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gained their shipping, having lost, during the expedition nearly 1000 men.

The following are the particulars of this deplorable affair— a narrative that reflects even more discredit on the temporary conquerors than upon the conquered themselves.

The troops, under General Ross, were landed at Benedict, on the Pawtuxet, forty-seven miles from Washington. On the 21st, they moved toward Nottingham, and the following day reached Marlborough. A British flotilla, commanded by Cockburn, consisting of launches and barges, ascended the river at the same time, keeping on the right flank of the army. The day following, on approaching the American flotilla of Commodore Barney, which had taken refuge high up the river, twelve miles from Washington, some sailors left on board the flotilla for the purpose, should it be necessary, set fire to it and fled.

On the arrival of the British army at Bladensburg, six miles from Washington, General Winder, commander of the American forces, chiefly militia collected for the occasion, ordered them to engage the enemy. The principal part of the militia, however, fled at the opening of the contest. Commodore Barney, with a few eighteen-pounders, and about 400 men, made a gallant resistance; but, being overpowered by numbers, and himself wounded, he and a part of his brave band were compelled to surrender themselves prisoners of

war.

From Bladensburg, General Ross urged his march to Washington, where he arrived at about eight o'clock in the evening. Having stationed his main body at the distance of a mile and

half from the capitol, he entered the city at the head of about 700 men, soon after which, he issued his orders for the conflagration of the public buildings. With the capitol were consumed its valuable libraries, and all the furniture and articles of taste and value in that and in the other buildings. The great bridge across the Potomac was burnt, together with an elegant hotel, and other private buildings.

CHAPTER XX.

Attack on Baltimore by Ross-Gallantry of the Americans-Overpowered by Numbers-Retreat-Americans entrenched two Miles from Baltimore-Enemy appear next Morning after the Battle-Abandon the Idea of taking the City as impracticable.

"But undauntedly fly to the scene of commotion,

To fight for their rights, till they die or prevail."

THE capture of Washington was followed, September 12th, by an attack on Baltimore, in which the American forces, militia, and inhabitants of Baltimore, made a gallant defence. Being, however, overpowered by a superior force, they were compelled to retreat; but they fought so valiantly, that the attempt to gain possession of the city was abandoned by the enemy, who, during the night of Tuesday, 13th, retired to their shipping, having lost, among their killed, General Ross, the commander-in-chief of the British troops. Having made this general statement, we will now proceed to detail more particularly the operations of the enemy in this unsuccessful expedition.

The British army, after the capture of Washington, having re-embarked on board the fleet in the Pawtuxent, Admiral Cochrane moved down the river, and proceeded up the Chesapeake. On the morning of the 11th of September, he appeared at the mouth of the Patapsco, fourteen miles from Baltimore, with a fleet of ships of war and transports, amounting to fifty sail.

On the next day, 12th, land forces, to the number of 6000, were landed at North Point, and, under the command of General Ross, commenced their march towards the city. In anticipation of the landing of the troops, General Stricker was despatched with 3200 men from Baltimore, to keep the enemy in check.

On the 12th, a battle was fought by the two armies. Early in the engagement, a considerable part of General Stricker's troops retreated in confusion, leaving him scarcely 1400 men, to whom was opposed the whole body of the enemy. An in

cessant fire was continued from half-past two o'clock, till a little before four, when General Stricker, finding the contest unequal, and that the enemy outflanked him, retreated upon his reserve, which was effected in good order. The loss of the Americans, in killed and wounded, amounted to 163, among whom were some of the most respectable citizens of Baltimore.

The enemy made his appearance the next morning in front of the American entrenchments, at a distance of two miles from the city, showing an intention of renewing the attack.

In the meantime, an attack was made on fort M'Henry, from frigates, bombs, and rocket-vessels, which continued through the day and the greater part of the night, doing, however, but little damage.

In the course of the night of Tuesday, Admiral Cochrane held a communication with the commander of the land forces, and the enterprise of taking the city being deemed impracticable, the troops were re-embarked, and the next day the fleet descended the bay, to the great joy of the released inhabitants.

CHAPTER XXI.

