pedition against "Buffaloe" and Black Rock the year before. He says that "strange as it may appear, it is not the less true, that on the very day after the British came to Dover, they burnt all the houses we had left standing." One must agree that it does appear very strange indeed-especially when the Canadians say that the Americans burned the whole place to the ground, mills, distilleries and private houses; and add "a more wanton and barbarous wrong cannot be conceived."

A still stranger thing than the British burning their own houses is the weird fact that the one man who had been taken prisoner by the Americans but set free on their retreat, was, says White, promptly hanged by his people when they returned to Dover.

The invading force were some three days on the lake on their return voyage; and the whole expedition lasted some five days.

Col. Campbell being brought to book sent an pudent letter to the British General: he was afterwards court-martialed for his scandalous conduct, but escaped with a rebuke-the court declaring that the burning of the mills and distilleries was according to the rules of war, but the burning of the private houses was an error in judgment. It is in reference to this exploit that the Rev'd. John Strachan in his trenchant and unanswerable letter to ex-President Jefferson, January 30th, 1815, writes as follows:

"On the 15th of May a detachment of the American army under Colonel Campbell, landed at Long Point, district of London, Upper Canada, and on that and the following day, pillaged and laid waste as much of the adjacent country as they could reach. They burnt the village of Dover, with the mills, and all the mills, stores, distillery and dwelling houses in the vicinity, carrying away such property as was portable, and killing the cattle. The property taken and destroyed on this occasion was estimated at fifty thousand dollars."

This is how Kingsford puts it:

"Colonel Campbell's feat, with 500 regular troops, was to lay waste the surrounding district to the greatest extent he was able, he and his men robbing the in

habitants of their private property. He destroyed a saw-mill and tannery, 5 distilleries, 6 stores, 13 barns, 3 grist-mills, 19 dwelling houses; turning out from sheer malignity, amid the burning embers, 25 ruined families to shift in the future as they best could. Such was the conduct characterized by Colonel Winfield Scott as an 'error of judgment.'

999

The following is from a report by Major-General Riall to Sir Gordon Drummond, dated Fort George, May 19th, 1814:

"Sir, I have the honour to transmit to you a report made to me by Colonel Talbot, commanding the militia in the London district, that on the 14th inst., a party of the enemy, consisting of about 1,800 men, had crossed Lake Erie from Presqu' Isle and landed near Dover, which place, together with the mills and stores in its neighbourhood, they destroyed, and after having committed every other excess possible, re-embarked. They showed a disposition to land again at Turkey Point, but were, it is supposed, deferred from doing so by the appearance of a body of militia and a detachment of the 19th Dragoons, whom Colonel Talbot had assembled at that place. When Colonel Talbot had despatched his report the enemy's vessels were at anchor at the extremity of Long Point. Should they again attempt to land I hope they will be received by a detachment of troops and Indians which I ordered from Burlington under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Parry, 103d Regt., upon receiving the first intelligence of their attempt.'

Sir Gordon Drummond reports to Sir George Prevost from Kingston, May 27th, 1814.

"Sir,-In my letter which I had the honour to address to Your Excellency on the 21st inst., I stated that a force of the enemy, at that time supposed to be about 300, had landed near Dover on Lake Erie. I have now the honour to transmit a letter from Major-General Riall conveying a report of Colonel Talbot, commanding the militia of the London District, on the subject. Your Excellency will, however, perceive that the force of the enemy has since been computed to consist of about 1,800

men, whose conduct has been disgraced during their short stay ashore by every act of barbarity and of illiberal and unjustifiable outrage. Not only a large store, fitted as a barrack for the militia, but every private house and other building belonging to the peaceable inhabitants of the village and neighbourhood of Dover has been reduced to ashes, together with Ryerse's and Finch's mills between that place and Turkey Point. The court house and public buildings at Turkey Point were only saved by the appearance of the militia and a detachment of the 19th Light Dragoons, both of which corps I have very great satisfaction in acquainting Your Excellency, evinced the strongest anxiety to come in contact with the enemy.

