The Second War with England, Vol. 1 of 2Headley, Joel Tyler
History
The Second War with England, Vol. 1 of 2
Headley, Joel Tyler
United States -- History -- War of 1812
off the enemy's retreat. The stratagem succeeded, and the British made
a rush for their boats, leaving their killed and wounded behind.
Having lost, in all, between four and five hundred men, they dared not
venture on a second attack, and withdrew, humbled and mortified, to
the Canada shore. The American loss was about one hundred.
The successful defence of Sackett's Harbor following so quickly the
capture of Forts York and George, promised well for the summer
campaign. But disasters soon checked the rising hopes of the nation.
General Winder, who had started in pursuit of Vincent, found, on his
arrival at Forty Mile Creek, that the enemy had been reinforced.
Halting here, therefore, he dispatched a messenger to Dearborn for
more troops. General Chandler, with another brigade, was sent, when
the whole force was put in motion, and crossing Stony Creek, arrived
at night-fall, within a short distance of the British encampment. Here
the army halted, preparatory to an attack the next morning. General
Vincent, although greatly inferior in numbers, felt that his future
success depended entirely on his retaining his present position, and,
therefore, resolved to hazard a second battle. But, having, by a
careful reconnoissance, discovered that the American camp guards were
scattered and careless, while the whole encampment was loose and
straggling, he immediately changed his plan, and determined to make a
bold and furious night onset, and endeavor by one well-directed blow
to break the American army in pieces. Following up this determination,
he, with seven hundred men, set out at midnight, and arriving at three
o'clock in the morning at the American pickets silently and adroitly
captured every man before he could give the alarm. Pressing with the
main column directly for the centre of the encampment, he burst with
the appalling war-cry of the savage on the astonished soldiers. The
artillery was surrounded, and several pieces, with one hundred men,
were taken prisoners, and among them the two generals, Winder and
Chandler. General Vincent having lost his column in the darkness, the
second in command ignorant what course to pursue, or what to do,
concluded to retreat with his trophies. The attack had been well
planned and boldly carried out, and but for the blunder made by
Vincent would no doubt have been completely successful. As it was the
loss was nearly equal; so that the American army was still in a good
condition to take the initial and advance. But the command devolving
on Colonel Burns, a cavalry officer, who declared he was incompetent
to direct infantry movements, a retreat was resolved upon. The army
arriving at Forty Mile Creek, a messenger was despatched to Dearborn,
asking for orders. General Lewis, with the sixth regiment, was
immediately sent forward, with directions to engage the enemy at once.
An hour after his arrival at camp the British fleet was seen slowly
beating up abreast of it. A schooner was towed near the shore and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account