The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-07-03
CENTENARY OF U. s. LAST
 INVASION. OF CANADA

Battle-scarred Fort Erie on the Ca nadian frontier near Buffalo, was the scene one hundred years ago to-day July 3, 1874, of the beginning of the last act of that great drama of war. The Conquest of Canada. When the war of 1872 broke out the states men at Washington predicted that Canada would fall an easy prey to Uncle Sam. They underestimate the valor and patriotism of Canadians, and although the invaders achieved several victories, and at one time had nearly all of Sanada in their power, they were always defeated at the crit ical moment. The last American in vasion of Canada had an suspicious beginning. Gen. Jacob Brown a Pennsylvanian, was in supreme com mand of the American army on the fCanadian frontier, and had 5000 vet erans and 4,000 New York militia with
 which to carry out his cam mpaign- Buff falo, which had been burned by the British a few months before in retail Eiation for Gen. McClure's wanton de- structfon of the Canadian village Of Newark was the starting point of the invasion Brown was ready to act early in July, and dispatched a part of his army, under. command of Gen. Winfield Scott against Fort Erie. The gallant Virginians who was destined to be conmand der-in-ch of the American army in the war with Mex ico, made quick work of Fort Erie, and hastened on to Chippewa, where there was a British army under Ma l jor-General Phineas Riau Scott I hoped to make the battle a Fourth of July celebration, but 1t was not until the fifth that the issue was Joined. On the morning of that day the British tcommander~dreW up three columns on Chippeda Plain. Scott had ordered l a general parade 'tto keep the men in 1 breath" and after this display he
 marched his men across a bridge and formed them in battle array
 The conflict began when Thomson s
 battery of twelve -pounders on the right opened fire. The carnage that followed was terrible. The artillery
 fire was so well directed that the
 British columns were unable to with stand it. The American infantry then
 charged, and. after a gallant defense
 the English troops beat a retreat. The
 Am ericans lost 300 men, while the E British loss for 515-
 Like preceding attempts at the con quest of Canada, however, this one was destined to be futile. Soon after
 the battle of Chippewa Brown en-
 camped his entire army on the felC
 of victory, and then marched to Lun
 dy's Lane, mile below Niagara. Falls
 and not far from the hotel where Can
 ada recently offered it's Hospitality tC
 the A. B. c. mediators. Sir Cor Il don Drummond, administrator anS
 commander in Upper Canada, cam, from Kingston with 800 men to adt to RiaIPs defeated army, assume command, and pursued the Amer cans to Lundy's Lane. On July 24 the two armies encamped within thre, miles of each other, and prepared fo battle. The impending conflict wa
 highly important, as decisive vic tory for the Americans would Ieav
 the way open for the realization O
 the dream of conquest. On the 25tl of July the battle began, and the roa of Niagara Falls and the roar of gun were joined in a mighty chorus. Tn 7 defenders Of Canada fought with des peration, and, although outnurnbere, : two fo, one, they held their position
 against repeated assaults. Scott, un