Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-09-02
VOL. ".
A Copy OF a Letter.

DIX On me "a Inst L issued my or
ders Tor crossing The Niagara river, aud
made the arrangements deemed necessa.
~ Tor securing the garrison of fort Erie.
On the Sd, that post surrendered at 5, p.
NJ. Our loss in this affair was 4 of the
18th regt. under Maj. Jessup, of brig
gen. SCOTS brigade, wounded--I have
enclosed return of the prisoners, of the
ordnance and ordnance stores captur.
ed.
10 secure my rear, have placed a
garrison in this fort, and requested Capt.
Kennedy 20 station his vessel near the
post.
On the morning of the 18th, brig. gen.
Scott. with his brigade and a corps of
artillery, was ordered to advance towards
Chippewa, and be governed by circum.
stances; taking care to secure good mil.
itary position for the night. After some
skirmishing with the enemy, he selected
this plain with the eye of soldier, his
right resting on the river. and ravine
being in front. At III at night, Joined
with the reserve under Gen. Ripley, our
field and battering train, and corps of ar
,illery under Maj. Hindman. General
Porter arrived the next morning with a
parl OF the New York and Pennsylva.
MIA volunteers, and some warriors of the
Six Nations
Early in the morning of the 5!h the
enemy commenced petty war upon our
picket,s, and as he was INDUCED, his pre-
sumption increased: by noon he showed
himself on the left of our exterior line,
and as,acted one of our riekets as i. was
returning TO camp.
Capt. Treat, who commanded il. rctir-
ed disgracefully, leaving wounded man
on the ground. Capt. Bride of the ar,i
ilery, who was near the scene impelled
by feelings highly honorable to him as a
soldier and officer, promptly assumed the
command Of this picket, led i, back to
the wounded man. and brough, him off the
field. lordered Capt. Treat, on the spot,
To retire from the army, aud as am snx.
ious that no officer shall remain suspect
edof cowardice, | advise that Capt Urea,
and Lieut. f., who was also with the
picket, Ge struck from the rolls Of the ar
my
A,fonr e'c.ock in the afternoon, agree
nbly TO plan ! had given Gen, Porter.
he advanced from the rear Of our camp,
with the volunteers and Indians, (,aking
the woods in order to keep out of view
of the eneiny.) with the hope of bring
ing his pickess and scouting parties be-
tween his Por.er's line march, and our
camp. As Porter moved, ordered the
parties to advance in iron, of our line
About halt pas. four, the advance of Gen
Poriet's command met the The hgh, par.
ties of the enemy in woods, upon our ex.
treme lett. The enemy were driven, AMI
Porter advanced near to Chippewa. me-,
their whole column in order Of battle
From the cloud Of dust rising. and the
heavy firing, was led to conclude thai,
tho entire force Of the enemy was in
march. and prepared for action. in
mcdia.ely ordered Gen. Scott to advance
with his brigade, and rowson's artillery,
and meet them on the plain in from. of
our camp. The general did not expec,
to be gra,iiied SO soon with field engage
ment. He advanced in the mos, prompt
md officer like style, aud ii a few min
utes was in close action on the plain,
with superior force OF British regular
troops. BY this time Gen. Pot,crs com,
mand had given way, and fled in every
direction, notwithstanding his personal
galan.ry, and great exer.ions TO stay
their flight. The resrea. OF the volun.
teers and Indians caused the left flank of
Gen Scots brigade 10 be greatly expos
ed. Capt. Harris with his dragons,
was directed to stop the fugi!ives, behind
the ravine fronting our camp: and sent
Col. Gardner to order Gen. Ripley 20
advance with the 2lsl regt. which form.
ed u part of the reserve. pass TO the left
of our camp, skirt the woods so as to
KEEP out of view, and fall upon the rear
of the enemy's right flank. This order
was promptly obeved, and the greatest
exer,ions were made by the 2lst regi-
ment 20 gain their position. and close
with the enemy; but in vain--for snch
was the zeal and galan,ry of the line
commanded by Gen. Scott. that its ad-
vance upon the enemy was not to be
checked. Maj. Jessup commanding the
left flank battalion. and his men falling
fast around him--ordered his battalion
to support arms and adyance; the
order was promptly obeycd, amidst the
most deadly and destructive fire. He
gained more secure position, and re-
turned upon the enemy SO CALLING dis
charge, as caused them TO retire. By
this time, their whole line was falling
back. and our gallant soldiers pressing
upon them as fast as possible. As soon
rs the enemy had gained the sloping
ground descending towards Chippewa,
and distant quarter of mile, he broke
and ran to gain his works. In this eff.
fort he was too successful, and the guns
from his own batteries opening immedi-
a:ely upon our line. checked in some de-
gree the pursuit. At this moment, re-
solved TO bring up all my ordinance and
force the place by direct attack. and
gave The order accordingly. Mrj. Wood
of the corps of engineers and my aid
captain Austin. rode to the bank of the
Il 4 II ~ a r.