The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-08-25

tnc commissioners, from WnOm nOtnlnp
definite had yet been heard, in which the
new state of things in Europe was given
as reason for authorizing them to refer
the impressment question, in case it
should be found an obstacle to n treaty,
to separate negotiation, to be commen.
ced as soon as peace was re-established.
Before this letter was sent, dispatches
arrived from Gallatin and Bayard, who
had been in London for two or three
months, eudeavoring to pave the way for
peace. In consequence of these dispatch
cs, which were far from encouraging, n
postscript was added authorizing the COM
missioners, should they think it best, to
treat at London and, if they could not
make peace otherwise, to omit the sub
jcct of impressmcnt altogether; but not
without protest that this silence was
not to be taken as admitting the British
claim
Before these new instructions arrived,
Client, in Holland had been agreed up
on as the place of negotiation But the
British government, still busy with the
affairs of the Continent, and with large
bodies of troops on their hands, which
might as well be employed in America
as kept idle at home seemed in no hurry
to appoint ncgotiators There was, in
deed, war party in England not less
furious and passionate than in America
indeed, war parties are always much
alike-demanding with the london
Times at its head the signal punishment
of the pusillanimous and unnatural ma
tion of Democrats, who had seized the
moment of her greatest pressure for an
attack upon Great Britain, and whose
insolcncc, encouraged by naval success
ought now to receive a signal check.
Madison, it was said-and that idea
seemed not disagrecblc to the Federal
ists-must be made to resign, and to
follow Bonaparte to some Transatlantic
Elba; and as if to accomplish this OBJ
ject, large shipments Of veteran troops
were made for America
The first important military move
mcnt came, however, from the American
side Brown and Scott, inhamcd with a
strong passion for military distinction,
desired anxiously to show that there
were officers and men in the American ar
my with courage cnongl to face the enc
my, and skill and determination enough
to beat him in any equal battle. BY So
licitations addressed to Armstrong, for
which purpose Scott paid visit to
Washington, and promises, by sudden
march to seize Burlington Heights be-
fore aid could come from York, and to
hold them too, if Chancey fulfilled his
ntimatons of speedily gaining the COM
mand of the lake, Brown obtained leave
to undertake new invasion of Canada
Ripley. an able officer, but without any
enthusiasm for mere fighting for the sake
of it, thought the expedition Quixotic,
the force much too small and, should
the enemy retain the command of the
lake, likely to be cut off and obliged to
surrender Rather than march on such
forlorn hope, he offered to resign, but
to this Brown would not consent. Be
side two brigades of regulars, five com
panies of artillery, and two of dra'
goons, Brown had third brigade Of
volunteers, partly Pennsylvania, partly
New Workers and partly Indians, com
mandcd by Portcr-in all, about $500
men. Crossing in the night from Buffa.
10, already rising again from its ruins
he appeared in the morning under Fort
Erie, held by garrison of l40 men, who
fulfilled his hope by surrender that same
afternoon Scott led the advance the
next day against Gen. Riall, who lay III
trcnchcd behind the Chippewa, fftecl
miles distant, with an army about equa
in number to Browns and having driv.
en- in the British outposts. he was joined
at midnight by Brown with the rest O
the army. During skirmish of picket'
the next morning. dissatisfied with tn,
conduct of one of his officers in retrcatinl
too speedily, Brown cashiered him OF
the spot, thus giving a specimen of tn,
, standard to which he meant to hold thos,
under his command. A movement il
the afternoon, by Porter, to the wood oil
the left, drew Rail out of his intrench
mcnts and across the Chippewa. Afte
some resistance the volunteers fled be
fore the British column, uncovcrng the
left flank of Scott's brigade, which ad
vanced, however, with charged bayoneti
and before Ripley's brigade could b,
brought up drove the enemy across tn,
bridge, which they destroyed behmC
them. Preparations were immediatell
made for forcing the passage of the Chip
pewa but this operation was anticipa
ted by Rial, who abandoned not only hi
intrenched camp but Queenstown also
and having thrown part of his fore,
r into Fort George, retired with the res
to the strong ground some twelve mile
up Lake Ontario. The British loss il
these operations was about 500 men, ,tha
, Of Brown about 500.
:, Overjoyed at this first victory over
British army (for the defeat of procto
had been rather rout than battlel
Brown advanced to Queenstown. Blu
he found himself unable to attempt For
George for want of battering cannon, an,
/ with that fortress behind him, he hesita
q ted to move against Rail Thus stoT
/ ped short he wrote pressing letters &
. Games, in command at Sackctt's HaI
Dor, for aid, and to Chauncey for eo-opc
ration, extravagantly promising to con
' qucr all Upper Canada in two months
il he could have the feet to transpor
: his supplies and baggage. But Chaur
!. cey was little disposed to turn his fec
into convenience for Browns army
/, and, besides, he was sick at this momen
I of lake fever, nor was his largest vessc
| ,,nt roalu sn fhat IL ,rns in1nnasiblo %