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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/37674-8.txt b/37674-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b36e556 --- /dev/null +++ b/37674-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8104 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Some Account of the Public Life of the Late +Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart., by E. B. Brenton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Some Account of the Public Life of the Late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart. + Particularly of his Services in the Canadas, including a + reply to the strictures on his Military Character, Contained + in an Article in The Quareterly Review + +Author: E. B. Brenton + +Release Date: October 9, 2011 [EBook #37674] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOME ACCOUNT OF THE PUBLIC *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Josephine Paolucci and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. +(This book was produced from scanned images of public +domain material from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + + +SOME ACCOUNT OF THE PUBLIC LIFE OF THE LATE LIEUTENANT-GENERAL + +SIR GEORGE PREVOST, BART. + +PARTICULARLY OF HIS SERVICES + +IN + +THE CANADAS; + +INCLUDING + +A REPLY TO THE STRICTURES ON HIS MILITARY CHARACTER, + +CONTAINED + +IN AN ARTICLE IN THE QUARTERLY REVIEW FOR OCTOBER, 1822. + + "Either this is envy in you, folly, or mistaking; the + very stream of his life, and the business he hath + helmed, must upon a warranted need give him a better + proclamation. Let him be but testimonied in his own + bringings forth, and he shall appear a statesman and a + soldier. Therefore you speak unskilfully; or if your + knowledge be more, it is much darkened in your malice." + + MEASURE FOR MEASURE. + +LONDON: + +PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, STRAND; + +AND + +T. EGERTON, WHITEHALL. + +1823. + + +J. M'Creery, Printer, +Tooks Court, Chancery Lane. + + + + +SOME ACCOUNT + +OF + +THE PUBLIC LIFE OF THE LATE LIEUT.-GENERAL + +SIR GEORGE PREVOST, BART. + +_&c. &c._ + + +The character and conduct of individuals in high and responsible +situations, will naturally and necessarily be the subject of free and open +discussion. The conduct of a soldier is more particularly exposed to this +scrutiny. His success or his failure is a matter of such powerful interest +to his country, that he generally receives even more than his full measure +of approbation or of blame. Notwithstanding all the difficulties of forming +a correct judgment on the merits of military operations, there is perhaps +no subject upon which public opinion expresses itself so quickly and so +decidedly. Disappointed in the sanguine hopes which they had entertained, +and mortified by the consciousness of defeat, the public too frequently +imagine cause for censure, and without a competent knowledge of the facts +necessary to enable them to form a sound and satisfactory judgment, +unhesitatingly condemn those who have perhaps passed in their service a +long life of anxiety and labour. But while, in the moment of irritation, +they are thus disposed to impugn the conduct of their military servants, +they are no less ready, on more deliberate inquiry, and a fuller +understanding of the facts, to grant them a candid and generous acquittal. +These observations are peculiarly applicable to the case of the late +Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, who, after having devoted to his +country thirty-five of the best years of his life; after having +distinguished himself in many gallant actions; and after having preserved +to the crown of Great Britain some of its most valuable foreign +possessions, was called upon, at the close of his honourable career, to +answer charges which vitally affected his reputation, and which he was +prevented by death from fully and clearly refuting. + +Painful as it was to the friends of Sir George Prevost to allow a single +stain to rest upon the memory of so brave and distinguished a soldier, more +especially when they possessed the means of removing every doubt as to his +conduct, they yet considered an appeal to the candour and justice of his +country as unnecessary. The violent prejudices which at one period existed +against the late Commander of the Forces in the Canadas were gradually +wearing away; his memory had been honored by a just tribute of his +Sovereign's regret and approbation; and the scenes in which he had been so +conspicuous an actor, had ceased to be a matter of general interest. Under +these circumstances, the relatives of Sir George Prevost would confidently +have entrusted his reputation to the unprejudiced judgment of posterity, +had they not seen, with equal regret and indignation, a late attempt to +revive the almost exploded calumnies and misrepresentations of which he had +been the victim. That the Quarterly Review[1] should have lent its pages to +an attack like this, will, upon the perusal of the present volume, excite +the surprise of every candid person; and it is chiefly for the purpose of +correcting the mis-statements into which the Reviewer has been led, that +the following pages are presented to the public. + +Before entering more particularly upon the subject of Sir George Prevost's +conduct, so wantonly attacked in the article above alluded to, it may not +be thought improper briefly to advert to his father's services and to his +own early history. From his military career, previous to his appointment to +the chief command in British North America, it will clearly appear that he +was not without reason selected by his Majesty's Government for the +discharge of that important trust. + +Major-General Augustin Prevost, the father of the late Sir George Prevost, +was by birth a citizen of Geneva: he entered the British service as a +Cornet in the Earl of Albemarle's regiment of Horse Guards, and was present +at the battle of Fontenoy, where he was wounded. + +Having attained the rank of Major in the 60th regiment in 1759, he had the +honor of serving under General Wolfe, and received a severe wound in the +head, whilst gallantly forcing a landing, twenty miles above Quebec, under +the immediate command of General Carleton, afterwards Lord Dorchester. Upon +the reduction of Canada, Major Prevost was promoted to the rank of +Lieutenant-Colonel, and served with reputation at the capture of Martinique +and the Havannah. In 1775, he was appointed to the command in East Florida, +and, in 1778, he eminently distinguished himself by his defence of +Savannah, against the attack of a very superior force of French and +Americans, under the Comte d'Estaing and General Lincoln. The garrison +consisted of only 2,300 men, while the force of the besiegers amounted to +8,000, supported by a fleet of twenty-two sail of the line. Such, however, +was the determined energy of Major-General Prevost, and of the British +soldiers and sailors under his command, that the enemy were compelled to +abandon the enterprize, after thirty-three days' close siege.[2] + +In 1780, Major-General Prevost, after having served twenty-two years in +North America and the West Indies, returned to England, to enjoy the +pleasing consciousness of having always discharged his duty with zeal and +effect. His health was much impaired by a long residence in climates +unfavorable to an European constitution, and, on the 6th May, 1786, he +died, at Greenhill Grove, near Barnet, in the sixty-third year of his age. + +In 1765, Major-General Prevost married, at Lausanne, a daughter of M. +Grand, of that place;[3] and, on her husband's departure to America, Mrs. +Prevost accompanied him thither. George, their eldest son, was born while +General Prevost was stationed in the province of New Jersey, on the 19th +May, 1767. Being designed by his father for the military profession, he +was placed with that view at Lochée's academy, at Chelsea, and his +education was finished at Colmar, on the continent. He obtained his first +commission in the 60th regiment, and being removed upon promotion to the +28th foot, he joined that corps at Gibraltar in 1784. He obtained his +majority in 1790, and early in 1791, he took the command of the 3d +battalion of the 60th regiment at Antigua. In March, 1794, he was promoted +to a Lieutenant-Colonelcy in the 60th, and, in 1795, he proceeded to +Demerara, and from thence to St. Vincent's, at that time attacked by the +French. He was there actively employed in suppressing the Carib +insurrection, and in resisting the French invasion, and at the storming of +the Vigie he commanded a column. In October, 1795, he was ordered to +Dominica, to relieve Lieutenant-Colonel Madden in the command of the troops +in that island; but in January, 1796, he resumed the command of the 3d +battalion of the 60th regiment at St. Vincent's, where he was twice +severely wounded in successfully resisting the enemy's progress towards the +capital of the colony, after the defeat of Major-General Stewart at +Colonary. In consequence of his wounds, Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost obtained +leave to return to England. The sense which the inhabitants of St. +Vincent's entertained of his services was warmly expressed in an address +from the Council and House of Representatives in that island.[4] + +On his arrival in England, Lieutenant-Colonel Provost was appointed +Inspecting Field Officer. In January, 1798, he obtained the rank of +Colonel, and proceeded in the same year to the West Indies as +Brigadier-General. In 1798, he was removed from the command of the troops +at Barbadoes to St. Lucie, as Commandant, where he was afterwards appointed +Lieutenant-Governor, in compliance with a request from the inhabitants.[5] + +Brigadier-General Prevost continued to perform the duties of Governor of +St. Lucie until the peace of 1802, when that colony was restored to the +French. The address which he received from the inhabitants of the island on +his departure, fully evinces the popularity which he had acquired;[6] while +the letters addressed to him, and to Colonel Brownrigg, Secretary to H.R.H. +the Commander in Chief, by Sir Thomas Trigge, at that time Commander of the +Forces in the West Indies, satisfactorily prove that he merited the +confidence reposed in him by Government.[7] + +In July, Brigadier-General Prevost arrived in England, when the government +of Dominica was immediately offered to him by Lord Hobart. Having accepted +the appointment, he embarked for that island in the following November, and +landed there on the 25th of December, 1802. + +In the following year, he volunteered his services on the expedition +against St. Lucie and Tobago, and served as second in command under +Lieutenant-General Grenfield, who in his general order, after the capture +of Morne Fortunée, thus mentions his conduct upon that occasion:-- + +"To the cool and determined conduct of Brigadier-general Prevost and +Brigadier-General Brereton, who led the two columns of attack, may be +attributed the success of the action; but to Brigadier-General Prevost it +must be acknowledged, that to his counsel and arrangements the Commander of +the forces attributes the glory of the day."[8] + +The important services of Brigadier-General Prevost upon this expedition, +received numerous tributes of approbation from distinguished military +characters;[9] and even the French Commander could not refrain from +expressing the esteem and admiration with which he regarded his generous +enemy.[10] Upon the successful termination of this affair, +Brigadier-General Prevost returned to his Government at Dominica, where +nothing worthy of notice occurred until the 22d February, 1805, when an +unexpected attack was made by a French squadron from Rochefort. The result +of that attack was highly creditable to the valour and military talents of +the Governor, who after having, with the few troops under his command, +disputed inch by inch the landing of the French force, amounting to 4,000 +men, and covered by an overwhelming fire from the ships, succeeded in +effecting a retreat to the fort of Prince Rupert. The French Commander in +Chief, after vainly summoning him to surrender, reimbarked the whole of his +troops, and sailed to Guadaloupe.[11] + +The terms in which H. R. H. the Commander in Chief was pleased to express +his sense of General Prevost's conduct upon this occasion, were highly +gratifying to his feelings.[12] In consequence of his gallant and +successful defence of the Colony, General Prevost received a communication +from the Speaker of the House of Assembly,[13] conveying to him the thanks +of that body, and informing him that a Thousand Guineas had been voted by +them for the purchase of a sword and a service of plate, to be presented to +him in testimony of their gratitude and approbation.[14] A similar +testimonial to the conduct of General Prevost upon this occasion was given +by the Patriotic Fund, who voted him a sword of the value of one hundred +pounds, and a piece of plate, of the value of two hundred pounds, "for the +distinguished gallantry and military talents which he had displayed."