Correspondence between the Secretary of War and BrigadierGeneral Boyd. Extract of a Letter from the Secretary at War, to BrigadierGeneral Boyd, dated War Department, July 30, 1813. "The restriction put upon you with regard to the enemy, was but commensurate with their command of the lake. So long as they had wings and you had only feet; so long as they could be transported, supplied, and reinforced, by water and at will, common sense, as well as military principles, put you on the defensive. These circumstances changed, the reason of the rule changes with them; and it now becomes your business, in concert with the fleet, to harass and destroy the enemy, wherever you can find him. Of the competency of your force there can be no doubt, provided your estimate of his be but tolerably correct." Sir, War Department, July 30, 1813. I have this moment received information that fort Meigs is again attacked, and by a considerable regular force. This must have been drawn from De Rottenberg's corps. His late insolence in pushing his small attacks to the very outline of your works, has been intended to mask the weakness produced by this detachment. If (as you say) you can beat him, do it without delay; and remember, that if you beat, you must destroy him. There is no excuse for a general who permits a beaten enemy to escape and to rally. These remarks grow out of some recent events in your quarter, and require no explanation. It is the president's wish that you should communicate fully and freely with brigadier-general Williams. It is only by this kind of intercourse that the efforts of all can be united in promoting the public good. I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient humble servant, JOHN ARMSTRONG. Brigadier-General Boyd, Fort George. Extract of a Letter from Brigadier-General John P. Boyd, to the Secretary of War, dated Head-Quarters, Fort George, July 27, 1813. "I had the honour to address you last on the 24th instant. On the 22d instant, general Lewis and commodore Chauncey were advised by me that from intelligence received from VOL. III. 10 major Chapin and deserters, most of the enemy's captured ordnance and their principal depot of ammunition, stores, &c. are at the head of the lake. It was suggested that a small force might surprise, take, destroy, or bring them off, if part of the fleet might be allowed to assist in moving our troops. Yesterday the Lady of the Lake brought me a letter from commodore Chauncey, stating that he approved of the enterprise and would go himself with his fleet to the head of the lake, and requested guides, information, &c. I have deemed it proper to detail a number of troops under the command of colonel Scott, which will embark on board the Lady of the Lake, with directions to join the squadron, which is believed to be now somewhere near Little York." Extract of a Letter from Brigadier-General Boyd to the Secretary of War, dated Fort George, July 31, 1813. "I had the honour to address you on the 27th instant. Agreeably to the plan therein suggested, commodore Chauncey arrived here on the 28th instant, and received on board the fleet a body of men under the command of colonel Scott. Light and contrary winds retard their progress up the lake, but ere this the attack has probably been made on the head of the lake. No information has as yet been received. "The enemy has lately kept his Indians so constantly scouring the woods of our vicinity, that we gain no deserters nor intelligence of his movements." Sir, Colonel Scott's Report. Fort George, August 3, 1813. I have the honour to report, that in obedience to your orders I proceeded on board the fleet with the detachment of troops under my command, destined to act against the enemy's post at the head of Little lake, or Burlington bay; in sight of which place I arrived late in the evening of the 30th ultimo, the fleet having been greatly delayed by the almost constant calm which has prevailed since we sailed. This delay of forty-eight hours, after our destination became obvious to the enemy, enabled him to anticipate our arrival by a reinforcement of 200 men from the nearest posts on this side of the lake, of which we were early apprised. Nevertheless, commodore Chauncey, with my concurrence, thought it adviseable to land the detachment from the army, together with about 250 marines and seamen from the fleet (making a total force of about 500 men), the better to enable us to ascertain the exact force and position of the enemy's camp. The landing was made on the neck of land which nearly cuts off the Little lake from lake Ontario. From this point we could plainly discover the enemy's position on Burlington heights, surrounded on three sides by a creek, and in front by an entrenchment, and a battery of seven pieces of cannon. The little lake or bay is between those two points, six or seven miles across. Perceiving the strength of the enemy's position, and learning from the inhabitants, that the force on the heights, independent of the reinforcement above-mentioned, was nearly equal to our own, the commodore determined not to risk an attack, especially as our boats would have been greatly annoyed in the ascent towards the head of the bay, by a small schooner of the enemy's having on board one 18 pound carronade. The channel connecting the two lakes did not afford water for the passage of either of our schooners. In the above opinion I fully concurred with the commodore. It may be added, that the enemy received a further reinforcement of 400 men the same evening