The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-07-30
RATTLE OF CHIPPEWA.
One Battle in Which Americans De-
feated Larger British Force.

coating on their accounts Of land bat
ties during the War of 1912. Facts
,e are twisted or turned or SKINNED
over to make their reading palatabie
to the American schoolboy. AS
result wholly distorted idea Of that
war is generally held. Actually
American troops won few victories,
generally retreated before or
surrendered to inferio1 forces, and
not a few times raI away from the
battle field as soon as the British
soldiers appeared.
The Battle of Chippewa. fought
century ago Monday, July 6, was one
of the few exceptions to that rule. A
force of eighteen hundred Americans
gave $3.50 British and Canadians
severe trouncing that day and follow
ed it up few weeks later with anoth-
er, which. but for the serious wounds OF
the two ranking and energetic gen.
erals might have caused a slice OF
southern Canada to be a part OF the
United States today.
The invasions of Canada had end
ed as fascos when General Brown
led his coasting on their accounts of
land battle, 1914. Stopping one day
to capture Fort Erie, the American
troops pushed on ;oward the main
British force under Gen. Riall. The
American army was divided into
three brigades, two Of regular troops
under Gen. Scott and Gen. Por-
ter, and one of militia under General
Ripley. General Rails force was
mostly seasoned British veterans,
some regiments from Wellington's
army. The remainder was Cana
dian militia, fairly trained.
The American van and British
rear kept up a continuous fight along
the west side of the Niagara river.
Brown sent Porter's brigade ahead to
locate the enemy and bring on a
battle, Porter found his search the
morning of July ), and pushed rapid
" by SCOTS brigade to the attack.
He presumed he had the British
right flank in his front. Brown hoped
he could roll it back on the main
force when SCOTS brigade could
attack.
Noon saw little change in the lines
Then Brown, from the rear, saw dust
clouds rising between Chippewa river
and Streets creek, the British posi-
ton. Soon a fierce fire showed Porter
was heavily engaged again. Rial
had moved his entire force against
Porter, who was driven back. Rip
ley's brigade was ordered to Porter's
support; but for some reason both
brigades got out of the line Of fire and
acted only as reserves the remainder
of the battle.
Their success had flushed the Brit
ish troops. They advanced through
the woods towards where Scott was
resting. General Brown hurriedly
galloped to that brigadier's head
quarters and told him of his danger.
Scott, ever endorsements, but i'm
mediately arranged his force for
battle.
The American army this day was
uniformed in gray. There had been
a scarcity of blue cloth and the
quartermaster at Buffalo offered to
provided gray, quantity Of which
was on hand. Brown and Scott
accepted his offer and as result the
familiar blue of the American troops
was missing. In honor of this
campaign the uniform Of the West
Point cadets has been gray ever since.
Also Scott. who was known as "Old
Fuss and Feathers because of his
strictness, had all his officers in full
rig-cocked hat, rosettes, sashes,
epaulets, etc."
,Riall, riding with his advance, saw
this strange and somewhat gaudy
appearing force assembled to oppose
him.
Nothing but Buffalo militia on
parade" he said laughingly to his
officers. He ordered his nine guns
to open fire. Instead of retreating,
however, the Americans broke into
quick time, crossed little creek be-
tween the two forces and scattered
in line of battle. Their GOODNESS soon
showed Riall his error.
why, they're regulars!!' he eX-
claimed, almost incredulously.
The British had hardly realized
that their enemy advancing instead
of retreating when the Twenty
fifth regiment, led by Major Jessup,
clashed with the British right flank.
Scott had detached that regiment
as soon as the British had been sight