[15] +From the West India Planters and Merchants General Prevost likewise +received a piece of plate to the value of three hundred guineas.[16] + +In July, 1805, General Prevost returned to England.[17] Soon after his +arrival he was created a Baronet, and was subsequently appointed +Lieutenant-Governor of Portsmouth. + +In February, 1808, he was selected to command a brigade destined to +reinforce Nova Scotia, where he succeeded Sir John Wentworth as Governor, +and in December, 1808, he left Halifax, in order to assist in the reduction +of Martinique. The expedition sailed from Barbadoes on the 28th of January, +1809, and on the 30th, the troops were landed on the island of Martinique. +Sir George Prevost was second in command under General Sir George Beckwith, +and to him the management of all the active operations was confided. The +result of this expedition was, that the French troops were driven into Fort +Bourbon, where they held out until the 24th of February, when the surrender +of that fort completed the conquest of the island.[18] + +Upon the conclusion of this short but brilliant campaign, Sir George +Prevost passed a few days at Dominica, where he was received with many +demonstrations of joy. Addresses were upon this occasion presented to him +by the House of Assembly of Dominica, and by the merchants and inhabitants +of St. Christophers.[19] + +In the month of April the army returned to Halifax, and from this period +until his appointment to the chief civil and military command in British +North America, in 1811, upon the resignation of Sir James Craig, Sir George +Prevost remained in Nova Scotia, esteemed and beloved by all ranks of the +inhabitants. On his departure for his new government, he received the most +gratifying addresses from the inhabitants of Halifax,[20] and from the +clergy of Nova Scotia, &c. &c.[21] + +Upon the arrival of Sir George Prevost at Quebec in 1811, he found much +dissatisfaction and discontent existing in the Lower Province. The +inhabitants were divided into two parties, termed the English and the +Canadian, and the feelings of hostility with which they viewed each other, +had unfortunately not been allayed by the policy which the late Governor in +Chief, Sir James Craig, had thought it necessary to adopt during his +administration. To such a degree had this party spirit been carried, and so +doubtful had he been of the disposition of the Canadians, that it had been +thought inexpedient to call out the militia, lest they should make an +improper use of the arms to be intrusted to them. Under these +circumstances, it was evidently the duty of Sir George Prevost to +conciliate, by every means in his power, the confidence and affection of +the Canadians, more particularly as in case of hostilities with America, +it would have been impossible to preserve Lower Canada without the cordial +support of its inhabitants. Sir George Prevost therefore did not hesitate +to adopt a system which the true interest of the Province seemed so +imperiously to require. He anxiously endeavoured to unite the two adverse +parties, and to soothe the irritation which not only threatened the +tranquillity of his government, but even the safety of the colony itself. +In the distribution of the patronage which he enjoyed, he resolved to be +guided solely by a consideration of the public good, and when offices +became vacant, he bestowed them, with a due regard to the merits of the +individuals, indifferently upon the English and the Canadians. + +The beneficial effects of these measures became every day more apparent. +The Governor in Chief speedily acquired the confidence of all ranks of +people, who submitted with cheerfulness to the privations and sacrifices +which they were soon afterwards called upon to endure. In numerous +instances he received from the inhabitants, both collectively and +individually, the strongest proofs of their zeal; and he had the +satisfaction of seeing them united in their attachment to his government, +at a time when the preservation of the colony depended upon such feelings. + +Having thus given a brief sketch of the situation in which the Governor in +Chief found the Province of Lower Canada upon his arrival, and of the views +and objects which he entertained respecting it, we shall proceed to point +out the conduct which he pursued, when, from the aspect of affairs, it +became evident that hostilities with America could not be long delayed. No +sooner had Sir George Prevost assumed the chief command of the Canadas, +than he became sensible of the necessity of placing those provinces in the +most efficient state of defence; and he therefore applied himself with the +utmost vigour and vigilance to call forth all their resources. It is +difficult to believe that the unwearied exertions of Sir George Prevost, +with a view to this important object, should have been altogether unknown +to the writer in the Quarterly Review. But supposing him to have been +ignorant of them, yet without access to the private and confidential +correspondence which took place between Sir George Prevost and his +Majesty's Government, or to the communications which passed between him and +the officers under his command, it was impossible that the Reviewer could +form a correct opinion upon the subject. And yet he has not hesitated +boldly to assert, that, "in the winters of 1811 and 1812, although the +designs upon the Canadas were openly avowed in the American Congress, +except the embodying of the militia of the Lower Province, Sir George +Prevost made _not the slightest preparation for defence_."[22] The +following statement will show the degree of credit to which this assertion +of the Reviewer is entitled. + +In the month of September, 1811, Sir George Prevost arrived in Canada, and +in the same month, proceeding from Quebec to the district of Montreal, he +inspected the different forts and military positions in that neighbourhood, +and on the American frontier. Soon after his return to Quebec in the +November following, he communicated confidentially with the +Adjutant-General of the forces in England, upon the apprehended hostilities +with America. In December he proposed to Lord Liverpool, then Secretary of +State for the Colonies, the raising a corps of Fencibles, from the +Glengarry settlement in Upper Canada; and in his correspondence with +Admiral Sawyer, who commanded on the Halifax station, he requested that a +ship of war might be sent, on the opening of the navigation, to the St. +Lawrence. In the month of February, 1812, another communication was made to +the Secretary of State's Office, in which Sir George Prevost expressed a +hope, that the proceedings in Washington would justify him, in making +preparations to repel the threatened attack. Those preparations had been +commenced as early as November, 1811, by forwarding arms and ammunition to +the Upper Province. During the winter of 1811 and 1812, and the spring of +the latter year, frequent communications passed between the Commander of +the forces and Major-General Brock, who commanded in Upper Canada, +respecting the preparations which would be necessary in the event of a war. +It was proposed to reinforce Amherstburgh, and Fort George; and supplies of +provisions, cavalry-arms, accoutrements and money, were directed to be +conveyed to Upper Canada. Accoutrements and clothing for the militia in the +Canadas, were requested from the British Government. Another schooner was +directed to be built, to increase our marine on Lake Erie. Captain Gray, +Deputy Assistant-Quarter-Master-General, was despatched to the Upper +Province, in order to assist in forwarding these defensive preparations; +and Captain Dixon, of the Royal Engineers, was directed to proceed to +Amherstburgh, to inspect the works of that fort, which the Commander of the +forces had ordered to be put in a tenable state. The propriety of +strengthening and fortifying York was submitted to Government; and the +commanding engineer was directed to make the repairs, which his report on +the different forts and posts in Upper Canada, had stated to be necessary. +In addition to these measures, a reinforcement from the 41st regiment, and +five companies of the Newfoundland Fencibles, left Quebec in the month of +May for the Upper Province. + +On the 31st March, Sir George Prevost addressed a private and confidential +letter to Major-General Brock, in which his sentiments respecting the +approaching war, and the policy to be adopted in meeting it, were clearly +detailed. One passage in this letter merits a more particular notice, since +it is highly important, not only as repelling the accusation of the +Reviewer respecting the want of preparation for the war, but also as +containing an answer to another charge, which will afterwards be noticed. +The paragraph in the letter is as follows: "You are nevertheless to +persevere in your preparations for defence, and in such arrangements as +may, upon a change in the state of affairs, enable you to employ any +disposeable part of your force _offensively_ against the common enemy." + +Independently of all these various communications with the officer +commanding in Upper Canada, respecting the measures to be pursued in the +event of war, and of the supplies of men, arms, money, stores, and +provisions, which, with a view to that event, had been afforded to Upper +Canada; much correspondence had previously taken place, and many +difficulties had been removed with regard to the supply and transport of +the Indian presents to the Upper Province, upon the due furnishing of which +very materially depended the support which we might expect to receive from +the Indians, in case of a rupture with America. + +From this statement, drawn from the original correspondence, and from +official documents, it is evident, that even in contemplation of +hostilities, an event by no means certain, and which the British Government +were so far from thinking probable, that they discouraged any measure of +extraordinary expense to meet it, the Commander of the forces did, as far +as rested with him, during the winter of 1811 and 1812, and for months +prior to the declaration of war, make every preparation for defence, +consistent with the means which he possessed. All the requisitions of +Major-General Brock which the Commander of the forces had the power to +grant, were promptly complied with; nor was the slightest intimation ever +given by that invaluable officer, that any measure, either suggested by +himself or which ought to have occurred to the Commander of the forces, for +the preservation of the Upper Province, in the event of its being attacked, +had been overlooked or neglected. The same vigilant foresight will be found +to mark the conduct of Sir George Prevost in the Lower Province. One of the +first measures of his government, in contemplation of war, was an +application to the legislature of Lower Canada, in February, 1812, for an +act to new model the militia laws, and which might enable him to call forth +a proportion of the population into active service. Averse as the Canadians +had hitherto been to grant any power of this description to former +Governors, and repugnant as many of the clauses which it was intended to +introduce into the bill, were to the habits and feelings of the people, +such was the deserved popularity acquired by Sir George Prevost, from the +conciliatory policy, which, as before stated, he had adopted towards the +Canadians, immediately upon his arrival amongst them, that he obtained from +the Legislature nearly all that he had required. Before the end of May, +1812, a sum exceeding 60,000_l._ was placed at his disposal for the militia +service; and he was authorized to embody 2,000 Bachelors, between the age +of eighteen and twenty-five years, for three months in the year; and in +case of invasion, or imminent danger of it, to retain them for a year. In +case of war, he was empowered to embody if necessary, the whole militia of +the Province. Under that law, a force of 2,000 men, from the finest and +most efficient class of the militia, was embodied on the 13th May, so to +remain for three months, unless the then state of affairs should render it +expedient to retain them longer. A corps of Canadian voltigeurs, under the +command of Major De Salaberry, of the 60th regiment, consisting of between +300 and 400 men, had likewise, been raised and disciplined; and 400 +recruits for the Glengarry Fencibles, had, before the 1st June, been +assembled at Three Rivers, in Lower Canada. The advantages arising from +thus embodying the militia prior to the war, were incalculable, and it may +be confidently asserted, materially contributed to the preservation of the +Canadas. + +The American Government, deceived by the erroneous information which they +had received respecting the disaffection of the Canadian population to +Great Britain, had calculated upon meeting with considerable support from +the people in their invasion of the Province. They had been told, and they +believed, that the militia