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
opened its fire, but Lieutenant Eldridge, heaving a few hot shot into
her, compelled her to withdraw. In the mean time, some vessels
appearing off Fort George, Dearborn conjectured that an attack upon
him was meditated, and recalled this division of the army. The boats,
however, sent to bring them, were overtaken by an armed schooner, and
many of them captured.
After these catastrophes Dearborn remained at Fort George an entire
fortnight, wholly inactive. The British, on the other hand, made
diligent use of this interval, in taking possession of mountain
passes, and thus accomplished the double purpose of securing their own
position and narrowing the limits of Dearborn's possessions, and
destroying his communication. The latter, at length, being aroused to
the danger in which these posts placed him, despatched Col. Boestler,
with six hundred men, to break up one of them, seventeen miles
distant. Acting under wrong information, this small detachment arrived
without molestation at Beaverdams, within two miles of the "Stone
House" where the enemy had fortified themselves. But here they were
suddenly surrounded by a body of British and Indians, and a conflict
ensued. Believing it impossible to effect a safe retreat through the
forest, pressed by such a force, Colonel Boestler surrendered his
whole detachment prisoners of war. This ended Dearborn's campaign, and
his military services. Colonel Bishop, who showed great activity in
carrying out the plan of the British commander, finding Fort Erie
ungarrisoned, took possession of it, and crossing suddenly to Black
Rock, with 250 men, drove out the militia and destroyed the guns and
stores. But the news reaching Buffalo, a few regulars, together with
some militia and friendly Indians hastened to the fort and expelled
the invaders, killing their commander.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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