On P'T. IV.

Porter, making, in the whole, about 3,500 men. the 2d and 3d of July, they crossed the Niagara, and P'D. II. invested Fort Erie, where the garrison, amounting to CH. VI. 100 men, surrendered without resistance. A British army, of the supposed invincibles, and commanded by Gen. Riall, occupied a position at the mouth of the Chippewa.

1814.

wa, Br.

Am. 328.

7. The two armies met at the battle of Chippewa, July 5. in fair and open fight. The republican soldiers, Chippeheaded by the able officers that had now come for- loss 518, ward, defeated, with inferior numbers, the veterans who had fought with Wellington. Soon after the battle, Gen. Riall fell back to Fort George, where in a few days he was joined by Gen. Drummond, when his army amounted to 5,000 men.

8. Gen. Brown being encamped at Chippewa, ordered Gen. Scott, with a brigade, and Towson's artillery, to make a movement on the Queenstown road, to take off the attention of the British from his stores on the American side, which, he had heard, they threatened. Instead of this, Gen. Riall was moving towards the Americans with his whole force. Gen. Scott passed the grand cataract, and then became apprized of the enemy's presence and force. Transmitting an account to Gen. Brown, he instantly marched on, and fearlessly attacked.

9. His detachment maintained the fight for more than an hour, against a force seven times their number: and it became dark before the main army of the Americans, under Gen. Brown, came up. Gen. Ripley then perceiving how fatal to Scott's brigade was a British battery of nine pieces of artillery, said to Col. Miller, "Will you take yonder battery?" "I'll try," said Miller; and at the head of the 21st regiment, he calmly marched up to the mouth of the blazing cannon, and took them.

6. What was the position and strength of the British army? 7. What account can you give of the battle of Chippewa? What was now the amount of the force under Gen. Riall? 8. Describe the commencement of the remarkable battle of Bridgewater?-9. What was done by Scott's detachment? When joined by the main army? What was done by Ripley and Miller ?

1814.

Gen. Scott's

move

ment and attack.

bold

Br. loss

878.

Gens.

Ripley and

Drum

mond wounded

bravery.

10. The eminence on which they were planted, was the key of the British position; and Gen. Ripley fol lowing with his regiment, it was kept, notwithstandMiller's ing the enemy, by the uncertain light of the waning moon, charged with the bayonet, till they were four times repulsed. About midnight, they ceased to conBritish tend. The roar of the cataract alone was heard, as they loss 878. retired, and left their position and artillery to the Ame860, 11 ricans. Gens. Brown and Scott were both wounded; and the command after the battle, devolved on Gen. Ripley. He found no means of removing the artillery from the field. The British learning this, immediately re-occupied the ground, and hence, in writing to their government, they claimed the victory.

Am. loss

officers

were k.

56 w.

11. The American army, now reduced to 1,600, re

10. Was Miller's taking the battery important to the success of the Americans? What happened at midnight? What was the loss on both sides?

SORTIE FROM FORT ERIE.

295

Aug. 15.

tired to Fort Erie, and there entrenched themselves. P'T. IV. The enemy, to the number of 5,000, followed and be- P'D. II. sieged them. They made an attempt to take the fort cu. vi. by storm, but were repulsed by the Americans. Col. 1814. Drummond had partially succeeded, and was in the act of denying mercy to the conquered, who asked for quarter, when a barrel of powder beneath him became ignited, and he and they were blown together into the air.

Br. loss at Erie

about

500.

Am. 84.

killed,

and ta

12. Gen. Brown, observing that a portion of the British army were divided from the rest, ordered a sortie Sortie. from the fort, which was one of the best conducted Br. loss, operations of the war. Gen. Porter here distinguished wounded himself, as did many others. But the loss was heavy ken prifor the wasting army of the Americans, and the coun- soners, 1,000. try became anxious for the fate of those whose valor Am. k. had shown the foe, that when once inured to war, there are no better officers or soldiers, than those of the American Republic. Gen. Izard had, on this account, been sent from Plattsburg; and now, with 5,000 troops, he joined Gen. Brown. The British, after this, retired to their entrenchments behind Chippewa.

and w.

300.

CHAPTER VII.

Washington taken by the British.-Baltimore threatened.

1. THE British fleet in the Chesapeake was augmented by the arrival of Admiral Cochrane, who had been sent out with a large land force, commanded by Gen. Ross; in pursuance of the resolution which had been taken by the British government, "to destroy and

11. What was the condition of the American army after the battle? What the strength of the British? What was done by each? What loss occurred?-12. Describe the sortie from Fort Erie? What was the loss? What feeling had the country now respecting this army? What had the army shown? Who joined Gen. Brown? With what force?

