Brown takes command of the army at Niagara -- Crosses the river into Canada -- Battle of Chippewa -- Brilliant charge of the Americans -- Desperate battle of Niagara -- Conduct of Ripley -- The army ordered to Fort Erie -- General Gaines takes command, 74 CHAPTER V. Siege of Fort Erie -- Assault and repulse of the British -- Brown takes command -- Resolves to destroy the enemy's works by a sortie -- Opposed by his officers -- The sortie -- Anecdote of General Porter -- Retreat of Drummond -- Conduct of Izard, 101 CHAPTER VI. British plan of invading our sea ports -- Arrival of reinforcements -- Barney's flotilla -- Landing of the enemy under Ross -- Doubt and alarm of the inhabitants -- Advance of the British -- Destruction of the Navy Yard -- Battle of Bladensburg -- Flight of the President and his Cabinet -- Burning and sacking of Washington -- Mrs. Madison's conduct during the day and night -- Cockburn's brutality -- Sudden explosion -- A hurricane -- Flight of the British -- State of the army -- Character of this outrage -- Rejoicings in England -- Mortification of our ambassadors at Ghent -- Mistake of the English -- Parker's expedition -- Colonel Reed's defence -- The English army advance on Baltimore -- Death of Ross -- Bombardment of Fort McHenry -- "The star spangled banner" -- Retreat of the British, and joy of the citizens of Baltimore, 114 CHAPTER VII. Macomb at Plattsburg -- American and English fleets on Lake Champlain -- Advance of Prevost -- Indifference of Governor Chittenden -- Rev. Mr. Wooster -- Macdonough -- The two battles -- Funeral of the officers -- British invasion of Maine -- McArthur's expedition, 147 CHAPTER VIII. The Navy in 1814 -- Cruise of Captain Morris in the Adams -- Narrow escapes -- The Wasp and Reindeer -- Cruise of the Wasp -- Sinks the Avon -- Mysterious fate of the Wasp -- The Peacock captures the Epervier -- Lieutenant Nicholson, 165 CHAPTER IX. Third Session of the XIIIth Congress -- State of the Treasury -- The President's Message -- Dallas appointed Secretary of the Treasury -- His scheme and that of Eppes for the relief of the country -- Our Commissioners at Ghent -- Progress of the negotiations -- English protocol -- Its effect on Congress and the nation -- Effect of its publication on the English Parliament, 174 CHAPTER X. HARTFORD CONVENTION.