The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-07-30
IN THE FAR PAST.
On the Wing and Over the BaitIenslds Along the
Niagara Frontier.


Niagara Frontier.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The war is
over at Buffalo. All is again quiet along the
Niagara, river along whose banks were en-
acted some Of the most stirring scenes in tho
Nations mighty career. / was 10th to leave
this section without seeing more of it. and so
have fingered. and slowly drifted, as it were,
from lake TO lake, drinking in inspiration from
the beautiful scenery and from the history and
traditions which come throDging in from every
stopping place. IL may interest the readers of
THE NATIONAL tribune TO follow me as
move, taking hasty survey of tho scenes
where veterans Of former generation, our
sires and grand-sires, upheld the dignity of Old
Glory before the Republic could be said to have
passed out OF its experimental stage.
Beginning, let Us cross 10 old Fort Erie, op-
pOsto Buffalo. / will not enter at this time
upon full account of its early history. only
so far as 10 state that it was erected at the close
OF the old French and Indian war by fhe Brit
ish. Its stone wall, built Of the limestone
found in this section, makes picturesque ruin.
lt will be remembered that in tho Summer of
1914, Gen. Brown crossed over from Buffalo,
tthen containing only > houses), and captured
the fort, with its garrison OF l40 men. This he
proceeded 10 strengthen, and extended the lines
mp the lake 10 protect his left flank. Here
with 1900 men he successfully resisted the
assaults of Gen. DrummOnd, who had $500
men, and later, when besieged, made "A sortie
against the enemy, capturing his lines and
more than thousand prisoners thus compel
ling the enemy TO abandon the siege. Lord Ma
pier, IN has Peninsular War. statos that IL is ono
OF the rare instances where the besieged by sor-
lie have accomplished such result. The para
pet running from tho fort up the lake has been
nearly all leyelod, but the main outlines Of the
fort still are we'll preserved. The salients,
the mOat, ;he ragelin covering the sallypOrt
arc IN good state Of preservation. What was
known as Douglass's Battery, which played an
important part in the defense has been re-
moved to make way for the narrow gage rail-
way which skirts the shore in rear Of the fort.
Finding that the stones OF the old fort were
being rapidly appropriated for other purposes,
the Canadian Government laid out Govern
ment reservation OF II acres. including the fort,
which thus preserves this landpark. j visited
this fascinating spot twice. aud turned my back
upon it with reluctance. taking half bomb
shell and some bullets as mementOs Of my
visits.
Going on down the river, the next fight. geo
graphically, was the little battle Of Chippewa
where on the plain between the two streams
that flow into the Niagara Brother Jonathan's
strategy was too much for Johnny Bull, who
had 10 give way before il. The distance from
Niagara Falls 10 this field is three miles. On
the upper part of the field near where the
Americans crossed the creek lives Mr.. and
Mrs. Slater, very estimable couple. who gave
me much interesting information concerning
the fight. a part of which took place on what
is now Dir. SlateT'5 farm. From a farmer near
the village Of Chippewa l obtained an eight
pound cannOn-ball which he had recently
plOwed up. The villagsitself is rapidly going
10 seed Tho Mckinley bin is greatly dis
tTessing Canadians. To pas $50 tariff on a
horse, and s. a ton on hay, Is simply more than
they can stand.
From Chippewa drive 70 Lundy's Lane-in
fact down the very lane itself aud up to the
Cemetery where the battery stood which Col.
Miller took. Twenty-Five years ago / visited
this spot. but very thriving village has now
sprung up, where at that time the houses were
few. The lookout has disappeared, and so like
wise has the little old man who described the
battle. The hill is a densuly- populated city Of
the dead Across its crest may be still traced
one trench, in which were buried hundreds OF
the dead at the close Of this bloody fight.
Many bodies of American soldiers were burned,
as owing 10 the numbers to 10 buried and the
intensity Of the heat. tho British were CON-
PEELED to make this disposition Of 200 or 300 Of
them. Other trenches, in which the slain
were buried three deep. arc still pointed out.
The fighting on this little hin was Of the
most desperate sort. It is claimed by the local
historians that 200 men Of both sides lay dead
here at the close Of the Sight. An old man. now
| living, who was in his fifth year at the time OF
| the battle, says he picked up some months
afteTward a wagOnlOsd Of American cannon
balls, which he was wont TO drop into a spring
near his house for the sake OF seeing them
shake the adjacent boggy land.
Riding over a portion Of the field toward
| Chippewa, acrOss which the Americans adj
yanced, was fortunate enough TO obtain a "a
pound cannon-ball thrown by the British
which farmer had come upon in digging q
/ drain. Relics OF this field are becoming very
| scarce. It is much visited from Niagara Falls
and historical society started in DrummOnd-
/ Vile, the town in which the field is located,
is absorbing everything in the line Of memen-
| tOs il can become possessed Of Its founder aud
! inspiring head is Rev. DR.. Bull the rector Oi
/ the Episcopal Church.
Taking the boat TO Lewiston and the ferry
| across the river, 1 am in QueenstOn, and AIN
| soon clamberiug up the nights which the
! Americans took possession Of so easily, and
from which they were 90 ineontinently STAN
! peded by Brooks Indians, aided by few Brit
! ish soldiers It was q very discrsdtable affair
60 the Americans. The monument 70 Brock is
| 200 feet high, and either from its base or sum
NIT commands a panoramic view that IS an
| inspiration. A small chunk Of an obelisk
! standing about seven feet high, is erected near
| the spot on the slope where Brock was killed
The little stone house in the edge of the vii.
! lage. 20 which his body was aiterward carried
! is now used as "A cider mill. Only two or three
houses that were standing In tho fight nov
remain Of old Queenstou. One Of these, the
Thorburn Honse. at the foot Of tho nights wa;
Efterward used by McRiuZie rs headquarters
from which he issued his maniostOs for time
| in the rebellion Of 1897. / obtained Of Mrs
| Palmer, the hostess OF the hotel some grape
shot and Indian arrcw-heads as mementos o.
the field, and recrossed the river. My visits t
old Fort George and Fort Niagara must leaV,