would not serve, or, if embodied, would be worse +than useless. The embodying, arming, and training of 2,000 of the most +active portion of the population, for several weeks before the war was +declared, was a severe disappointment to the American Government; and was +one of the causes of that determined resistance, which they afterwards +experienced in every attempt to penetrate into that Province. This militia +force also enabled the Commander of the forces to detach a larger portion +of the regular troops, than he could otherwise have been justified in +parting with, to the Upper Province; while, at the same time, it afforded +him the means, on the breaking out of the war, of guarding the different +passes and roads into Lower Canada, with a description of men perfectly +well acquainted with the nature of the country, and with the mode of +warfare necessary for its defence. The line of frontier in the Lower +Province was thus most effectually guarded by Sir George Prevost's able +disposition of this new force, together with the assistance of the regular +troops; and every prudent precaution consistent with his means, and with +the instructions he was constantly receiving from England, to avoid all +unnecessary expense, was taken. The precautionary measures which were +pursued upon this occasion, by the Commander of the forces, met with the +full approbation of His Majesty's Government, expressed in a despatch from +Lord Bathurst, of the 6th November, 1812, in which his Lordship informed +Sir George Prevost, that "the preparations for defence which he had made +upon _the first intimation_ of eventual hostility with America, and which +he had since so vigorously continued, had met with the Prince Regent's +entire approbation." + +After charging Sir George Prevost with negligence, in not preparing to meet +the threatened hostilities, the Reviewer proceeds to hazard an opinion, +that the occupation and fortifying of Coteau du Lac, and Isle aux Noix, +which he terms the keys of Lower Canada, was a measure which Sir George +Prevost ought to have adopted, in preference to all others; but which he +entirely overlooked and neglected.[23] The fact is, that the occupation of +Coteau du Lac, as is well known to every military man acquainted with the +Canadas, could only be useful as against the enemy advancing from Lake +Ontario, or the shores of the St. Lawrence, above Montreal. No such force +could be expected to descend the river from the lake, so long as we had the +command of it, as we undoubtedly had, not only at the commencement of the +war, but for several months afterwards; and as little was it to be +apprehended as collecting on the shores of the river. The information which +the Commander of the forces was constantly receiving of the intended +movements of the enemy, and of the real and immediate object of their +attack, was too correct to leave him in any doubt as to their attempting +the Lower Province in that direction, or to induce him to diminish the +small means he possessed, for the defence of more important points, by the +occupation of posts which at that period could afford him no additional +security. Coteau du Lac, was not therefore occupied as a post, either +before the war or for several months afterwards, but its real importance +was neither overlooked nor disregarded, as the Reviewer has stated. It was +examined and reported upon by different officers, sent to inspect the line +of frontier extending from Lower Canada to Lake Ontario, immediately after +the declaration of war, and particularly by Colonel Lethbridge, who was +afterwards in command there. In possession of Kingston, and commanding the +waters of the lake, and with the knowledge possessed by Sir George Prevost, +of the force and designs of the enemy, no military man in the Canadas, +would have thought it necessary, in the then state of affairs, that Coteau +du Lac should be occupied. When subsequent events clearly shewed the +intentions of the enemy to invade Lower Canada from Lake Ontario, and when +the means of Sir George Prevost were better adapted for defending the whole +line of that frontier, Coteau du Lac was _occupied and fortified_; and had +it not been for the defeat which part of General Dearborn's army met with +from Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison's division in descending the St. Lawrence, +that post would have presented a formidable obstacle to the advance of the +enemy. + +The importance of Isle aux Noix, as a post, has been considerably +lessened[24] since the defence of the Canadas by the French, in consequence +of the facility with which Lower Canada may now be entered by the various +routes which the intercourse between that Province and the United States +has created. Isle aux Noix had long ceased to be either the only, or +principal barrier between the two countries. The occupation of this post +was not therefore deemed necessary as a precautionary measure before the +war; nor was it until some time afterwards that Sir George Prevost was +enabled to put it in a state of defence. As soon, however, as the +reinforcements and supplies from England gave him the means of more +effectually guarding all the avenues to the Lower Province, Isle aux Noix +became the object of his consideration. In consequence of the condition in +which it was then placed, and of the force stationed there, two armed +schooners of the enemy fell into our possession, and laid the foundation of +the marine which was afterwards formed for carrying forward the operations +on Lake Champlain. There cannot be a stronger proof of the little +importance which the enemy themselves attached to this post in the early +part of the contest, than their never making the slightest attempt to +obtain possession of it. + +Having thus stated what Sir George Prevost did _not_ do, by way of +preparation for the defence of the Canadas before the war, the Reviewer +proceeds to point out what _was_ done by him after the commencement of +hostilities. And here we find the same want of candour which distinguishes +the remarks to which we have already adverted.[25] + +In order to form a correct opinion of Sir George Prevost's conduct at this +period, it will be necessary to advert to the system which he adopted on +the commencement of the war, and to the motives which induced him to pursue +it. + +The declaration of war by the United States of America, it is well known, +was finally carried in Congress, after long debate, and a most violent +opposition, by a comparatively small majority. The northern and eastern +states, whose interests, it was acknowledged, were most affected by the +British orders in council, the ostensible and avowed cause of the war, were +constantly and strenuously opposed to hostile measures. It was apparent to +every person at all conversant with what was passing in the United States +at this time, that a contest undertaken in opposition to the sentiments and +wishes of so considerable a portion of the Union, and for an object which +Great Britain might, without any sacrifice of national honor, so easily +concede, as she was, in fact, about to do, at that very period, must +necessarily be of short duration. This was the opinion entertained by the +most sensible and well informed men in the northern and eastern states, as +well as in the Canadas, and in that opinion Sir George Prevost concurred. +It will likewise be seen, that the sentiments of His Majesty's Government +on this head were in unison with those of the Commander of the forces. +Under these circumstances, and with these impressions, it became the +obvious policy of Sir George Prevost, upon the breaking out of the war, to +avoid whatever might tend to widen the breach between the two countries, +and to pursue a line of conduct, which, while it should effectually tend to +defeat the object of the American Government in their attack upon the +Canadas, should also serve still further to increase the dislike and +opposition of the northern and eastern states, to those measures of +aggression against the British Provinces, which they had constantly +predicted would be attended with discomfiture and disgrace. In his +adherence to this defensive system, Sir George Prevost was encouraged and +supported, as it will speedily be shewn, not only by the approbation of the +British Government, but likewise by the concurrence of those who were best +qualified by their knowledge and situation to form a correct judgment on +the propriety of the measures which he was pursuing. This policy was also +the more necessary, in consequence of the inadequacy of the means possessed +by the Commander of the forces to repel the threatened attack of the +Americans at the commencement of the contest. The whole of the regular +force at that time in the Canadas did not amount to 5,000 men; the law for +embodying the militia had only been recently passed; and the population, +which had been previously considered as not well affected, had neither been +armed nor accustomed to discipline for many years. The military chest was +exhausted, and there was little prospect, that for some months at least, +considering the exertions which Great Britain was then called upon to make +in Europe, any supplies either of men or money could be afforded for the +defence of her Dominions in North America. These difficulties neither +depressed nor discouraged the ardent and active spirit of Sir George +Prevost. Although he fully coincided in opinion with that able and +judicious officer Sir James Craig, that in the event of a war with America, +Quebec should be the object of primary consideration; yet the defence of +the whole line of frontier between the Canadas and the United States, +occupied his early and serious consideration. That frontier comprehended a +distance of more than 900 miles, every part of which he determined to +dispute inch by inch, and to defend by every means in his power. + +It was in pursuance of the defensive line of policy which had been so +wisely determined upon, as well with reference to his own resources, and +the character of the enemy with whom he had to contend, as to the views and +instructions of the British Government, that the Commander of the forces +immediately after the commencement of the war, gave general instructions to +those in command under him, to abstain from any unnecessary and uncalled +for act of hostility upon the American territory. Notwithstanding these +general instructions, much was of course left to the discretion of those +who received them, in availing themselves of any fair opportunity of +retaliating upon the enemy the aggressive warfare they might attempt, by +attacking, wherever it might be done with any reasonable prospect of +success, the contiguous forts and possessions of the Americans. + +The private letter of 31st March, 1812, to Major-General Brock, from which +an extract has already been made, evidently shews, that Sir George Prevost +never meant to restrain the officers in command under him from acting upon +the offensive, whenever circumstances were such as would justify their +departure from the defensive system. Of these circumstances they were the +best judges. That this was the light in which Sir George Prevost's +instructions were viewed by Major-General Brock, appears by the following +extract from a letter addressed by him to the Commander of the forces, on +the 3rd July, 1812, at which time he was fully aware of the defensive line +of policy which had been adopted: + +"The account received, first through a mercantile channel, and soon after +repeated from various quarters, of war having been declared by the United +States against Great Britain, would have justified, in my opinion, +offensive operations. But the reflexion, that at Detroit and St. Joseph's, +the weak state of the garrisons would prevent the Commanders from +attempting any essential service connected in any degree with their future +security, and that my only means of annoyance on this communication, was +limited to the reduction of Fort Niagara, which could be battered at any +future period, I relinquished my original intentions, and attended only to +defensive measures." + +That Captain Roberts, the commanding officer at Fort St. Joseph's, acted +from a sense of this discretion thus entrusted to him, there cannot be a +doubt, as in his official letter to the Adjutant-General, announcing the +capture of Michilimachinac, he does not allude in the slightest degree to +his having acted contrary to his orders. The approval of his conduct in +general orders is likewise a convincing proof that Sir George Prevost +considered that he had acted up to the spirit of his instructions whatever +they might have been, and that he had used a sound discretion respecting +them. + +It however clearly appears by the above letter, that Captain Roberts acted +altogether from the orders he received from Major-General Brock, who was +fully aware, as it has been already shewn, of the sentiments of Sir George +Prevost, and who did not hesitate to give Captain Roberts the discretionary +order, which led to the attack and capture of the fort. + +It