Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-01-22


Abandonment OF Navy Island by the Reb-
eis--Surrcnder OF the Artillery to an
American officer---fuM "details OF the
events accompanying the transaction.
Tae decisive and long looked for from Navy
Island has length arrived, confirming the ancpatons
we had all along entertained of the breaking up of the
rebel force at Navy Island. This was accom-
panied by a surrendry the American officer on G aad
island the artillery pundered from the State arsenas
IL is very obvious that this step might have been
brought about a month ago. had our government acted
with the promptitude incumbent upon 1t from the
commencement Of this most ridiculous affair. Here has
the country been thrown in confusonand exciteuent
an enormous expense incurred first military and
State officers have been forced to leave their ordinary
functions ana transport themselves to remote part Of
ths State ana for what Ito witness the antics OF
ordesperate vagabonls buresqueng the order of mill
tarx array while they were nothing but armed ban.
diui lvin- on pupder and setting at defiance all the
laws and principles by which society is held together
and then quietly dispensing. after having been the
sion Of i'll VII asi uRtoward collision between two
mighty nations which will take reams of special dplo
macy to explain away or justify.
A fearful responsibility rests upon the heads of the
miserable creatures. Mackenzie and Van Rensselaer,
and in still greater degree upon the prime movers, who
pulled the strings of the farce, Buffalo Washing
The former too contemplate TOT parucu
lar annadversion but the influential citizens of
country are obnoxious to all the execraton that in
dignant nation could pour upon those who have trail
,torously couspred against its peace and prosperity, to
bring about their selfish aud malignant projects.
NIAGARA FALLS, Sun Eve, Jan. a. 1888
JAMES GORDON BENNETT, Esq,
DEAR SlR-I have followed your advice, and com
piled with your request to the very letter My last
gave you an account Of my visit Navy Island This
will inform you Of my adventures by field and flood in
a visit Chippewa, the head quarters of Her Maesys
forces. / will begin at the beginning. 1t was on Fri
day night arrived at Col Ayers quarters on Grand
Island and meditatng how should manage to get
into the British army, who were lying M iull view OF
that position. An opportunity soon offered
Col Aver is fine man. and treated me very hospita
bly, sharing with his only bed, while the slept
on straw which they bound up and slowed away every
morning. He mentioned TO me that Tor several days,
shells cannon balls &c. by accident design, had
been fred upon Grand Island. told him. that in either
case it ought be permitted and suggested the pro-
prety OF sending remonstrance 10 the british Com
nandaut which he very ready to do iminedi-
atey fo nal remonsrance, acting as his private
secretary, got barge which had TO send TO General
Van Rensselaer,, Navy Island for-pcked four stout
fellows for oarsmen and crossed over 10 tue Canada
shore. The men expected to be fired upon. but were
most Hospitality received and entertained vas met
and welcomed by Col. Mcdonald X. A, and Lieut..
Elmsley r. NJ, and with them got lHa one OF their bar
aes and rowed down the river three miles, to head
quarters. doing this not only passed along the
whole lines the British army: and under the guns OF
and in the face OF their principal Notifications Watch
ing the Island with interest. saw men hasten 10
their guns but passed down the riververy rapid
iv they fred no cannon We had got far before 1
saw a fash and a masket rifle ball dancing
along on the water. il the first SHOT ever fired
me, and laughed outright-ihe idea have always
held that was a great coward proved TO be utterly
founded We were all in excellent spirits and were
salu,ed in the manner all the way down. MAJOR
Chase of Navy Island, told me this morning that
very strange the shot told better, and for my comfort
rcl M.Do said IA
shore So far from being terrified, only had the strong
estcurosy The appearance OF cannon shot com
ing toward one that ola discharge OF grape but il was
not eraiied
Upon landing Chippewa Greek, where there
some scows mounted with cannoa. l was conducted TO
the quarters Of the Honorable Allan n McNab, Colonel
Commanding, who if he has resigned superseded
wrote YOU giving sundry weghty reasons therefor
is AMI every body swears on this side, still coinmnn
dant. aud IS likely. by all learned, TO remain So.
Col McNabb Is a fine looking Of so or 90, with a
large bald head white locks and occasionally scowl OF
che ey ebrows but usually bland and aable He asked
me lots ofquesous which the other officers had reiraned
from entirely leaving tell what and how much
rleascd The other officers fine looking, gentleman
iy men-wha is called officer looking"
After Whiting an hoar, during which lunched on
cold roast beef and glass of fair mddling sherry
returned alone with Gel. Mcdonald through the woods
under plea Of being Of danger from the cannonad
ing which in the meantime had commenced. He didn't
want me 10 see his batteries going the front way by
land an the officers cared not to try the river, against
the current where the sowaess OF our progress would
the more expose i must here give Col. Mcdonald
the c,edto observe that he very p.tely offered to sit
between me and the gunsa piece ofcourtesy which. OF
course could accept though had no particular in
terest in being shot in this contests thanked him not
the less heartily.
To the complaint and remonstrance carried Colonel
McNab returned answer. that such firing the L. 8.
frontier was wholly accidental and from the situation Of
the island and the position Of their batteries Il was i'm.
possible always prevent 1t; but he would do 90 10
the extent of his power
A / returned with Of the officers through the
woods where new road had been cut he talked Of
the prospect of a war between England and America.
of the vast resources Of both countriesthe expense
and bloodshed that attend tof the interfer
ence or the American authorities with the pirates (pa.
,rots on Navy Island OF the spirit of the people OF
Trpper Canada, &c. &c. L am convinced he told me
some Wrappers He said their volunteered. IL IS
notorious ina; large portion Of them are pressed:
sa~ several on Graud Island, who had taken refuge
there 10 prevent serving in cause they are opposed TO-
The British officers 90 with file Of regulars with wag
CONS and take every they can lay their hands on
He told me that they had lost but two men, and that
they were the only wounded except those IN the
taking of the Caroline who " hurt at all must have
been hy their pariy-while have II from the officers
both on Navy and Grand Island that they have seen a
much larger number fall and Canadian deserter tells
me that he has helped 10 bury fifty
He also said IL impossible but that great many
must have been killed the island and not less than 30
or 40 on Friday night when some 900 guns were hred
- IL lm.I xaA A.rl