"I have likewise received from Lieutenant-Colonel Parry of the 103d Regiment, the most satisfactory accounts relative to the conduct of the grenadier company of that corps and the light company of the 89th, placed under his immediate orders. The latter, he says, are wild, but with attention and management perfectly tractable and orderly, and Lieut.-Colonel Parry bestows much commendation on the zeal and alacrity with which the militia assembled, considering the distance from whence they were to be collected. The Lieut.-Colonel from all these circumstances feels convinced that had not the enemy retired to his shipping before his arrival, his little band, increased by a few of the rangers and Kent volunteers as well as some persons and some Wyandot Indians who joined him from Amherstburg, would have made the enemy pay dear for their outrages. He states that but one house, in which a sick woman resided, was left standing between Paterson's Creek and Turkey Point, and the enemy on retiring avowed their intention to destroy Port Talbot in a similar manner. And as their officers appear determined to pursue the same system throughout the whole of the western frontier, I feel convinced that nothing but the most vigorous opposition to such disgraceful proceedings will prevent a recurrence of them.”

Capt. White does not seem to think there was anything wrong or irregular in the raid—indeed, he seems

rather astonished at the moderation of himself and his comrades. Next day orders came for a march to Buffalo, but this was checked for a time by a mutiny. White arrested the ringleader, and the march proceeded. Entering New York State they noticed a great scarcity of men in that part of the state, "many I presume had been killed by the enemy" the year before. We must not omit to notice the unholy glee exhibited by the Cataraugus Indians, "and their squaws who appeared very much pleased to see us, more particularly as they understood we were going to fight the British." The houses along the road were "literally crammed with ladies collected to see us as we passed through the country"—and the gallant captain "would strongly recommend all who may be in want of handsome wives to visit the borders of Lake Erie, for I have never seen before or since in any part of the country more beautiful and elegant looking ladies." It seems almost too bad that the captain was already marriedbut so it was.

Losing a few men by desertion they arrived at Buffalo and found a body of U. S. regulars there with Gen. Brown in command. July 2nd they crossed over the river, and the next day took Fort Erie with its garrison. of 137 men "including officers." Then the general ordered a march to meet "the enemy who lay entrenched in his works upon the plains of Chippewa." We know from other sources that this force was under the command of Gen. Riall and Col. Pearson (who had taken part in the Battle of Chrystler's Farm the year before). The British force consisted of about 1,500 regulars, including cavalry, a small number of militia and some 300 Indians. The attacking force was about 5,000 strong, 3,000 being regulars.

Captain White complains of the neglect to supply the invading troops with provisions-when they had travelled eighteen miles without provisions, volunteers were called for to drive off the hostile Indians who were firing on the pickets. With others the captain volunteered and "these were strengthened by several

hundred Indians, the whole under the command of General Porter, Col. Bull and Major Galloway." Following the British Indians through the woods, they "came in full contact with the British regular line." The battle was going on in full vigour, and shortly after the "whole British force fell back and being closely pressed by the American troops, retreated in confusion to their entrenchments about a quarter of a mile distant." This battle is considered by White to have been a brilliant victory for American arms. He says triumphantly, "The conquerors of the veterans of France were, in fact, defeated by a detachment from the American army the conduct of these men was heroic in the extreme: wherever they directed their fire or pointed their bayonets the boasted conquerors of the Peninsula fell or fled." How different the language of this early American from the modest self-depreciation we are familiar with in those who have followed him. There can be no doubt that the American troops engaged in this campaign. showed much better quality than those who had invaded this region previously, and who had met with disaster at Queenston Heights.

At all events, victory or no victory, there were no British prisoners, and Riall carried off his men and guns, having destroyed his earthwork, while the losses on both sides were about equal. The President of the United States, Mr. James Madison, seems to have thought the invasion at the Niagara Frontier very successful: he says in his message of September 20th, 1814, "Besides the brilliant incidents in the minor operations of the campaign, the splendid victories gained on the Canadian side of the Niagara by the American forces under Major-General Brown, and Brigadiers Scott and Gaines have gained for these heroes and their emulating companions the most unfading laurels and having triumphantly tested the progressive discipline of the American soldiery, have taught the enemy that the longer he protracts his hostile efforts, the more certain and decisive will be his final discomfiture." Can it be credited that notwithstanding this warning the Canadians and other British refused to lie down and take their