TO command, and my coun-
Try, lay before the public the following
statements.
II. DEARBORN.
Late a .uajor- General in the u. S. .drmy.
AT the capture of York, the capitaI of
Upper Canada, on the 9th of April, 1915,
the force OF the enemy under the immedIi-
ate command of Maj. Gen. Sheaff' having
been repulsed and dispersed from the posi-
tion they had taken on the bank of the
Lake, where they had formed to oppose
the landing of the American troops, re-
treated to the principal works, where thew
remained only sufficient time for placing
slow matches to the magazines, and then
continued their retreat to town. When the
american column, led on by the gallant cen.
Plke, had advanced within short distance
OF the works, tremendous explosion of a
large powder magazine kille,: and vounl
ed more than hundred of our brave men,
and inflicted mortal wound on the much
TO be lamented Gen. Pike the column NOT
outstanding advanced, took possession of
the works, and continued the pursuit of the
enemy to the town. when a capitujat;on
was offered and agreed to-; By which such
regular troops and militia as were then in
the town, were to be considered as prison
ers o. war, and all public property to be
surrendered to the American forces. In
the mean tune, General Sheaif with about
an hundred regular troops, made his es-
cape, after directing the frigate on the
STOCKS ana large store containing rigging
ana naval stores, to be sci on FIRE, which
acts were effected after terms of capitulati-
on had been offered by him.
After the enemy had surrendered and
iald down their arms, strong guard was
posted IN the town under the directions of
Col: now Mai Gen. Ripley, for the pro-
lection OF the inhabitants, with strict or
ders topreyent any plundering or other i'm
proper conduct. Only two or three instan-
ces occurred of any complaints from the
inhabitants, and those were from families
which resided some distance from town.
They were directed to send in schedule
OF the articles taken, and their va'ue.
which was Immediately refunded to them.
Anoid schooner, said Ito be private proper
ty, which was aground, part filed with
water, and without sails, was appraised AT
twefce hundred dollars and burnt. The
owner being ont of town, the twelve hun
= dred dollars were paid to Judge Scott. No
other private property wasdestroved or tn
ken away, excepting such as BELONGED ia
General Sheaff and the officers who went
OFT with him. Two military block houses
were burnt by orders, and also two sheds
attached to the nayy-yard 1t has appear-
ed from recent information. that alfhouoh
the large building called the Province
HOuse, was not burnt as heretofore stated
a small ORe-story binding called the Parl;.
ment-House, Gin which human scaIp was
found with the mace suspended near the
Speakers chair, highly decorated,) was set
on iireby some person unknown, but from
the statements of Col. Conner and Major
OraftOny the inference is. that some exas.
perated subjects OF Canada set fire to IL af.
Ter the troops OF the United States were
Withdrawn from the town. No troops Of
the enemy appeared in arms after the ca
pitulation, eitherwhilO the American troons
were on shore, nor during the four or Eve
days our feet remained in the harbour !.
therefore, the American troops were NOT
forced to abandon the place with conside.
rabIe loss.
To shew what the inhabitants Of York
thought of their treatment, the FOLLOWING
copy Of letter from Chief Justice scott
IS annexed. lie resided in York. and
wrote the letter buta few hours previnus
70 the decentralization of the troops.
YoRn, April so, 1915.
hasten to acknowledge the favor Of
your letter, enclosing an extract from fhe
General Orders Of this dav, by Major. Ce-
neral Dearborn, commanding the forces Of
the United States, siynifyiug fhati IS not
his intention that the occupancy of the
town and garrison of York should have any
undue effect on the necessary fuutions Of
the civil magistrates, hut that Il e his wish
70 support the civil authority when proper
ly exercised, and that any Representations
OF the civil magistrates Of improper or ir-