The San Francisco call., 1896-08-16

of each year, at all other times
helping to clear and cultivate the farm,
upon the proceeds of which the entire
family depended for the necessaries OF
life. On reaching his twentieth year his
father '.gave him his time and little
money. With these and a still further
capital, consisting of hope and independ-
ence, he went to Onondaga County, N. Y,
where he worked as a farm laborer for the
sum OF $12 month.
He was nearly 20 years of age when the
war of 1912 was declared against Great
Britain, and less than year later he was
enrolled as private in Captain E. Bur-
giss' company of New York Volunteers
and marched to the defense of Sacketts
Harbor, on Lake Ontario, which had been
greatly weakened by the withdrawal of
much of our land and naval force for the
expedition against York, and which
proved so successful to the American
cause As soon as the comparatively de-
fenseless condition of Sacketts Harbor
was known 10 the enemy an attack by the
British under Sir George Provost, Gov
ernor-General of Canada, was planned to
take place May %, 1913. Troops to the
number of about 1900 were embarked in
small boats from the enemy's ships and,
re- enforced by a considerable body of IN
dians in canoes, started for the shore.
This movement was temporarily discon-
certed by the unexpected appearance of
large number of small boats, in which
were part of regiment of our troops,
under Lieuten ant Colonel Thomas Aspin-
wall, who were Fastening from Oswego to
the relief of the garrison at Sacketts
Harbor These latter were attacked by
the British in overwhelming numbers,
who captured twelve boats and seventy
men, but by vigorously plying their
oars the remainder effected landing and
added about 100 men to the effective force
at the harbor.
During that night the enemy landed a
party of Indians and by making detonr
hoped to attack the militia, which consti-
tuted our reserve, in the rear, but In this
they were frustrated.
At dawn the next morning the British,
in trying to land thirty-three boats filled
with armed troops, were met with scat
tering fire from our militia, to which the
guns of the enemy's vessels responded
and under cover of which the enemy sue
ceeded in gaining a landing, after which
they formed in line and returned our fire
instantly, killing Colonel Mills. This cir
cumstance, coupled with the sounds of
musketry and great guns and the scream
of solid shot and swishing of bullets, al
though causing no havoc in the ranks,
created CONSERVATION among our un-
trained troops and caused them to retreat
in panic-stricken confusion. In fact it
was nothing but a disgraceful act of
cowardice on the part of the rank and file
in which the officers participated.
1t is related of one of the militia COM
manders, who had talked very valiantly,
that he became less valiant as he saw the
enemy's boats approach the shore. As
they came forward in swarm he became
less and less hopeful, until at length he
told his men that he doubted the ability
of the American force to cope with the
enemy. 81 fear we shall be compelled to
retreat he said. After pause he con-
tinued, 81 know we shall, and as | am a
little lame I'll start now." and away he
went as fast as his legs could carry him.
The American commander (who by the
way was General BROWN. stung by this
| disgraceful conduct, used every exertion
| to rally the fugitives but without success,
they not even stopping to retire in the
shelter of some woods on their route, and
in which they were to halt and reform in
| the event Of being forced to give way.