by land from Kings ton. On our return to this harbour the fleet put into York, at which place we burnt the barracks and public stores, and brought off one piece of ordnance (24 pounder), eleven batteaux, and about 400 barrels of flour and hard bread. The barracks and stores had been repaired since the 27th May. Thirty or forty sick and wounded in hospital were paroled, and four prisoners (regulars) brought off. There had been no garrison at the place for the few days previous. I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant, W. SCOTT, Col. com. detachment. Brigadier-General Boyd, commanding, &c. &c. Extract of a Letter from Brigadier-General John P. Boyd to the Secretary of War, dated Head-Quarters, Fort George, U. C. August 8, 1813. "By Tuesday's mail I had the honour to receive your commands of the 30th ult. and yesterday a number of letters enclosed, which were delivered as directed. "Conceiving myself at liberty to act offensively on the arrival of the fleet, an expedition was immediately concerted against the enemy, and acceded to by commodore Chauncey. One thousand was to embark on board the fleet, under the command of brigadier-general Williams, to land at the head of the lake. The army at this place was to move in two columns against the enemy's front, while general Williams assailed his rear and cut off his retreat. Yesterday morning, the time when the troops were to have embarked, the enemy's fleet was discovered off this place. "Commodore Chauncey weighed anchor, approached him, and, by every indication that a leeward position would admit, offered to engage." Sir, Head-Quarters, Fort George, August 12, 1813. I had the honour to address you the 8th instant. Unfavourable winds continued to thwart the wishes of commodore Chauncey to bring the enemy to action; and about the 9th instant he was so unfortunate as to lose, in a squall, two small schooners, which upset. On the night of the 10th a severe cannonade was heard on the lake, which we ascertained in the morning, resulted in the loss of two of our smallest schooners. Undiscouraged by these slight disasters, commodore Chauncey is still in pursuit of the enemy, resolved to bring him to a general engagement. These circumstances have necessarily delayed the attack upon the enemy, which was contemplated in my last letter. General Porter is assembling a body of volunteers and Indians at Buffaloe, with a view to co-operate in this enterprise. He will probably join us soon. Any thing which can be done without the co-operation of the fleet, shall be attempted. To attack the enemy, without being able to cut off his retreat, would be only beating without capturing him. I have the honour to be, sir, with great respect, your most obedient servant, JOHN P. BOYD, Brigadier-General commanding. Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary of War. Sir, Head-Quarters, Fort George, August 15, 1813. I had the honour to address you on the 12th instant. Since which time nothing of importance has occurred. Commodore Chauncey has left this part of the lake, and the enemy have now so far the ascendancy as to render the proposed enterprise against his land force impracticable. Yesterday general Porter arrived at this place with a body of volunteers and Indians, which had been previously assembled at Buffa loe. In the event of such an attack as was contemplated, this force would be of infinite service. At present they can only be employed to harass the enemy. I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient servant, JOHN P. BOYD, Brigadier-General commanding. Hon. John Armstrong, Secretary at War. Letters from the Secretary at War to Major General Lewis, commanding at Sackett's Harbour. Extracts of a Letter from the Secretary of War to Major General Lewis, dated War Department, July 9, 1813. "An order was expedited to general Dearborn yesterday, permitting him to retire from the command of the army and district. Another was sent to Boyd forbidding him to engage in any affair with the enemy that could be avoided, and subjecting him to the orders of major-general Hampton and of yourself. This last (for Hampton is now the oldest officer in the district) was intended to meet the contingency suggested in my last letter, viz. that if we regained the command of the lake, and Yeo retired under the guns of Kingston; that this moment of superiority must not be lost, and that bringing down Boyd's division, a blow might be struck at that place. To favour this enterprise, orders will be sent to general Hampton to push his head-quarters to the position held by our army the last campaign on lake Champlain; and a requisition for ten thousand militia from the states of New York and Vermont, in reinforcement of this part of the plan, will be superadded. "The moment Chauncey goes out our stores along the south shore of the lake should be brought down to the harbour, and in that case, your small posts (consisting of regular troops) drawn into your main body." Sir, War Department, July 3, 1813. It is not merely possible, but probable, that the British fleet in lake Ontario may, upon the fitting out the General Pike, refuse a battle and take shelter under the guns of Kingston until their new brig shall restore to them the superiority. A question of much importance arises on this supposed state of things. What will be the best possible employment of our force during the period we may be able to command the lake? Shall we reinforce the troops at fort George from Sackett's Harbour, and cut off Vincent, or shall |