The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-08-18
(Kansas City Starr

day than ever before or since. An
American invading army had crossed
onto Canadian soil. ii had won hard
fought victory, giving it selfconhdence.
Another battle, July 25, 1914, resulted
in serious setback for the British
forces. Then the stupidity or timerous-
ness of an American General, elevat-
ed to command through the unfortun
ate wounding of his two superiors, al
lowed the British to regain all they
had lost without firing single gun or
losing single soldier.
After the battle at Chippewa Creek
July s, 1914, General Bron, command
ing the American forces, found himself
in rather precarious position. Cen
eral Riall had been REINFORCED by
General Drummond with several regi-
ments of British regulars and was pre-
pairing to deal the Americans blow
that would drive them back across the
iagara River.
Brown knew this; knew he could not
hope for re-enforcements HIMSELF
knew the British had $500 men to his
$500, yet he determined to fight; more,
he determined to attack Riall and
Drummond before they were ready to
crush him by mere numerical weight.
Accordingly, July 25 he ordered his
plucky little army to advance.
The first brigade, under Brigadier
General Winfield Scott, was in the van
and bore the brunt of the fight, as it did
at Chippewa. He had some 1900 men
in his command. About o'clock in the
afternoon the advance guard of the
Twenty-second Infantry, Colonel Hugh
Brady, met the outposts of the British
near Lundy's lane, road a few miles
northwest of Buffalo on the Canadian
side.
Brown had hoped to find that the
British forces divided when he ordered
the advance. Scott's skirmishes soon
learned different. The entire English
force was in easy communication, with
1000 men OCCUPYING fortified positions
in advance Drummond commanded
1900 in reserve. The British line was
crescent shaped, along the brow of a
hill that commanded the entire terri
tory around.
Scott saw all this at glance. To
retreat would admit defeat; to stand
still would be ultimate destruction, and
to attack with his brigade seemed fol-
ly. He had only three or four small
guns, while the British had planted a
heavy battery in the center of their
line. Notwithstanding, Scott prepared
to charge. AS at Chippewa, he detach-
ed part of his men as fiankers. Colon
el Brady and Major essup led 800 on a
wide detour to the right, while Scott
took the remaining 1000 in person.
The charge went straight to the cen
ter. 1t was an amazing maneuver.
More than 1000 men in chosen posi-
ton, heavily defended with artillery,
were charged in the open by less than
1000, with 300 detached for flank at
tack.
The British could hardly believe
their eyes. The audacity of the Ameri-
cans stupefied them for few mo-
ments. Then the roar of the attacking
rifles and glitter of the bayonets the
attackers carried at the charge brought
them to reality. The shock of the bat
tie was terrific. Again and again Scott
led his column against the British
line. Each time it was hurled back
the intrepid fighter would ride along
the line, reforming his men, and then,
without waiting for breath hardly,
they were back at the charge again
Scott was wounded. So were Brady
O'Neill and Jessup, his regimental com
manders. Leavenworth's battalion OF
the Ninth Infantry refused to retreat
after charging the British and calmly
reformed it's lines within pistol shot
of the British position. The other
regiments, encouraged by that grand
stan, reformed near by.
Brady and essup now succeeded in
forcing their way through the British
left. They circled the British real
with their handful OF men, causing slS
times their number of retreat hastily
Riall and his headquarters staff moved
slowly and the Americans captured the
General.
Brown now arrived with Ripley's bri
gade.. These men had marched at dou
BILE time for nearly an hour, yet they
went into line and relieved Scott:
brigade of the attack without rest. The
British had concluded they would have
rest when Ripley charged. AS his
line was repulsed Porter's brigade ar
rived. Brown now decided to charge
the British batteries. He called Col
onel Miller of Twenty-hrst Infantry
to him. He pointed to the battery ant
askad tha Colonel If he could take Ii