will be seen from the preceding pages, that the approaching hostilities +with America had been the subject of frequent communication between Sir +George Prevost and Major-General Brock, for several months _prior to the +commencement_ of the war; and that, in more than one letter to which +reference has been made, the precautions necessary to be taken, and the +system and line of defence to be adopted in the event of war, had been +clearly and distinctly pointed out. Possessed then, as Sir George Prevost +knew General Brock to be, of his sentiments on this subject, and aware that +he would receive from the North West company, from whom he had himself +derived the information, the earliest intelligence of the actual +declaration of war, an immediate further communication of his sentiments +was unnecessary. On the day, however, on which the intelligence of that +event reached Quebec, the 25th June, 1812, a letter was despatched to +Major-General Brock from the Adjutant-General, communicating the +information; and as soon as the important arrangements respecting the Lower +Province, and particularly those for the defence of Quebec had been +completed, Sir George Prevost proceeded to Montreal. Upon his receiving at +that place a despatch from Mr. Foster, our late minister at Washington, +with an official notification of the war, he immediately afterwards, (on +7th July,) and within a fortnight after the first intelligence of it had +reached him at Quebec, sent off his first despatch to Major-General Brock. +This was followed by another on the 10th of the same month by Colonel +Lethbridge, who was sent to take the command at Kingston; and in both these +letters every instruction and information which Sir George Prevost's +situation afforded, or enabled him to give, were sent to the Major-General. +That these despatches did not reach General Brock until the 29th of the +month was owing to circumstances over which Sir George Prevost had no +control. It must be observed, however, that General Brock received the +despatches several days before he set off to join the army opposed to +General Hull, although the Reviewer[26] gives his readers to understand +that it did not arrive until after General Hull's capture. + +The above statement will afford a full and satisfactory answer to the +misrepresentations of the Quarterly Reviewer,[27] and to the unwarrantable +insinuation by which they are accompanied, if indeed any answer were +wanting to assertions in which the writer has directly contradicted +himself. The Reviewer states, "that Sir George Prevost sent no instructions +whatever to General Brock for some weeks after he received intimation of +the war:"--and further, "that he, General Brock, was only restrained from +the measure of attacking Fort Niagara, _by the perplexity of his situation, +in being left without orders_." It is singular that the writer should have +forgotten, that only five pages before, he had stated[28] that "_on the +receipt_ of the intelligence of the American declaration of war, +Major-General Brock, who commanded the troops in the Upper Province +_immediately_ despatched DISCRETIONARY orders to the British officer in +charge of Fort St. Joseph's, to act either _offensively_ or otherwise +against the enemy at Michilimachinac, as he should find advisable." If +General Brock was justified in giving these discretionary orders to act +offensively as circumstances might require, it follows that he must have +considered a similar line of conduct open to himself; and yet, in the face +of this statement, the Reviewer gravely endeavours to persuade his readers, +that General Brock was in perplexity with regard to the measures which he +should pursue. + +The Reviewer's insinuation, that Sir G. Prevost sent no instructions to +General Brock for some weeks after he received intimation of the war, with +the intention of leaving that officer to act on his own responsibility, +cannot be passed over in silence. It has been already proved, by +incontrovertible facts, that the contemptible motives thus attributed to +the Commander of the forces, could not possibly have existed in his mind; +and the attempt to impute to him a conduct so dishonorable ought therefore +to be marked with the severest reprobation. No two persons could more +sincerely respect and esteem each other than these gallant and high-minded +individuals. Sir George Prevost had early evinced his opinion of General +Brock's merits and talents, in a private communication to him of the 22d +Jan. 1812, several months before the war; and the reply of General Brock to +that communication, was sufficient evidence of the sentiments he +entertained towards the Commander, under whom he expressed himself to be so +desirous of serving. Indeed, the utmost confidence and cordiality +prevailed between these officers, as is amply manifested in the +correspondence before referred to; and wherever a difference of opinion did +exist, General Brock never hesitated to yield to what he expressed and +considered the superior knowledge and experience of the Commander in Chief. + +The conduct of Sir George Prevost in his communications with General Brock, +after receiving intelligence of the war, was not attended with any of those +consequences which the Reviewer has asserted. Upon this head General +Brock's correspondence with the Commander of the forces is conclusive. + +The first letter from that officer, after the receipt of the intelligence +of the war, is dated the 3d July, at Fort George; the extract from which, +already given, is a convincing proof, that whatever might have been his +intention in moving from York to Fort George, he was not restrained from +the measure of attacking Fort Niagara by any deficiency of instructions +from the Commander of the Forces. + +The next letter from General Brock is from Fort George, dated 12th July, +and states that the enemy were constructing batteries at the different +points of the frontier; that he was making exertions to counteract their +views; and that the arrival, that morning, of the Royal George and the +vessels under convoy, bringing various pieces of ordnance, would give him a +decided superiority. Not a single word is said in this despatch of any wish +or intention on the part of the Major-General to invade the American +territory. Major-General Brock's next letter of the 20th July states, that +the enemy had evidently diminished his force, and appeared to have no +intention of making an immediate attack. This letter also communicated the +intelligence of General Hull's invasion of the Province. It likewise +contained details of General Brock's means of defensive warfare, and +expressed some apprehension for the fate of the troops under his command, +should the communication be cut off between Kingston and Montreal; which +apprehension was entertained by him on the supposition, as he stated, that +"the _slender means possessed by Sir G. Prevost would not admit of +diminution, and consequently that he could not look for reinforcements_." +The same letter acknowledged the receipt of the Adjutant General's +communication from Quebec, of 25th June, of the declaration of war. In the +succeeding despatch from General Brock to Sir G. Prevost, dated 26th July, +from Fort George, that officer writes as follows: "I have not deemed it of +sufficient importance to commence active operations on this line by an +attack on Fort Niagara; it can be demolished, when found necessary, in +half an hour, and _there my means of annoyance would cease. To enable the +militia to acquire some degree of discipline, without interruption, is of +far greater consequence than such a conquest_." + +The next letter from the Major-General, dated from York, the 28th July, +principally relates to the approaching meeting of the legislature, and +mentions his intention of detaching a force for the relief of Amherstburg. +A letter from the same place, written on the following day, communicates +the surrender of Michilimachinac, and particularly acknowledges the receipt +of Sir George Prevost's despatches of the 7th and 10th July, written _after +the declaration of war_, and before alluded to. General Brock also states +his intention of embarking immediately in the Prince Regent, (the vessel +which had been built and equipped since the month of March preceding), for +Fort George, from whence he should speedily return to York. On the 4th +August, a short letter was addressed by General Brock to Sir G. Prevost, +from York, principally upon the proceeding of the legislature, regarding +the militia laws, and on the following day he set off for Amherstburg, from +whence he did not return until after the glorious termination of Hull's +invasion. It was, therefore, from a consideration of the nature of his +resources, and of the necessity of maturing and husbanding them, and from +a conviction that Niagara would easily fall whenever he should be inclined +to attack it, and not from any doubt arising from want of instructions, +that General Brock abandoned the attempt. + +It was in further pursuance of the line of policy adopted at the +commencement of the war, that Sir George Prevost, upon the receipt of +despatches from Mr. Foster, acquainting him with the proposed repeal of the +Orders in Council by the British Government, immediately opened a +communication with Major-General Dearborn, commanding the American forces +on the frontier of Lower Canada, for the purpose of concluding an +armistice, until the Congress should determine upon the proposals +transmitted to them by Mr. Foster. An armistice of about three weeks did +accordingly take place; and whatever might be the advantage arising from it +to the American commanders and their troops, from the time and opportunity +it afforded them of increasing their means of attacking the Canadas, it is +obvious that the cessation of hostilities was of far more importance to Sir +George Prevost, by enabling him to mature his preparations for defence. In +fact, at the very time the armistice was negotiating, a regiment had +arrived in the river from the West Indies; and after the conclusion, and +during the continuance of it, considerable reinforcements of men and +supplies were forwarded to Upper Canada, where they armed before the +resuming of hostilities, and materially contributed towards defeating the +attempts which the enemy afterwards made to invade that province. + +Intelligence of the conclusion of the armistice was despatched to General +Brock on the 12th August, by Brigade-Major Sheckleton, and must have +reached him at Amherstburg before he left that place for Fort George, where +he arrived the 6th September; but, whatever may have been General Brock's +opinion of the policy of the measure, we do not find in his letter of the +7th September to Sir George Prevost, that the receipt of that intelligence +had at all interfered with any intention he had previously entertained of +"sweeping" (according to the Reviewer's assertion) "the Niagara line of the +American garrisons, which he knew were then unprepared for vigorous +resistance."[29] In fact, as that letter states, the armistice was to +terminate the _next day_; and so far was General Brock from being in a +situation to act offensively, that he states his expectation of an almost +immediate attack, and of his having sent to Amherstburg to Colonel Proctor, +as well as to Colonel Vincent at Kingston, for reinforcements, to enable +him to meet it; expressing at the same time his hope, that if he could +continue to maintain his position for six weeks longer, the campaign would +terminate in a manner little expected in the United States. + +Upon the expiration of the armistice, Sir George Prevost resolved to +continue, for a time at least, and until his resources would better enable +him to pursue a contrary line of conduct, the same defensive system which +he had previously determined upon; and which he had been originally induced +to adopt, in consequence of the peculiar circumstances in which he was +placed at the commencement of hostilities, and of the war having been +undertaken, on the part of the United States, so much in opposition to the +opinions and wishes of a considerable portion of its population. In a +private letter from Sir George Prevost to General Brock, of the 2d August, +1812, upon the subject of the proposed armistice, he particularly refers to +the opinion of Mr. Foster, respecting the policy of the defensive system. +"Mr. Foster," he says, "submits the propriety of our abstaining from an +invasion of the United States' territory, _as only in such event could the +American government be empowered to order the militia out of the States_." +As a further ground for this line of conduct, and a confirmation of the +propriety of his own opinion in adopting it, he quotes in a subsequent +communication to General Brock, of 30th August, 1812, the opinion of his +Majesty's Government on the subject. "The King's Government having most +unequivocally expressed to me their desire to preserve peace with the +United States, that they might uninterruptedly pursue, with the whole +disposeable force of