that the enemy was in great force, at no considerable distance, while his own strength did not exceed 1600 effectives, he again resolved to disobey his instructions. He therefore broke up the camp at Chippewa, and, destroying the bridges in his rear, retreated to fort Erie, the defences of which were immediately repaired and strengthened. The enemy, to the number of about 5000 men, followed his footsteps, and encamped about two miles from fort Erie, to which they now laid a regular siege. On the day after the commencement of the siege, General Gaines arrived from Sackett's Harbour, and took the command. From this period until the 14th of August, a heavy cannonade was maintained against the American works, and the approaches of the besiegers were gradually drawn nearer. At length, at two in the morning of the 15th, the British troops moved to the assault in three columns. The right, under Colonel Fisher, advanced to within a short distance of the American left, which was defended by the 21st regiment, and Towson's artillery, when it was received with so destructive a fire, that, after four successive attempts to advance, it broke and fled. The left column, under Colonel Scott, was received by the 9th regiment, Captain Douglas's artillery, and two companies of volunteers, and retreated after the first fire. The centre column, led by Colonel Drummond, advanced under cover of a ravine, without loss, to the wall, against which they placed scalingladders, and, after a sanguinary struggle, established themselves for a short time on the bastion; at this moment, a sudden explosion took place under the platform, which destroyed numbers of both armies, and put the remainder of the enemy to flight. The remains of the British columns then retired to the camp. The loss of the assailants was very severe. Colonels Scott and Drummond, with 54 others, were killed, 319 wounded, and 439 missing, most of whom were killed or wounded. The American loss amounted to but 84 in all.

The besieging army lay comparatively inactive for a considerable period after this repulse. Fresh troops were constantly arriving, and a heavy cannonade was continued against the fort. The fire from the enemy's batteries proving very

severe and destructive, General Brown, who had resumed the command, resolved on a sortie, for the purpose of effecting their destruction. The British force at this time consisted of three brigades, of about 1500 men each, one of which was alternately stationed at the batteries, while the others remained at the camp, two miles distant. At noon, on the 17th of September, the party destined for this enterprise moved out of the fort in two divisions. The left, under General Porter, advanced through a wood with so much celerity, that the enemy were completely surprised; a short conflict ensued, which ended in the capture of the batteries and garrison, with the loss of Colonels Gibson and Wood, who fell gallantly fighting at the head of their men. The right division, under General Miller, had been stationed in a ravine, with directions not to advance until General Porter should have gained the enemy's flank. The noise of the firing being heard, General Miller immediately moved forward, and, after a close and severe contest, the whole of the enemy's batteries were carried. The cannon were then spiked, and the troops, having accomplished their object, returned to their fort, carrying with them 380 prisoners. Besides this loss, 115 of the enemy were killed, and 178 wounded. The American loss was also very severe : 79 were killed, among whom was General Davis of the New York militia, 232 wounded, and 216 missing.

The success of this enterprise compelled the British commander to raise the siege, and fall back behind the Chippewa. The American army was also soon afterwards strongly reinforced, by the arrival of Major-General Izard, with 5000 men from Plattsburg. Having taken the chief command, that officer immediately advanced towards Chippewa, where he found the enemy strongly entrenched, and vainly endeavoured to entice him into the field. The season being far advanced, it was determined to withdraw the army to the American shore. Fort Erie was therefore destroyed, and the troops went into winter-quarters at Buffalo, Black Rock, and Batavia.

CHAPTER XVII.

Remarkable Cruise of the Essex-Engaged by a superior British Force-Sanguinary Battle of three Hours-Capture of the Essex.

"Thou canst not boast a victory rightly won."

