Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-07-01
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NieVitaoly nave becn Observation-Disclosures md.
miSht forbid the commanding General 70 81,
out part ct his reserve on such a duty at d.
very beginning ofan action, the result of VIII
| was doubtful; but the Gesour WAS ordered bet
| me result of the action could be foreseen. ca
oroVn says from Gen. Ripley and his brga
| nave received every assistance that gave The
| an opportunity of rendering
! Our troops had gained a splendid victory, b..
| ole enemy was yet secure i'll position of grl
strength behind deep creek, which could ~
DC tordeI within distance of forty miles IL y
Idetefmmed To construct bridge and force
passage July oth, Gen. Ripley was detached q
this duty Crossing the bridge over Stree
| creek, he opened road two or three miles 4
tle woods ON The left, aud reaching the Chip;
| wa one or two miles above the enemy, plan,
ms heavy train of artillery for the protection
the artrficers, and even began TO construct 4
| bridge without exciting alarm being modest
but the enemy soon appeared with several pie.
OF ARTILLERY, and opened fire of shells and rou
sho'' which Was retuInedso vigorously with gr;4
and CANISTER, as to force them TO retreat. lie
! lnS tins tremendous ca5lnonade of our ID Doun,
ers, at point which he supposed inaccessible
our artillery, Gen. Rail instead of strengthen
the party which he had detached, immediate
I Abandoned his strong position, and retired pre-
pitateiy upon Queenstown. Our whole army
calnped, the same night in the enemys wors
having encountered but little Of the lesstanC
&
the Chippewa, and which perhaps coald have
| been made with complete success.
July 9tl, our army prOce- ded 10 Queenstown
Gen Rail retired to Fort George, and leaving
| 2ufilc ent garrison eucaIhped al 12-niie Creek 5
miles distant from our camp, making every exer.
ton to call out the militia, and sending down a.
| Lake for regular troops. Gen Ripley, persuad
ed that tbs was a favourable mon.snt for dee.
slye action, strongly urged the necessity of IN.
meellately pursuing the enemy. But our troops
renamed ten days idle at Queenstown, and thef
attempted to beSiege Fort Geolge.-In the mear
time Gen. RAILS army recovered from the late
panic, and was strengthed by large numbers O.
militia, called out en- nasse. Had our troops re.
named three days longer before Fort George
Their safety would have been put TO the most IN
mment hazard, for within that time strong rein-
iorcenents arriyedTrom Kingston TO the enemy
so that Rail would have been embOldened to
seize strong position III our rear. This position
must have been carried by our army in order to
effect retreat, for beng destitute of joats, it
was impossible TO the Niagara below the
Falls But on the 22d of July, our troops fell
back to Queenstown Heights, and on the 24,h to
Chippewa.
About this time General Ripley's brigade was
strengthened by the veteran battalion of the
Odd regiment, under Major Brooke, from Plstts-
burg and Col. Miller, who was promoted to the
2ist, arrived and took the command of that regi-
ment
The memorable battle of Niagara Falls, July
18th, covered General Ripley and his brigade
with military glory which, though not quite
so durable as the thunder Of the Cataract, viii
yet be as permanent as the memory of the acton,
and as the honours which are awarded TO the
brave.
The enemy, having received strong reinforce
ments from Kingston, was put IN motion IN pur-
suit ofour army. A column Olive hundred men,
under Lieut.. Colonel Tucloe:, was detached TO
Lewiston, on the American side of the Niagara,
to capture our sici; and baggage; Geueral K all
advanced from las encamPment az 12Inile Greek
by the Lundy lane road, which intersects the Ii
yer road just below the Fails; and Gen. Drum
mond marched uo from F5..L George on the river
road drcc to Chippewa. Gen. Brown, who, rs
ne states, was now med ,tating the pursuit OF &C.
neral Ball, and long march 70 Burlington
Heights, did not apPreheud that the enemy was
near hlin, and IN capacity 10 ngHt him Tore
cal Col. Tucker from lhe Amer. can side of the
river, and TO prevent his marching towards BUFF
talo, Gen Brown determined 10 make move
ment towards Queenstown, seven mAeS below the
Falls
Gen. Scott, who was detached with about 1000
men, marched in the afternoon; but when he
reached the junction of the Lundy lane road with
the road down the river, he found General Rail,
who had just arrived from the l2-mhe Greek &C.
cuPylng strong position The acton immedi-
~t-Ai SoHhhShCCA az liie llSlahSS "a SDOuL bihSS
miles from the American camp. As soon as the
firing was heard Gen. x pey formedhs brigade,
and BY order Of Gen Brown adj. anc to tie sup
port OF Gen. Scott. lis brigade that morn ng
reported go men, fit for duly; of these a hut
dred or more were on guard, out of camp,
when he was ordered 70 march. He proceeded
instantly and with uncommon rapidlty, his men
actually running q part OF the way, and arrived
on the ground between sunset and dark Ii thi1
time Gen SCOTS brigade, having suffered ca
uemey by the Tremendous fire OF he encmy'5 aE-
tiilerJ 81 nine ece5, planted On /, height IN the
centre or their line, was covered ~ the woods
General Ripley, as is stated by Gen. Brown, was
ordered 10 d,sengage and relieve Cen. Scott BY
forming new Inc but the precise order was,
that he should form on the right OF Gen. Scott,
and this was the only order which lac received,
except the order at The close OF the action to re-
tire from the field IL aid, Lieut. Mcdonald,
Ofngmg intelligence that The right Of Gen Scott
would BRING him IN the woods out Of the fight,
ne resolved 10 advance directly towards the enc
my AS he advanced, the fire of thc battery was
directed AZ ms br' Eade Two Shrapncll shells
Only, STRIKING tnc ,5dregmeut, killed and wound
ca ~ men. To remain expos FL % lhis Dire dtul
hre, was impossible, for his brigade also would
soon be cat tO pieces There was no alternative
but either to cary tire battery, or 20 abandon the
iieid Having made bis decision, General Ripley
put ms brigade IN motion 10 execute the dgpe-
rate cntcrprse.--Regardlcs oil thc enemys fires
he marched down The. road until he arrived with
in o sJor, distance IN front ef the height
Here thc smoke and darkness favored him, and
BENG m "a hollow. fip shot r1s.erl over hrs head