the country, the great interests committed to them in +Europe, I have endeavoured to be instrumental in the accomplishment of +those views; but I consider it most fortunate to have been enabled to do so +without interfering with your operations on the Detroit. I have sent you +_men, money, and stores of every kind_." It cannot be matter of surprise +that Sir George Prevost should persevere in his defensive system, even +after the termination of the armistice, and when from the manner in which +the Government of the United States had received the communication of the +repeal of the Orders in Council, it was evident that they meant to continue +the war for other objects; for it ought to be considered, that up to that +period, the only reinforcements of troops received by him were the 103d, +nearly a boy-regiment, and the first battalion of the Royals from the West +Indies, the latter incomplete, from the capture of part of their numbers, +on board of one of the transports, by an American frigate. In consequence, +however, of this addition to the force in the Lower Province, Sir George +Prevost was enabled immediately to strengthen the army in Upper Canada, by +detachments from the 49th regiment, Royal Newfoundland Fencibles, and Royal +Veterans; but it must be evident that the total accession of strength in +both Provinces was not sufficient to warrant a departure from a system, +which had been adopted after the fullest deliberation, and upon a just +calculation of the means necessary to meet the American warfare. The +grounds of Sir George Prevost's opinion on this head had been stated to +General Brock, in his letters to him of the 7th and 10th July, before +referred to; and as a further confirmation of the necessity of adhering to +it, in his communication to General Brock, of the 17th September, Sir +George Prevost acquaints him, that in his last despatches from Lord +Bathurst, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated 4th July, 1812, he +is told by him, "That his Majesty's Government trusts he will be enabled to +suspend, with perfect safety, all extraordinary preparations for defence, +which he may have been induced to make, in consequence of the precarious +state of the relations between Great Britain and the United States."--As +this opinion of the British Government was evidently founded upon their +belief, that the revocation of the Orders in Council would either prevent +war, if not declared, or lead to an immediate peace, had hostilities +commenced, it was plain that no further reinforcements could be expected to +be even ordered from England, until accounts should arrive there of the +reception which the intelligence of the revocation of the Orders in Council +had met with from the Government of the United States. As this could not +well be before the end of September, there was not the slightest prospect +of any addition being afforded to the force in the Canadas before the +ensuing year; and it was therefore certain, that the Commander of the +forces would until that period be completely left to his own resources for +the defence of those Provinces. + +To husband those resources became, under these circumstances, his imperious +duty. The posture of affairs in Lower Canada, as he had stated to General +Brock, in his letter of the 17th September, particularly on the frontier of +Montreal, required every soldier in that Province, and no further +reinforcements could be sent by him to the other. Not aware of any +advantage which could arise from offensive operations against America, to +compensate for the loss they might occasion, and for the consequent +insecurity to the Provinces which he was defending, Sir George Prevost +continued to urge upon General Brock, and after his death, upon his +successor, General Sheaffe, the necessity of adhering to a defensive +system; nor does it appear from any part of the correspondence between +these officers and Sir George Prevost, that they had any particular object +in view, which that policy restrained them from pursuing. Previous to the +armistice, and to the capture of Hull's army at Detroit, General Brock had +in his letters of 3d and 26th July, 1812, before referred to, given his +reasons, which were evidently independent of the consideration of any +instructions from Sir George Prevost, why he did not meditate offensive +operations against the American frontier; and subsequent to the capture of +Detroit, and after his arrival at Fort George in September, it has been +clearly shewn, that his situation and means precluded him from such +measures, except at a great risk, and for the accomplishment of inadequate +objects. + +The correctness of this statement appears from a letter addressed by +General Brock, to Sir George Prevost, on the 13th September, 1812, from +Fort George; in which he says, "that although he had learnt from deserters, +(but which information he had reason afterwards to think, as he +acknowledged, was not altogether correct), that great dissatisfaction +prevailed amongst the American troops on the Niagara frontier, and that +therefore much might be effected against such a body at that moment; that +keeping in mind his excellency's instructions, and _aware of the policy of +permitting such a force to dwindle away by it's own inefficient means, he +did not_ CONTEMPLATE _any_ IMMEDIATE ATTACK." Two strong inferences +naturally arise from this letter--the one, that General Brock must have +considered the instructions received from Sir George Prevost, as to +defensive measures not _positive_, as the Reviewer has thought fit to state +them to have been, but _discretionary_; the other, that General Brock +himself, was convinced of the policy of abstaining from offensive +operations against an enemy circumstanced as the Americans then were. That +this policy was a wise one, was manifest from the result. Had any attack +been made on Fort Niagara, or had that general sweeping of the American +garrisons on the frontier, (which the critic seems to think so easy an +achievement) been attempted, there cannot be a doubt but that this invasion +of the American territory, before the enemy had made an attack upon our own +frontier, would have united the whole population, not only of the states +bordering upon that line, but of every other part of the union, in the +prosecution of the war. The militia already assembled upon that frontier, +and who were known to be dissatisfied, and anxious to return to their +homes, would in the event of an attack upon their territory, not only have +cheerfully remained to repel the aggression, but would have been further +obliged to pass the frontier, for the invasion of Canada; which, without +such an attack on our part, they could not have been compelled to do. Aware +of this circumstance, it was the policy of the American Government, to hold +out lures to our officers, commanding on the frontiers, to induce them to +commence an offensive warfare. Sir George Prevost, however, saw through +their design, and fortunately disappointed it. The consequence was, that +finding their militia could no longer be kept together, and that the season +was fast approaching, when all offensive operations must cease, the +American commanders urged the troops on that line, to that ill-concerted +expedition, which ended in the battle of Queenstown, and which, though +attended with the irreparable loss to the British forces of their gallant +Commander, terminated in the disgrace and defeat of the American army; and +was thus the means of preserving, at least for that campaign, the Province +of Upper Canada. Brilliant as had been the success of our arms at the +battle of Queenstown, and complete as had been the overthrow of the enemy, +they still remained in sufficient force on the opposite territory, to make +an immediate attack upon their frontier, notwithstanding the dismay with +which the critic seems to think the Americans were filled,[30] something +more than hazardous. Out of the small force of less than 900 regular troops +which we had on the field that day, nearly 100 of them were killed or +wounded, and many were necessarily engaged in guarding the prisoners, whose +numbers amounted to more than our own regular force. The enemy had received +reinforcements in their line during the day of the action, and others were +constantly arriving. Under these circumstances is it to be wondered at, +that Major-General Sheaffe should not have listened to the suggestions of +any of his officers, if such were made, and the fact is more than doubtful, +to cross over immediately after the action, when according to the +Reviewer's sagacious opinion, "Fort Niagara might have been taken, and the +whole of the Niagara line cleared of the American troops!" + +Such an attempt might indeed have averted the insinuation levelled by the +critic against General Sheaffe and Sir George Prevost as _lovers of +armistices_, but would have evinced great want of military judgment and +prudence in General Sheaffe, and have hazarded all the advantages gained by +the gallant and able conduct of his lamented predecessor, and strengthened +and confirmed at Queenstown by himself. General Sheaffe was, therefore, +wisely contented with having foiled a second attempt of a superior force to +invade the Province; and, anxious to secure its future preservation, he +willingly acceded to a proposal for an armistice, which he knew, under the +circumstances of his situation, would be of incalculably more benefit to +himself than to the enemy. It must be evident to every one at all +conversant with military subjects, that to those who are carrying on a +defensive warfare, which their inferiority of force and means of every +description has obliged them to adopt, a suspension of hostilities must be +infinitely more beneficial than to the opposite party. General Sheaffe was +fully aware of the importance of this measure to the safety of the +province, which on the death of General Brock was entrusted to him, since +he was in daily expectation of receiving supplies of clothing, and other +articles which were indispensable for the militia, who had become much +dissatisfied from the want of those articles. Reinforcements of troops were +also on their way to him; and, in fact, these supplies and reinforcements +did arrive during the continuance of the armistice, and materially +contributed to foil the further efforts of the enemy to invade the +Province. It may also be added, that the armistice was further expedient in +the first instance, when its duration was limited to three days, for the +purpose of affording time for carrying into effect the proposed exchange +of prisoners, the removal of those that were wounded, and the passing over +to the enemy's side the militia paroles. Some portion of time was also +necessary for performing, without any hostile interruption, the last +tribute of respect to the memory of the gallant Commander who had then +lately fallen. The subsequent prolongation of the armistice to an +indefinite period, although it was in the power of either party to +terminate the same by thirty hours notice, perfectly coincided with +Major-General Sheaffe's system of defensive warfare, and permitted him to +leave Fort George for a short time, and proceed to York, where his presence +was indispensable for the purpose of being sworn in, and assuming the civil +government. + +It has been thought necessary to say thus much in vindication of this +measure, from a sense of justice to a gallant and meritorious officer, +although it was adopted without any reference to, and without the consent +or approbation of Sir George Prevost. The Reviewer has indeed thought fit +to characterize the armistice[31] as one for which no reason, civil or +military, was ever assigned; whereas it was notorious to the army employed +on the Niagara line that General Sheaffe was influenced in this step by +the motives and circumstances already stated, all of which were immediately +communicated by him to Sir George Prevost. If any thing further were +necessary to be adduced in vindication of the policy of the defensive +system, of which these armistices formed a part, and which the Reviewer has +thought fit so groundlessly to denominate short-sighted and ill-judged, +although attended with results so favourable to the safety of both +Provinces, it will be found in the complete approbation expressed by his +Majesty's Government. In Lord Bathurst's despatch to Sir George Prevost, of +the 4th July, 1812, written before the intelligence of the declaration of +war, by America, had reached England, his Lordship says, "The instructions +given by you to Major-General Brock and Sir John Sherbrooke, cautioning +them against any premature measures of hostility, or any deviation from a +line of conduct strictly defensive, meets with the full approbation of his +Royal Highness the Prince Regent." + +In a subsequent despatch of the 10th Aug., Lord Bathurst approves of the +general principles upon which Sir George Prevost intended to conduct the +operations of the war, by making the defence of Quebec paramount to every +other consideration, in the event