An attack on _Fort Erie_ having been resolved upon, the 1st battalion of the ROYAL SCOTS appeared before this place on the 4th of August, and formed part of the besieging force. During the progress of the siege several slight skirmishes occurred; and on the 10th of August the ROYAL SCOTS had Lieutenant Gregor M'Gregor and 3 private men killed and 9 private men wounded. The batteries having produced an impression on the place, a general assault was made on the fort and adjoining works on the 15th of August before day-break; and two companies of the ROYAL SCOTS formed part of the force selected to storm the fort and entrenchments leading from it to the lake. This portion of the storming party made its attack with signal gallantry, and after a desperate resistance succeeded in effecting a lodgment in the fort through the embrasures and demi-bastion, and turned the guns against the enemy, when a sudden explosion of some gunpowder placed under the platform occurred, and almost all the men who had entered the place were either killed or dreadfully mangled. This occasioned the troops to retreat; the enemy opened a heavy fire of musketry, and the storming party retired. The eight companies of the ROYAL SCOTS which had not taken part in the storming of the fort were immediately thrown out to cover the retreat--"a service which that valuable corps executed with great steadiness."[121] The loss of the battalion in this unfortunate affair was--Captain Torrens and 32 rank and file killed, 2 serjeants and 37 rank and file wounded. The troops continued before the fort, and on the 9th of September 2 private soldiers of the ROYAL SCOTS were killed, and Lieutenant P. Grant wounded by a shell. On the 17th the enemy made a sortie, and an engagement took place, which lasted nearly five hours. "On the right the enemy's advance was checked by the 1st battalion ROYAL SCOTS, supported by the 89th regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Gordon of the Royals; and in the centre he was driven back by the Glengarry light infantry, under Lieut.-Colonel Battersby, and directed by Lieut.-Colonel Pearson, inspecting field officer."[122] On this occasion the battalion lost 2 serjeants and 22 rank and file killed and missing; Lieut.-Colonel Gordon, Lieutenant Rutledge, and 30 rank and file, wounded. Lieutenant Rutledge died on the same day, and Lieut.-Colonel Gordon on the 25th.[123] On the 17th of October the battalion marched to Chippewa, and engaged the enemy at _Cook's Mills_, drove the Americans from their post, without sustaining any loss. Shortly afterwards the battalion proceeded to Fort Niagara, where it was stationed during the remainder of the year. [Sidenote: 2nd Batt.]