THE spring of 1814 was distinguished for the loss of the American frigate Essex, Commodore David Porter, which was captured on the 28th of March, in the Bay of Valparaiso, South America, by a superior British force. The cruise of the Essex is remarkable for its extent, and the adventurous spirit with which it was conducted. The Essex sailed from the Delaware in October, 1812, under orders to join the squadron of Commodore Bainbridge, off the coast of South America. After touching at the Cape De Verds, Captain Porter arrived on the coast of Brazil in November, and not finding the Constitution, proceeded round Cape Horn, which he doubled, during tremendous storms, in the month of February. He then put into the port of Valparaiso, and having procured the necessary supplies, sailed for the Gallipagos islands. Here he cruised for the space of six months, during which he inflicted incalculable injury on the enemy's comThe whole of the British vessels at that time on the Pacific were captured, to the number of twelve; three of them were sent to Valparaiso, three to the United States, and two given up to the prisoners. Of the remainder, one was converted into a vessel of war, on which he mounted twenty guns, and named her the Essex Junior, and with her and the other three, he proceeded to the Marquesas islands, for the purpose of provisioning and repairing his frigate. At Nooakeva, one of this group, he met with a very hospitable reception from the natives in general; but the hostile conduct of the Typees, one of the tribes, led to a conflict with them, which ended in the destruction of their village, with circumstances of severity deeply to be regretted.

merce.

In company with the Essex Junior, Captain Porter sailed from Nooakeva on the 12th of December, and arrived at

Valparaiso shortly afterwards. They had not been here long, when a British frigate, the Phoebe, Captain Hillyar, with the Cherub sloop of war, appeared off the port, having been fitted out expressly to meet the Essex. Their united force was much greater than Captain Porter's, the Essex Junior being a mere store-ship. After a blockade of six weeks, he at length made an attempt to get to sea; unfortunately, in rounding a point, a squall carried away his maintopmast, and thus precluded all hope of getting out. Returning to the harbour was equally impracticable, and Captain Porter therefore ran into a small bay, within pistol-shot of the shore, where the laws of war ought to have protected him. Captain Hillyar, however, regardless of these rules, commenced an attack before a spring could be put on the Essex's cable. The Phoebe and Cherub both took a position under her stern, and opened a heavy fire from their broadsides. In return, Captain Porter could bring only three twelve-pounders to bear on the enemy, and, finding his crew to be falling fast around him, he cut his cable, and ran down with the intention of laying the Phoebe on board. The latter, however, kept away, and being armed with long guns, the Essex carrying only carronades, her fire was so destructive that Captain Porter determined to run his ship on shore; but the wind setting off the land, he was unable to accomplish his purpose, and, after a sanguinary contest of three hours, no alternative remained but to strike his colours. The slaughter on board the Essex was very great; out of 255 men, 154 were killed, wounded or missing. The flag of the Essex was not struck to an equal force. The Phoebe mounted 53 guns, and had on board 320 men; the Cherub, 28 guns, and 180 men. The number of guns on board the two vessels was, therefore, 81, while the Essex carried only 46. The Essex Junior was at anchor in the port of Valparaiso during the action, in which she bore no part.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Captain Warrington, Commander of the Peacock, falls in with and captures the British Brig Epervier-Prize brought to the United States.

"Then here's to the heroes, high-sounding in story,

Who have gallantly met and conquer'd the foe."

THE ship Peacock, of 18 guns, commanded by Captain Warrington, being on a cruise on the southern coast, fell in with, on the 29th of October, the British brig Epervier, of equal force. After an action of forty-two minutes, the latter surrendered, with the loss of 8 killed and 15 wounded. Only one man was killed, and two wounded, on board the Peacock. The prize, which was found to contain $120,000, was brought safely to the United States.

m

CHAPTER XIX.

General Ross marches to the Capitol of the United States-Issues Orders for the Burning of the Public Buildings-Order executed.

WHILE the shouts of naval victories yet echoed over the land, the public attention was irresistibly drawn to the movements of the enemy on the sea-board. About the middle of August, between fifty and sixty sail of the British arrived in the Chesapeake, with troops destined for the attack of Washington, the capital of the United States. On the 23d of August, 6000 British troops, commanded by General Ross, forced their way to that place, burnt the capitol, president's house, and executive offices. Having thus accomplished an object highly disgraceful to the British arms, and wantonly burned public buildings, the ornament and pride of the nation, the destruction of which could not hasten the termination of the war, on the 25th they retired, and, by rapid marches, re