The enemy advanced with fixed bayonets, and attempted to enter our works between the fort and water. They brought ladders for the purpose of scaling, and in order to prevent their troops from resorting to any other course excepting the bayonet, had caused all the flints to be taken from their muskets. The column that approached in this direction consisted of Colonel Fischer's command, and amounted in number to at least 1,500 men; and, according to the representation of prisoners, they were 2,000 strong. The companies posted at the point of the works, which they attempted to escalade, were Captain Ross's, Captain Marston's, Lieutenant Bowman's, and Lieutenant Larned's, of the 21st regiment, not exceeding 250 men, under command of Major Wood, of the engineer corps. On the enemy's approach they opened their musketry upon them in a manner the most powerful. Fort Williams and this little band, emitted one broad uninterrupted sheet of light. The enemy were repulsed. They rallied, came on a second time to the charge, and a party waded round our line by the lake, and came in on the flank; but a reserve of two companies, posted in the commencement of the action to support this point, marched up and fired upon the party, who were all killed or taken. Five times in this manner did the enemy advance to the charge; five times were their columns beaten back in the utmost confusion by a force one-sixth of their numbers; till (p. 221) at length finding the contest unavailing, they retired. At this point we made 147 prisoners. During the contest in this quarter, the lines of the whole of the left wing were perfectly lined, in addition to the reserves; and I found myself able to detach three companies of the 23d regiment from the left, to reinforce the troops at Fort Erie, viz.: Captain Wattles', Lieutenant Cantine's, and Lieutenant Brown's companies, and one of the 19th under Captain Chunn. They were in the fort during the time of the explosion, and their conduct is highly spoken of by Major Brooke, their commanding officer. Indeed, from the high state to which that regiment has been brought by Major Brooke, I am convinced that no troops will behave better.