CHAPTER VII.-1. What barbarous resolution had been taken by the British government?

296

P'D. II.
CH. VII.

WASHINGTON TAKEN.

PT. IV. lay waste such towns and districts upon the coast, as might be found assailable." It was on the 19th, that Gen. Ross landed at Benedict with 5,000 infantry, and 22 began his march to Washington, distant twenty-seven Aug; Pig miles, keeping along the right bank of the Patuxent. Barney's At Pig Point, was stationed an American flotilla, comflotilla. manded by Com. Barney. He blew up the boats, and retired with his men.

Point.

2. The enemy's approach to Washington was by Aug. 24. the Bladensburg road. Here he was met by Gen. Bladens Stansbury, with the militia from Baltimore; by Com. Am. loss, Barney's brave marines, and finally, by the small army 80. under Gen. Winder, to which had been assigned the defense of the capital. The British were victorious.

burg.

Br. 249.

Ross en

3. Gen. Ross entered Washington at eight in the evening. His troops burnt, not only the capitol, which was in an unfinished state, but its extensive library, Aug. 25. Gen. records, and other collections; appertaining not to war, ters the but to peace and civilization. The public offices and capital. the president's house were wantonly sacrificed, together with many private dwellings. This barbarous usage irritated, as it insulted the American nation, and made the war popular with all parties.

As

4. Admiral Cochrane, having received on board his fleet the elated conquerors, the combined land and Sept. 11. sea forces moved on to the attack of Baltimore. The Br. threaten cending the Chesapeake, they appeared at the mouth Balti- of the Patapsco, fourteen miles from Baltimore. Gen.

more.

Sept. 12.

Ross, with his army, amounting to about 5,000, debarked at North Point, and commenced his march towards the city.

5. Gen. Smith, commanded the defenders. He diskirpatched 2,000 men, under Gen. Stricker, who advanced inish. to meet the enemy. A skirmish ensued, in which Death of Gen. Ross was killed. Col. Brooke, having the in

Ross.

structions of Gen. Ross, continued to move forward. The Americans gave way, and Gen. Stricker retired to

1. What sea and land forces had been sent out?-2. What opposition did Gen. Ross meet? What was the loss in the battle of Bladensburg? 2-3. When did the British enter Washington? What did they destroy?-4. Where did they next go?-5. What steps were taken to defend Baltimore?

THE NORTHERNERS JUSTLY offended.

297

the heights, where Gen. Smith was stationed with the pÄT.IV. main army.

P'D. II.

6. Col. Brooke could not draw Gen. Smith from his CH. VII. entrenchments. The fleet had not been able to pass Night of Fort McHenry. Brooke removed his troops in the Sept. 14. night, and re-embarked at North Point, to the great withjoy of the inhabitants of Baltimore.

The Br.

draw.

7. The eastern portion of the coast of Maine, was taken into quiet possession by the British. The friJuly and gate, John Adams, had been placed in the Penobscot August. river, near Hampden, for preservation. On the approach of the British, the militia, who were there stationed as a guard, blew up the frigate and fled.

Maine.

British

8. A British fleet under Com. Hardy appeared before Stonington. They landed and attacked at different Aug. 9. points. So far were they from finding that Connecti- attack cut was attached to the British cause, that no where Stoninghad their predatory excursions been met, by the are remilitia, with more spirit. After bombarding the place pulsed, for three days, Com. Hardy drew off his fleet.

ton, but

Sir G.

invades

9. The British army in Canada was augmented by another body of those troops, who had served under Sept. 3. Wellington. With such an army, fourteen thousand Prevost strong, Sir George Prevost invaded by the western at Chambank of Lake Champlain. From Champlain, he pro- plain. claimed, that his arms would only be directed against His prothe government, and those who supported it; while tion ofno injury should be done to the peaceful and unof- fends the fending inhabitants.

clama

people.

10. The fire of genuine patriotism rekindled in the breasts of the Americans, when they heard, that an invading enemy had dared to call on the people to sepa- They rate themselves from their government. The inhabi- rise to tants of the northern part of New York, and the hardy the inva sons of the Green Mountains, without distinction of party, rose in arms, and hastened towards the scene of action.

6. Why did Col. Brooke withdraw? -7. What happened in Maine? 8. What in Connecticut?-9. What reinforcement had Sir G. Prevost received? What was his force? How did he employ it? What proclamation make at Champlain ? — 10. What effect did it produce?

oppose

ders.