of invasion. In a later despatch of the +date of the 1st October, 1812, his Lordship says, "I have it in command +from his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, to convey to you his most +unqualified approbation of the measures which you have adopted for +defending the Provinces under your charge, and of those to which you have +had recourse for deferring, if not altogether preventing, any resort to +actual hostility." On the subject of the armistice, he adds, "The desire +which you have unceasingly manifested to avoid hostilities, with the +subjects of the United States, is not more in conformity with your own +feelings, than with the wishes and intentions of his Majesty's Government, +and therefore your correspondence with General Dearborn cannot fail to +receive their cordial concurrence." + +In a further despatch from Lord Bathurst, dated the 10th October, 1812, +acknowledging the receipt of the letter from Sir George Prevost, which +announced the surrender of General Hull, with his army, to General Brock, +and communicating his Royal Highness the Prince Regent's approbation of the +conduct of General Brock, his officers and troops, on that occasion, his +Lordship adds--"I am further commanded by his Royal Highness to say, that +in giving every credit to Major-General Brock, and the army under his +command, he is fully sensible how much your exertions and arrangements have +contributed to the fortunate conclusion of the campaign in Upper Canada." +In Lord Bathurst's despatch of the 16th November following, he says, "The +measures which you have taken for obstructing the navigation of the +Richelieu, by the erection of works on the Isle Aux Noix, appear well +calculated to impede the advance of the enemy in that quarter." + +Testimonials like these, so highly honorable to the zeal and ability +displayed by Sir George Prevost, are sufficient of themselves to afford a +complete answer to the Reviewer's assertions. That writer's remark, with +regard to "the practical illustration of the tendency"[32] of Sir George +Prevost's defensive system, is directly in opposition to the facts, both as +respects the conduct of Colonel Procter, in consequence of his orders, and +the effect produced by that conduct upon the minds of the Indians. In proof +of this assertion, it is only necessary to advert to the two expeditions, +of Captain Muir to Fort Wayne, in September, 1812, and of Lieutenant Dewar +to the Fort of the Rapids of the Miami, in October following. The former of +these expeditions tended, for some time at least, to retard the +preparations which the enemy were making for their second advance to the +Detroit frontier, which terminated in the defeat and capture of General +Winchester and his army, while both expeditions afforded to the Indians a +strong proof of our desire to co-operate with them, as far as was +consistent with the security of our own Provinces, and of the Michigan +territory. Neither of these expeditions would have been undertaken, had not +Colonel Procter's orders been _discretionary_ instead of _positive_. It is +certainly true, that Sir George Prevost did wish to discourage the +employment of the regular troops under Colonel Procter, in offensive +operations jointly with the Indians; because such a course of proceeding +was neither consistent with the instructions he had received from his +Majesty's Government, nor compatible with the military resources of his +command. At the same time he merely recommended to Colonel Procter a +cautious line of conduct, chiefly directed to the preservation of the +district committed to his charge; and it is evident that Colonel Procter's +use of the discretion thus entrusted to him, had the effect of retaining +the willing services of the Indians during the whole period of our +remaining in possession of the Michigan territory, and up to the time of +the unfortunate retreat and consequent capture of Colonel Procter's +detachment at the Moravian village. + +Having thus briefly adverted to the principal occurrences of the first +campaign in Upper Canada, it becomes necessary to say a few words with +regard to those of the Lower Province, during the same period; and which, +being under the _immediate direction of Sir George Prevost_, the Reviewer +has thought proper to characterize as _utterly insignificant_.[33] Almost +immediately after intelligence of the war had arrived at Quebec, Sir George +Prevost repaired to Montreal, for the purpose of providing for the defence +of that frontier; and having established a cordon of troops in the +situations most exposed to attack, between the St. Lawrence and the +Richelieu rivers, consisting of all the flank companies of the 49th and +100th regiments, together with three battalions of embodied militia, and +one of Canadian voltigeurs, which last four corps had been raised and +disciplined previous to the war, he returned to Quebec, in order to meet +the Provincial Parliament. The legislature had been summoned, principally, +for the purpose of obtaining from them an act authorizing the circulation +of army bills, a measure to which from his deserved popularity with that +body, they did not hesitate to accede, and without which, from the want of +specie, it would scarcely have been possible to carry on the public +service. To many of the arrangements and measures of Sir George Prevost, +for reinforcing and strengthening Upper Canada, as well as for guarding +the approaches to the Lower Province, reference has already been made. The +whole summer had been unceasingly employed in these important objects, and +the greatest exertions had been made to transport and convey to Kingston, +by the tedious route of the St. Lawrence, against the current, and along a +frontier much exposed to the enemy, the various supplies which the +exigencies of the Upper Province demanded; all of which, by the judicious +and able arrangements made by him for that purpose, arrived safe and +without loss, or with very inconsiderable molestation. + +In the month of August Sir George Prevost again repaired to Montreal, in +order that he might be ready to take the field, should the movements of +General Dearborn, who commanded the enemy's forces on that frontier, +indicate any intention of attacking our line of defence, which had been +entrusted to the charge of Major-General de Rottenburg. General Dearborn +having, on the 16th November, advanced from Plattsburg to Champlain town, +close upon our frontier line, thereby threatening the front of +Major-General de Rottenburg's position, Sir George Prevost, upon the +receipt of this intelligence, crossed the St. Lawrence with a considerable +proportion of the force then at Montreal, in order to strengthen the point +thus threatened, and established his head-quarters at Chambly, where he +remained for several weeks. Whether this movement on the part of General +Dearborn was made in the expectation of finding that no effectual +resistance would be offered by the Canadian population to his further +advance into the Province, or with the view of preventing the sending of +reinforcements from the Lower to the Upper Province, he was equally +disappointed in both these objects. The able measures adopted by Sir George +Prevost in the disposition of the regular troops, as well as of the +militia, who displayed the most ardent spirit of loyalty, and the most +resolute determination to repel every attempt of the enemy to invade the +Colony, induced the American Commander in Chief to abandon any further +intention of advancing. After pushing forward a few reconnoitring parties +which were invariably forced to retreat without effecting their object, he +was ultimately compelled, by the advanced season of the year, to close the +campaign, and to put the army into winter quarters. + +The result of the first campaign was highly honorable to the military +talents of the Commander of the forces. The enemy, notwithstanding their +superior resources, were foiled in every attempt which they made to invade +the Provinces, with the loss in one instance of the whole of their army, +together with the Commander; while, in the other, their troops suffered a +total defeat, attended with the capture of a General Officer, and upwards +of 700 men. + +But while thus engaged in his military duties, Sir George Prevost was not +unmindful of the importance of our naval superiority upon the Lakes, though +in this as in every other part of his conduct, he has fallen under the +indiscriminate censure of the Quarterly Reviewer,[34] who has accused him +of neglecting to preserve the naval ascendancy which we enjoyed on Lakes +Erie and Ontario, at the commencement of the contest. + +As early as the month of December, 1811, as appears from a letter addressed +by Sir George Prevost to General Brock, he had directed his attention +towards our marine on Lake Erie, and had given directions for the building +of a schooner at Amherstburg. Our force on the Lake, at that period, +consisted of the ship Queen Charlotte, and Hunter schooner, both of which +were armed and actually employed. The Americans possessed at the same +period a brig, the Detroit, and a sloop, the former a very fine vessel, and +in readiness for any service, although then laid up at Presque Isle. During +the whole of the campaign of 1812, our vessels navigated the Lake without +any attempt on the part of the enemy to interrupt them, and materially +contributed to the success of our arms in that quarter, by the countenance +and protection afforded by them to the garrison at Amherstburg, and by the +transportation from Fort Erie of such stores, provisions, and supplies as +were indispensable for the security of the former post. In direct variance +with the Reviewer's assertion,[35] that "_not one effort_ was made by Sir +George Prevost to increase our marine at that period;" it is a remarkable +fact that the schooner, Lady Prevost, which he had ordered to be built in +_December_, 1811, was launched and fitted out, and was actually employed on +the Lake within a month after the declaration of war, and essentially +assisted in the transport of the arms, provisions, &c. before mentioned, +during nearly the whole of the first campaign. Of the force which the enemy +then possessed on this Lake, consisting of the Detroit and a schooner, the +former fell into our possession upon the surrender of General Hull with his +army; and, although she was recaptured in the October following, under +circumstances which, considering the superiority of the enemy, reflected no +discredit upon the officer commanding her, and the men under him, she made +no accession to their strength, as she was burnt the day afterwards by our +troops, and the Caledonia, a private vessel, captured with her, was +rendered a mere wreck by the fire from our fort and batteries. On Lake +Erie, therefore, during the whole of the campaign of 1812, our naval +ascendancy was decisive; to strengthen and preserve which, the efforts of +Sir George Prevost materially contributed. On Lake Ontario, our +superiority, as well at the commencement of hostilities, as long prior and +subsequent to that period, was still more apparent and efficient. In March, +1812, our force on that Lake consisted of the Royal George ship of 24 guns, +the brig Moira of 16 guns, and two schooners; whilst that of the enemy was +composed of a single brig laid up at Sackett's Harbour. But the importance +of maintaining this great superiority over the enemy was not lost sight of +by Sir George Prevost. As early as January, 1812, Captain Gray, an able +officer of the Quarter-Master-General's department, under which the marine +was placed, was despatched to York for the purpose, amongst other services, +of consulting with Major-General Brock, upon the best means of preserving +the ascendancy which we possessed upon Lake Ontario. In consequence of +Captain Gray's suggestion, the building of a very fine schooner, called the +Prince Regent, was commenced at York in the following March, which was +launched, equipped, and employed upon the Lake in conveying supplies of +great importance on the 3d July, immediately after notice of the +declaration of war had been received in Upper Canada. This fact furnishes a +full contradiction to the assertion of the Reviewer,[36] that "after +slumbering away the summer and autumn without one effort to increase our +marine in amount or efficiency, Sir George Prevost suddenly awoke, in the +depth of winter, to a sense of the condition to which his supineness had +reduced the British cause, and the building of two frigates commenced with +convulsive activity." That Sir George Prevost, with so decided a naval +ascendancy on both lakes at the commencement of the war, should not have +thought himself justified in any extraordinary exertions to increase that +ascendancy, is not to be wondered, at when it is considered, that for every +purpose of the defensive system which he had adopted, the British force +upon the Lakes was amply sufficient, and that Government would not have +approved, in the then state of affairs, of the expense which such a measure +must unavoidably have