Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-08-07

VIGIL TO L1e 1rOtlU IN Jnb llSJ OF bloody
contests that reflect splendor upon the
American arms. Besides it gave to the ma
ton remarkable military hero, whose
fame remained untarnished for half CEN
fury.
After the American forces had estab-
lished themselves on Canadian soil in the
summer of 1914, the commander, Gen.
Jacob Brown, adopted the policy of threat
ening various important points on that
side of the boundary, in order to prevent
his opponent, Gen. Rail- from making a
counter invasion across Niagara river On
the 25th of July he received news Of the
movements of the British that led him to
suppose that such an invasion was on foot,
and yielding to the urgent solicitation of
Gen. Scott, who commanded one of his
brigades ordered him to lead movement
along the Queenstown road to threaten
Forts George and Niagara and thus put
the enemy on the defensive The order
was issued at o'clock in the afternoon,
and Scott's brigade was in motion in TWEEN
ty minutes. His force numbered 200 men,
namely, four infantry battalions, one bat
terry and two companies of mounted men.
After a march of a couple Of hours the col
umn was met with rumors, spread by citi-
zens, that RIAL was in the immediate vi
cinity with force fully equal to Scott's,
but in the face of contradictory informa-
ton, credited AS positive at Browns head
quarters, the impatient leader refused TO
believe the story and continued to "march
rapidly on the forts" as he had been or
dered He took the precautiOn, however,
to send "A message back to his chief re-
counting what he had heard. The British
who appeared on his front he believed to
be only a remnant left by Rial to deceive
the American generals, and these he
promptly attacked.
Instead of n remnant he met an army
and Internationally opened the battle Of
Lundy's Lane, or Niagara, as it Is also
called. Rial was in the vicinity with a
large force and, moreover, was in full readi-
ness for battle His troops numbered 4, 500
and many of them were fresh. His position
was on an eminence along which ran
Lundy's lane, highway between Niagara
river and the head Of Lake Ontario. So pre-
cipitate had been Scott's action that there
was no safe way Of backing out on the
part Of the Americans. He had advertised
his presence by his bold attack, and should
he withdraw after a tentative stroke it
would be a confession Of weakness and in
vite pursuit. Pursuit under the circum-
stances would be as difficult TO Withstand
as the onset of superior numbers in a free
field would be.
The enemy opened with musketry and
cannon and Scott accepted the challenge
Just as though the entire American army
was at hand. The British artillery was
stationed on an eminence, with infantry to
the right and left of it. Between the Brit
ish left flank and the river there was space
left vacant, but at the moment Of Scotts
attack re-enfOrcements for Rial were
marching up TO occupy it. They never got
there however. Scott saw the open space.
1t was in the uncertain light Of evening
and he detailed the Twenty-ffth regiment,
under Mai Thomas S. Jesup, to crawl
through the bushes that covered the ground,
reach the enemy's left flank and turn it.
Jesup obeyed and struck the opening Of the
lane into Queenstown road. It was down
Queenstown road that supports were
marching to RAILS assistance, and Jesup's
movement caused them to halt and change
their direction. Meanwhile Scott pressed
the fighting against the British front. He
did not hope to win the fight alone, but
thought that he could hold on until relief
should come from Gen Brown, in response
, to his message that the enemy was reported
in force on his front.
Jesup's movement was brilliant success
in every way He kept off Reinforcement
from Rail that might have turned this
tide against Scott. He fought with forc'
superior to his own column out Of thos'
present under Rail, and he captured Rial
and several Of his staff before directions
could be given in the British lines for the
order of battle. The capture Of the en-
emy's leader was stroke Of luck, perhaps