The conduct of Gen. Porter has been conspicuously gallant; every assistance, in his power to afford, with the description of force under his command, has been rendered; we could not expect him to contend with the British column of regulars, which appeared upon the plains of Chippewa-it was no cause of surprise to me, to see his command retire before this column.

Justice forbids that I should omit to name my own family, they yield to none, in honorable zeal, intelligence, and attention to duty-Col. Gardner, Major Jones, and my aids, Captains Austin and Spencer have been as active, and as much devoted to the cause, as any officers of the army; their conduct merits my warmest acknowledgements-of Gardner and Jones, I shall have occasion again to speak to you. Major Camp, deputy Quarter-master General, deserves my particular notice, and approbation: by his great exertions I was enabled to find the means of crossing. Capt. Daliba, of the ordnance department, has rendered every service in his power.

The enclosed return will show you our loss, and furnish you with the names of the dead and wounded officers-these gallant men must not be forgotten; our country will remember them, and do them justice.

Respectfully, &c.

Hon. Sec. War.

JACOB BROWN.

In the above action, the enemy had 208 killed, and 95 wounded-15 prisoners-Total, 303.

Those reported under the head of wounded and prisoners were so severely injured, that it would have been impracticable for them to have escaped. The enemy had the same facilities of carrying their wounded from the field, at the commencement of the action, as ourselves; and there can be no doubt, from the informa

tion that I have received from unquestionable sources, that that they carried from the field as many of their wounded as is reported above in the total.

AZ. ORNE, Asst. Ins. Gen.

Our loss was 60 killed-115 S. 134 B. wounded-19 prisoners-Total 328.

The British official account of the above action, states their total loss at 514.

FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.

Copy of a letter from Maj. Gen. Brown, to the Secretary of War,

DEAR SIR,

dated

H. Q. Queenstown, July 22d,1814.

On the 29th, the army moved, and encamped in the rear of fort George. Gen. Scott, with the ván, had some skirmishing, before the main body came up ; but, as the enemy kept close to their works, nothing important occurred. No force was left in our rear-the heights were abandoned to the enemy, and we did hope that the movement would have induced him to reoccupy them, or close in nearer to us, so as to bring on an engagement out of his works; in this we were disappointed. The army returned to-day, and found a body of militia and a few regulars, in and about the heights; Gen. Porter pursued them with his command, and a few regulars, and was so fortunate as to come up with and capture seven officers and ten privates-they will be sent to Greenbush.

Respectfully, &c,

JACOB BROWN.

FURTHER PROCEEDINGS.

Copy of a letter from Major General Brown, to the Secretary of War, dated

DEAR SIR,

H. Q. Chippewa, July 25,1814.

On the 23d inst. I received a letter by express, from General Gaines, advising me, that, on the 20th, the heavy guns that I had ordered from the Harbor, to enable me to operate against forts George and Niagara, were blockaded in that port, together with the rifle regiment that I had ordered up with them. I had ordered these guns, and troops, in boats, provided the Commodore should not deem it proper or prudent to convey them in his fleet, not doubting but that he would have been upon the lake for their protection, and that the enemy would have been driven into port, or captured. As Gen. Gaines informed me that the Commodore was confined to his bed with a fever, and as he did not know when the fleet would sail, or when the guns and forces which I had been expecting, would even leave Sackett's Harbor, I have thought it proper to change my position, with a view to other objects. You know how greatly I am disappointed, and therefore I will not dwell upon that painful subject; and you can best perceive how much has been lost by the delay-and the command of lake Ontario being with the enemyreliances being placed upon a different state of things. The Indians all left me some time since; it is said that they will return; but this, you will perceive, depends upon circumstances. The reinforcements ordered on, from the west, have not arrived.

Yours, respectfully, and truly,

JACOB BROWN.

Hon. Sec'y of War.

CHAPTER XXXII.

General Operations Continued.

BATTLE OF BRIDGEWATER.

General Brown returned to Queenstown, and from thence to the plains of Chippewa, to await the enemy, who was advancing with a strong reinforcement, under General Drummond.

General Brown, supported by General Scott, met the enemy at Bridgewater, commanded by Generals Drummond and Riall; a desperate action commenced, and continued, with various successes, until midnight. The Americans carried the field, and the British retired. Generals Brown and Scott, were both wounded in this action, and General liipley led back the army, the next day, to fort Erie.

The loss of the British in this action, was estimated at 860 killed and wounded; and the loss of the Americans at about the same number. The whole force engaged, was 4000 on the part of the British, and 3000 on the part of the Americans. Few actions have been recorded more bloody than this, for its numbers engaged.

FURTHER-BATTLE OF BRIDGEWATER.

Copy of a letter from Maj. General Brown, to the Secretary of War, being his detailed report of the Battle of Bridgewater, fought July 25, 1814.

SIR,

Confined as I was, and have been, since the last engagement with the enemy, I fear that the account I am about to give, may be less full and satisfactory, than,

under other circumstances, it might have been made. I particularly fear that the conduct of the gallant men, it was my good fortune to lead, will not be noticed in a way due to their fame, and the honor of our country. You are already apprised that the army had, on the 25th ult. taken a position at Chippewa; about noon of that day, Col. Swift, who was posted at Lewistown, advised me, by express, that the enemy appeared in considerable force, in Queenstown, and on its heights; that four of the enemy's fleet had arrived, during the preceding night, and were then lying near fort Niagara; and that a number of boats were in view, moving up the streight. Within a few minutes after this intelligence had been received, I was further informed, by Capt. Denmon, of the Quarter-Master's department, that the enemy was landing at Lewistown; and that our baggage and stores at Schlosser, and on their way thither, were in danger of immediate capture. It is proper here to mention, that having received advices as late as the 20th, from Gen. Gaines that our fleet was then in port, and the Commodore sick, we ceased to look for co-operation from that quarter, and determined to disencumber ourselves of baggage, and march directly for Burlington heights: to mask this intention, and to draw from Schlosser a small supply of provisions, I fell back upon Chippewa. As this arrangement, under the increased force of the enemy, left much at hazard, on our side of the Niagara, and as it appeared, by the before stated information, that the enemy was about to avail himself of it, I conceived that the most effectual method of recalling him from this object, was to put myself in motion towards Queenstown. Gen. Scott, with the 1st brigade, Towson's artillery, and all the dragoons and mounted men, were accordingly put in march, on the road leading thither, with orders to report if the enemy appeared-then to call for assistance, if that was necessary.