occasioned. Aware, however, as Sir George Prevost was +of the important advantages which the dominion of the Lakes afforded for +the preservation of the Canadas, he had, both long before, and immediately +after the commencement of the war, called the attention of His Majesty's +Government to that subject. He had also in his communication with General +Brock, and particularly by the Deputy Assistant Quarter-Master-General, +invited his consideration of the same matter. It certainly affords a strong +proof of the conviction of that gallant and able officer, that our force on +those waters needed no extraordinary exertion at that time to increase it +beyond what had been already made; that, excepting in his letter before +referred to, of 2d December, 1811, he never once mentioned the subject of +our marine in his various different communications with Sir George Prevost, +respecting the means of defending the Upper Province, until in his despatch +of the 11th October, 1812, he acquainted the Commander of the forces with +the recapture of the brig Detroit by the enemy. Previous, however, to this +period, and as soon as Sir George Prevost had reason to suppose from the +refusal of the American Government to accede to the Armistice, or to +consider the revocation of the Orders in Council a sufficient ground for +pacification, that the war would be continued, and that renewed efforts +would be made for the invasion of the Canadas, he had strongly represented +to His Majesty's Government the absolute necessity of experienced officers +and able seamen being sent to him, to enable him to preserve the ascendancy +which our marine then enjoyed. In a letter addressed to General Brock, on +the 19th October, 1812, he authorized that officer to take whatever +measures he might deem necessary for the accomplishment of the same object, +without further reference to himself. It was not ascertained, until towards +the end of October, that any extraordinary exertions were making by the +enemy to equip and fit out a squadron at Sackett's Harbour. The arrival of +Commodore Chauncey, with a number of shipwrights and seamen, making their +intentions evident, Captain Gray, of the Quarter-Master-General's +department, was sent to Kingston, to direct the laying down of the keels of +two frigates, the one at that place, and the other at York; and in the +month of December, more than 120 shipwrights, together with 30 seamen, +engaged at Quebec, arrived in the Upper Province, and the building of the +two frigates immediately commenced. In the same month, directions were +given for the building of a ship, of the dimensions and tonnage of the +Queen Charlotte, together with several gun-boats at Amherstburg, on Lake +Erie. During the whole of the summer after the declaration of war, the +superiority of our fleet on Lake Ontario, had enabled us uninterruptedly to +transport from Kingston to York and Fort George, all the supplies of +stores, provisions, and reinforcements of men, necessary for the defence of +Upper Canada; nor was it until the month of November, when those services +had been completed, and our vessels were on the point of being laid up for +the winter, that with all the great advantages which they derived from the +immediate vicinity of their resources, particularly of officers and men, +seconded by the strenuous exertions which they made, the Americans were +able to do more than to fit out the Oneida, a vessel perfectly ready for +any service at the commencement of the war, and six small schooners, +carrying one or two heavy guns each. With this force they ventured out for +the first time on the Lake in the beginning of November, under the command +of Commodore Chauncey; and availing themselves of the absence of the Moira +brig, and our three schooners, at the head of the Lake, to make on the 11th +an ineffectual attack upon the Royal George, under the batteries of +Kingston, they retired to Sackett's Harbour, without attempting to +interrupt our vessels on their return to Kingston; nor did they again shew +themselves upon the Lake until the following year. Up to the month of +November, therefore, which may be called the conclusion of the first +campaign, as far as respected our means of defending the Province, our +ascendancy on Lake Ontario had been preserved. To this object, the measures +adopted by Sir George Prevost, by the building of the Prince Regent, and +the supply of officers and men furnished to our marine after the +commencement of the war, essentially contributed. The superior advantages +enjoyed by the enemy, in being able to obtain shipwrights and seamen to an +unlimited amount, together with the proximity of all their means for the +building and equipment of vessels, had enabled them to launch a frigate at +Sackett's Harbour, before the end of the year 1812, and to fit out a +squadron, which at the commencement of 1813, gave them a temporary +ascendancy on Lake Ontario, before officers and seamen could be sent to +Canada from England. This ascendancy on their part was, however, of short +duration, for we shall find in pursuing this subject, that the measures +planned by Sir George Prevost during the summer of 1812, and carried into +effect during the autumn and winter, were such as in their consequence +secured to us a full equality, and occasionally the superiority on that +Lake, during the two remaining campaigns. Of the nature and extent of the +exertions thus made by Sir George Prevost to increase our marine on Lake +Ontario, the Reviewer has himself furnished the most abundant proof. +"Such," he says, "were the zeal and exertions of Sir James Yeo and his +followers on their arrival at Kingston, that before the end of May they +were prepared to take the Lake with the British fleet,[37] now composed of +two ships of 24 and 22 guns, a brig of 14, and two schooners of 12 and 10 +guns." + +Sir James Yeo did not arrive at Quebec with his seamen, until the 5th May, +and it was not until after the 16th that he reached Kingston; to which +place Sir George Prevost had accompanied him from Montreal. The state of +forwardness in which he then found the fleet was such, that he was enabled +to complete its equipment, and actually to set sail on the 27th of the same +month, within little more than a week after his arrival at Kingston. The +previous exertion requisite to accomplish the building of the Wolfe, a ship +carrying 24 guns, the altering and refitting the brig Moira, and the making +of the various repairs and alterations in the other vessels, while at the +same time a ship of a large class had been built at York, and was nearly +ready to be launched in April, and a ship and several gun-boats were in a +state of great forwardness at Amherstburg, may be easily conjectured; +particularly, when it is considered that the stores and supplies of almost +every description, necessary for the armament and equipment of these +vessels, had been transported to the Upper Province from Quebec and +Montreal, the greater part of them during the winter, and through roads +before deemed impassable for many of the heavy articles required. These +difficulties were, however, soon surmounted by the energetic measures of +Sir George Prevost; and he had the satisfaction to find on his arrival at +Kingston, that the important object of having a fleet ready to take the +Lake as early as it was probable that officers and seamen could be sent +from England to command and man it, had been accomplished. Upon Sir James +Yeo's arrival, as already mentioned, not more than ten days were requisite +to put the squadron into a complete state of equipment, and from the period +of its appearance on the Lake, the enemy ceased to enjoy the temporary +ascendancy which their superior resources of men and supplies had enabled +them, during the preceding month, to acquire. The Reviewer has confidently +asserted, that these exertions to increase our marine ought to have been +earlier made; and that had they been so made, our ascendancy on the Lake +would have been retained, and York, together with the ship which was there +building, might have been saved. The answer to this has already been partly +given. Any extraordinary exertions to increase a marine so decidedly +superior to that of the enemy, before the probable continuation of the war +was clearly ascertained, and before any steps were taken by the Americans +to rival us in that respect, would not have been justified, by the +circumstances in which Sir George Prevost was then placed. It was not until +the beginning of September, that the termination of the armistice +manifested the intention of the American Government to continue the war; +nor were any effectual steps taken by them for a material increase of their +naval forces at Sackett's Harbour, until the month of October following, +when Commodore Chauncey and his seamen arrived at that place. It is +evident, therefore, that except in the construction of new vessels, and the +forwarding of the supplies necessary for their equipment, nothing further +could have been done at that period, to enable us to keep pace with the +exertions of the enemy; and that without officers and men, who could not be +expected before the spring, any number or description of vessels must have +been useless. + +Sir George Prevost, soon after the declaration of war, had called the +attention of Government, as well as that of the Admiral on the Halifax +station, to this subject. He had, therefore, every reason to expect that +either from England or from Halifax, he should early in the year receive +officers and seamen sufficient to fit out and man a fleet equal at least, +if not superior, to any that the enemy might at that time be able to +prepare. In this expectation Sir George Prevost was not disappointed; and +although the Admiral on the Halifax station had only been able to afford to +his strong solicitations on this head, Lieutenants Barclay and Fennis, to +act as captains, and four petty officers for lieutenants, who arrived over +land from New Brunswick at the end of April, this small supply of able and +spirited officers being immediately despatched to Kingston, materially +contributed, by their active services, to put the Fleet into the forward +condition in which it was found by Sir James Yeo on his arrival. + +Notwithstanding the active measures which were thus taken by Sir George +Prevost to maintain our ascendancy upon the Lakes, the Quarterly Reviewer +has thought proper to observe, that it is perfectly inconceivable how any +man, in Sir George Prevost's situation, could have been so infatuated, as +to disregard the importance of maintaining his superiority. The gross +injustice of this charge will be best proved by citing the words of Sir +George Prevost himself, in a letter of the 3rd February, 1813, addressed to +General Sheaffe. "The extreme anxiety I experienced respecting the naval +force to be employed on Lake Ontario, in the spring of this year, has +rendered the proceedings in the dock-yards at Kingston and York, subjects +highly interesting to me. You may therefore suppose I shall expect to find +the exertions at both these places to have fully corresponded with the +magnitude of the object and the difficulties surmounted in forwarding from +hence the numerous supplies required for that service." + +Much has been said by the Reviewer upon the incompetency of the person +commanding, and of the other officers belonging to our Provincial marine on +Lake Ontario.