Capture of a British Squadron on Lake Champlain by Macdonough-Battle lasts several Hours-Three Galleys sunk-Battle at Plattsburg in sight of that on the Lake-Americans victorious by Land and Water-Last Operations of the Enemy in that Quarter.

"Fame, let thy trumpet sound,
Tell all the world around."

"By hard fighting, sir."

WHILE the southern States were thus experiencing the calamities of an aggravated and relentless hostility, another portion of the Union had been invaded by the enemy, under circumstances very unfavourable to the cause of the republic. The peace of Europe had placed at the disposal of the British government a large and formidable army, with which it was enabled to attempt schemes of conquest and destruction, more

extensive than any it had yet conceived. The first step in its new plans was apparently to obtain the command of lake Champlain, and thence to move down the Hudson, thus dividing the eastern section from the rest of the Union, while the discontent so strongly manifested in the New England States would, it was hoped, lead also to a political division. The expected reinforcements arrived in the months of July and August, and as soon as they were organized, it was determined to lead them on the expedition. On the 3d of September, Sir George Prevost, at the head of 14,000 regular troops, crossed the American frontier, and took possession of the village of Champlain, intending thence to proceed to the attack of Plattsburg, while the British squadron should at the same time engage that of the Americans on the lake.

The march of General Izard to Sackett's Harbour had left Plattsburg undefended, except by about 1500 regular troops, under Brigadier-General Macomb. On the news of the ene my's design, the utmost exertion was made by this officer to collect a force of militia, and to put the works thrown up for the protection of the place in the best state of defence. By the 4th of September, about 1000 militia were collected, part of whom were stationed seven miles in advance, to obstruct the progress of the enemy. On the 6th, the latter was discovered approaching, and, after a slight skirmish, the militia party retired in confusion. The advance of the British column was, however, considerably retarded by the felling of trees, and other means, and General Macomb removed the planks of the bridge across the Saranac, on the right bank of which his entrenched camp was situated. The enemy having made his appearance, his light troops entered the town, and annoyed the Americans on the opposite bank, until, by a few hot shot, the buildings were set on fire, and several attempts to cross on the ruins of the bridges were uniformly repulsed. From this period to the 11th, the British commander was occupied in throwing up batteries opposite the American lines, and General Macomb, on his part, was no less active in strengthening his works, and augmenting his force.

The operations of Sir George Prevost appear to have

been retarded by the delay in fitting out the squadron, whose co-operation he conceived necessary to the success of an assault. At length, on the morning of the 11th, the British vessels appeared in view of Plattsburg. Their fleet consisted of the frigate Confiance, of 39 guns, the brig Linnet, of 16, the sloops Chub and Finch, of 11 each, and thirteen galleys, mounting 18 guns; carrying in all 95 guns, and about 1000 men, and was commanded by Captain Downie. The American squadron was anchored in the bay of Plattsburg, and carried in all 86 guns, and about 800 men. It was commanded by Commodore Macdonough, and consisted of the Saratoga, of 26 guns, the Eagle, of 20, the Ticonderoga, of 17, the Preble, of 7, and ten galleys, mounting 16 guns. At nine in the morning, the British commodore, in the Confiance, anchored abreast of the Saratoga, at a distance of three hundred yards; and the remaining vessels of his squadron took their stations opposite to those of the Americans. The engagement then commenced. After a fire of two hours, Commodore Macdonough, finding that the superior force of the Confiance had crippled most of the guns on the starboard side of his vessel, resolved to wind her round and open a fresh fire. This difficult manœuvre was performed with success, and the Confiance, being unable to effect the same operation, soon afterwards surrendered. The brig and sloops followed the same fate; three of the galleys were sunk, and the rest escaped. This glorious and memorable victory was gained with little comparative destruction of life. The killed and wounded of the Americans amounted to 110; of the British, 84 were killed, including Captain Downie, and 110 wounded. Being asked by the British commander how he gained the battle, he answered, "By hard fighting, sir.”

The attack of the American batteries commenced at the same moment with the naval engagement. Repeated attempts were made, under cover of a heavy bombardment, to force a passage of the river, in each of which the assailants were repulsed with great loss. The surrender of the fleet, which was announced by the shouts of victory from the American lines, induced the British commander to withdraw his troops

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