Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-14

surrender and teach foe and friend that Americans
knew how to fight to the last Their lives would be
well laid down for such purpose, and would in
the war now only just begun, be worth many victo-
ries Weary, few, and sore as they were, his men
all cheerfuy assented, and prepared for last strug
gle. Sheahe, however, more wary than the earlier
British leaders, did not indulge US with any more
charges, but cooy took his measures for surround
ing them; and men who are surrounded (not being
able to light on all sides at once) must be made
prisoners, whether they will or no. For time our
heroes held their ground most brayely against three
or four to one but at last many of them forced
over the precpice of the river bank and the rest,
two hundred and ninety-three in number, were COM
PEELED to lay down their arms. This was, however,
a surrender almost as glorious as most triumphs !;
it redeemed the honor of our arms; showed as
Scott had designed, that Americans need turn their
backs on nobody and proved, by defeat ITSELF that
conquest was close at hand. Decatur, that bravest
of seamen soon after said to Scott Sir, you have
led the way to victory
IRISH PRISONERS ABOUT TO BE EXECUTED
SCOTT PREVENTS IT.
The capture among our troops of number of
naturalized citizens, about sixty whom their fea-
lures tongue betrayed to be Of Irish BIRTH led,
upon this occasion, to British claim to deal with
such prisoners as not entitled to the laws of war,
body of those taken were sent down with Scott by
water to Quebec There they were taken out of
the vessel to be shipped for Boston another, un-
der cartel, with view to their being exchanged.
When this shipment began, Scott soon perceived
that they were selecting and meant to detain the
| Irishmen. He instantly interfered, and denied
their right to make any difference between one
American citizen and another The officers haughtily
told him he was prisoner himself, and that they
were not going to be governed by him.
He was not man, however, to give up has fell
lowcitzens, nor to be silenced in this manner and
when they again began to select, he peremptorily
ordered his men not to answer any further ques-
tons. At this the Englishmen grew exasperated,
their prisoner, they could not ntimidate nor man
age him A high quarrel ensued: but, he would
not yield an inch declaring to them resolutey that
the life of an English prisoner should answer for
that of every Irishman they detained. And he
kept his word for, although they kept and shipped
off to England for trial the twenty three sons of the
Green Isle that they had already picked out, they
could from his making them keep silent, pitch
upon no more; while he, as soon as he got to
Washington after being exchanged, reported the
matter to the President, and brought about the pas
sage of law for retaliating upon English prisoners
any punishment inflicted on those taken from US
under pretence of their being native-born, and
therefore perpetual subjects of Great Britain. Nor
was it long before Scott himself took plenty of
captves nor did he fail to set aside at once as he
had pledged himself to do, number as hostages
for the safety of his Queenstown comrades The
consequence was that none of them were hurt; that
they were all, except two who had died, sent back
to their adopted country together after the peace Of
1915; and that, by the particular care of Scott,
then risen to the highest rank their back-pay and
bounty lands were secured to them. BY singular
accident too, just when they were landing in New
York, he CHANGED to be passing the wharf, and re-
cognised them, as they did him. Great may be
supposed was the Joy of that meeting on both Sides
and strongly was it expressed by the warm-hearted
Hibernians for Irishmen seldom forget their
friends. But we must return to our story.
SCOTT SENT BACK AS ADJUTANT GENERAL TO
DEARBoRN'S ARMY.
The campaign of 1913 had just been opened by
the taking of York, when Scott arrived on the
Niagara frontier, in May, the chief Of the staff
to Gen. Dearborn. This important post requires
the skill to organize and direct all the details and
all supplies and materials Of war for whatever
operations the commander-in-chief may have decid-
ed upon. His adutant general should be his right
hand for upon that officer mainly depends all the
preparation of battle Scott conducted his duties
greatly to the satisfaction of all. The labor and
the honor would have been quite enough for most
men, but he claimed, besides, the right of taking
the command Of his own regiment, whenever it
came into action. The claim was conceded to him.
and he soon made use of it.
HE HEADS THE CAPTURE OF FORT GEORGE
Between Lakes Erie and Ontario, on the Cana:
dian side, lies peninsula commanded by Fort Erie
above and Fort George below. We were now in
possession Of the lower lake, and had taken York,
now called Toronto. Gen. Dearborn lay upon this
bank of the Niagara, with between four and FIVE
thousand good troops, while Commodore Chauncey
was superior to the enemy on the lake below. In
this situation of things, Gen. Dearborn determined
to strike, with the assistance of Chauncey's feet,
at Fort George, as the key to the peninsula which
is on that side most important as the necessary ave-
nue. Of communication between these two great
lakes. The troops crossed through part of the
lake. from little east of our own Fort Niagara on
the 9th Of May, in six divisions Of boats, protected
by the armed vessels Of Chauncey. Scott had vol
unteered to command the "forlorn hope" and
therefore led the first division Of boats. The land
ing was made dangerous not only by the severe fire
Of the enemy's musketry, but by heavy surf To
check the former, Chaunceys schooners anchored off
shore while to carry the loaded boats safely through
the latter sailor friend Of Scott spirit much like
him, the gallant Capt. Perry, then little known for
what he was lent his skill on the water and brought
them through successfully, amidst shower of balls
The division were all got on shore about in the
morning The narrow beach was bordered by
sharp bank Of eight or ten feet high, lined by the
enemy. This, of course, was to be instantly car