[38] Whatever might have been the want of energy and +enterprise on the part of Earle, in the instance to which the critic has +alluded, and the circumstances of which he has greatly exaggerated, Sir +George Prevost did not think it incumbent upon him, on that account, to +deprive himself of the services of that officer, who was acknowledged to be +a tried and skilful navigator of the Lake, at a period when those services +were particularly required for the transport of the various supplies +destined for the upper parts of the Province. He was, therefore, retained +in the command, not only as being highly useful for the purposes for which +he was wanted, but because no person could then be found adequate to supply +his place. That the captain of the Tartarus sloop of war, then at Quebec, +needed but a hint from Sir George Prevost[39] to proceed with his crew to +Lake Ontario, and supersede Earle and his feeble followers, may well be +doubted, when we consider the state of the squadron to which he belonged, +and the services required from it at the commencement of the war. Whether +such a plan was beyond Sir George's _capacity_,[40] may be left for the +reader to determine. Had he, however, adopted it, he would certainly have +evinced a great want of consistency and judgment. He was, at that period, +in the act of negociating with General Dearborn for the armistice, which +afterwards took place, with the reasonable expectation that the revocation +of the Orders in Council would lead to a return of peace between Great +Britain and America. Our force at that time on Lake Ontario was so +decidedly superior, not only to what the enemy possessed on those waters, +but to any which they could hope for several months to fit out, that an +addition, either to its amount or efficiency, seemed to be uncalled for and +unnecessary. Offensive operations of any description, on our part, were not +in contemplation; and to every purpose of defensive warfare our means on +the Lake were amply competent. To have deprived the Admiral, on the Halifax +station, of the services of the Tartarus, when every ship was required by +him for the protection of our trade from the numerous cruizers of the +enemy, without any adequate object in view, would have been altogether +unjustifiable on the part of Sir George Prevost. Whether, if the captain +and seamen of the Tartarus had been sent to Lake Ontario, the enemy's +flotilla, preparing at Sackett's Harbour,[41] could have been destroyed; +or whether, if ship-carpenters had, at the commencement of the war, been +sent to Kingston, we could have built as rapidly as the enemy, cannot be +proved, as neither course was attempted: nor is it material to the present +discussion that it should be proved; the only question being, whether Sir +George Prevost, in the then state of affairs, ought to have adopted either +measure. From the preceding statement, it appears that he would not have +been warranted in so doing. The observation of the Reviewer,[42] that the +common-place attempt to hire, at Quebec, sailors for the Lake at one-half +the wages which merchants were giving at the same moment, was the only +exertion used to strengthen our flotilla, would not merit notice, if it +were not for the purpose of exposing the writer's disingenuousness and want +of candour. He must have known, when he made the assertion, that the +merchants at Quebec hire their sailors for what is called the run-home (to +England), and that for this purpose double and triple the amount of the +common wages is frequently given; one-half, therefore, of that amount for a +permanency, and on the Lake establishment, which held out many advantages +to the men, was, as it proved, a sufficient inducement for them to enter +into that service, and as many of the description required as could be +found at Quebec, were procured by active and intelligent officers sent for +that purpose. To these were added some valuable and experienced seamen from +two transports then in the river St. Lawrence; and this supply of seamen, +together with an additional number of shipwrights and other workmen, was +during the winter forwarded to Kingston and York. + +The situation of York for the building of one of the frigates laid down in +December, as before stated, has been censured by the Reviewer,[43] as +holding out to the enemy an invitation to destroy it, from the defenceless +state of that fort. Long before the first certain intelligence had been +received by Sir George Prevost, of the building of a new ship at Sackett's +Harbour, or of the fitting out of their flotilla there, Captain Gray, as +already mentioned, one of the most intelligent officers of the +Quarter-Master-General's department, had been sent to the Upper Province, +to ascertain the fittest situation for the construction of new vessels, +whenever such a measure should become necessary. It was in consequence of +the communication which that officer had with Major-General Brock, who had +the highest confidence in his abilities, that it was decided that one ship +should be built at York and the other at Kingston. Both places were alike +exposed to attack from their unfortified state. York was certainly the +weakest, although General Brock had recommended that place as the fittest +and most secure, if strengthened, for a naval dock-yard on Lake Ontario. In +determining to build at both places, it was thought most prudent not to run +the hazard of losing both vessels from the possibility of a successful +attempt of the enemy to destroy them, should they both be constructed at +either of those places. The most effectual measures, on the part of Sir +George Prevost and of those acting under him in the Upper Province, were +taken to strengthen and fortify both York and Kingston, and it was expected +that the enemy would be repelled in any attack upon either. It was not +doubted, but that if York should be attacked and taken, the ship which was +building there, might be, as she in fact was, destroyed, and thus be +prevented from increasing the strength of the enemy, whilst Kingston might +in the mean time be made too strong to occasion any fear for the safety of +the fleet in that port. The result shewed the wisdom of this determination, +and the capture of York, which considering the overwhelming force of the +enemy, was not to be prevented, evidently preserved Kingston. + +The only advantage which the Americans derived in this attack, as respected +our marine, was the destruction of the new ship, and the capture of an +inconsiderable quantity of stores designed for her, together with the +Gloucester schooner, then lying a mere hulk, under repairs for a transport. +It may in this place be proper briefly to notice another assertion of the +Reviewer, respecting our marine--that the enemy commanded the waters of +Lake Champlain[44] with a flotilla, before the British Commander in Chief +had directed the construction of a single gun-boat to oppose them. That +this should have been the fact, will not appear at all remarkable, when it +is known that the waters of that Lake belong exclusively to the Americans, +who enjoyed the most abundant means and resources for fitting out a fleet, +from the number of vessels constantly navigating it for the purposes of +trade. It was only necessary to arm and equip some of the vessels of that +description, and their command of the water would be undisputed. At the +commencement of the war, and for some time afterwards, we neither did nor +could possess any force capable of meeting them; but that this subject was +not viewed with indifference by Sir George Prevost, notwithstanding the +variety of other and more important concerns which commanded his attention, +may be inferred from the fact, that in June, 1813, in less than twelve +months after the commencement of the war, our force of gun-boats on the +Richelieu river, communicating with Lake Champlain, was such, that in +conjunction with our troops at Isle aux Noix, they were sufficient for the +capture of two fine schooners of the enemy, each carrying 11 guns, and 45 +men. To have attempted to create any other force, except gun-boats, for the +purpose of defending the Richelieu, would, when no offensive operations +were contemplated, have been an useless waste of those means which were +required and employed for the increase of our marine on the other Lakes. + +These observations upon Sir George Prevost's conduct with respect to our +marine on the Lakes, may be concluded by a reference to the opinion of the +public bodies in Upper Canada, with regard to the exertions of the +Commander of the forces, in preserving our naval ascendancy on those +waters. + +These documents afford a strong proof of the sentiments almost universally +entertained on this head, by persons most capable, from their knowledge of, +and interest in the subject, of appreciating the merits of Sir George +Prevost's exertions. + +In the address of the House of Assembly of Upper Canada,[45] in answer to +the President's speech at the opening of the Provincial Parliament, 27th +February, 1813, they say, "We learn, with the highest satisfaction, that +the most vigorous measures have been adopted under the direction of the +Commander of the forces, and are now in operation, to strengthen the +Provincial Marine, and preserve the superiority of the Lakes so essential +to the prosperity of this Province." The same expressions occur in the +address of the Legislative Council, and in March following, on Sir George +Prevost's arrival in Upper Canada, the House of Assembly and town of York +addressed him in similar terms. + +The campaign of 1813 opened, on the part of the Americans, with the attack +and capture of York. The squadron under Commander Chauncey employed on this +expedition, after landing part of the force at the Niagara frontier, +returned to Sackett's Harbour, from whence it again sailed towards the end +of May, with another strong force collected from that place and its +neighbourhood, for the purpose of uniting with the troops on the Niagara +frontier, in an attack upon Fort George. In this attack, which took place +on the 27th May, the overwhelming numbers of the enemy prevailed, and the +small but gallant band of about 1,500 men, under Brigadier-General +Vincent, which had, for more than two hours, opposed nearly 5,000 of the +Americans, after evacuating Fort George, spiking the guns, and destroying +the ammunition, retreated towards the head of the Lake, General Vincent +having first called in all the detachments from the different Posts on that +frontier. + +The enemy, pursuing his advantages, pushed forwards a force of between +3,000 and 4,000 infantry and cavalry, with nine pieces of artillery, to +attack the position which General Vincent occupied at Burlington. Previous, +however, to their reaching that point, a well-concerted, daring, and +spirited attack was made upon their camp in the night, by a party of +General Vincent's force, and under his command, which proved completely +successful as a surprise, and Generals Winder and Chandler, the two senior +officers, together with 100 prisoners, and four field-pieces being taken, +the enemy, after destroying their stores and provisions, &c. precipitately +retreated, until they joined the main body of their army. While these +operations were proceeding, the most active measures were taking at +Kingston to fit out and equip a fleet which might be able to dispute with +the enemy the temporary ascendancy which they had gained on the Lake; but +whatever efforts might be made to construct vessels and prepare them for +service, it must be obvious that no advantage could be derived from any +number or description of vessels without officers and seamen. The only +reinforcement which up to this period, the end of April, Sir George Prevost +had been able to obtain from the Admiral commanding on the Halifax station, +consisted of the three lieutenants, and four petty officers, whose arrival +at Kingston has been already mentioned, and whose active services had very +much accelerated the equipment of our squadron before Sir James Yeo took +the command of it. Previous to the arrival of Sir George Prevost at that +place in May, his extreme anxiety respecting the naval force preparing on +both Lakes, had induced him, during the depth of winter, to proceed in the +month of February, from the Lower Province to Kingston, York, and Fort +George, where his presence must have essentially contributed to impart +increased activity to the preparations then making for the opening of the +next campaign. The zeal and energy thus displayed by him in his +indefatigable endeavours to promote the public service, although justly +appreciated by the inhabitants of both provinces, could not protect him +from the unfounded accusations of the Reviewer,[46] who informs his readers +that Sir George Prevost had excited the expectations of the Canadian +public, "that he had designed an attack upon Sackett's Harbour, where the +shipping was known to be very indifferently protected, by marching over the +ice, which was stronger at that time than had been known for many +years."--And that "the anxious inhabitants of the Provinces who had +witnessed his previous inactivity, with gloomy foreboding, were again +doomed to be disappointed." What the opinion of the inhabitants of the +Provinces was, with regard to Sir George Prevost's "_previous inactivity_," +has clearly been shewn from the different addresses presented to him at the +period alluded to. + +That Sackett's Harbour could at that time, or at any other period of the +winter, have been attacked with the smallest prospect of success, may be +confidently denied. So far from the shipping, which by the Reviewer's[47] +own showing, was a formidable squadron, commanded by an experienced +officer, and manned by more than 500 able seamen, being, as he has +asserted, indifferently protected, the enemy had constructed batteries for +their defence, and it was known that a very considerable force had been +assembled at that post, and in its neighbourhood, in order to be ready for +embarkation as soon as the season would permit the fleet to take the Lake. +To have attempted with the small force which then garrisoned Kingston, and +which was scarcely sufficient for its defence, an expedition against an +enemy's position, capable of a determined resistance, when it is considered +that the troops would have been obliged to march several miles over the ice +before they could reach the American territory, from whence they would +still have been 15 miles distant from the object of their attack, and +exposed during the whole of their approach to the concealed fire of the +enemy's troops in the woods, would have been, under the circumstances in +which Sir George Prevost was placed, with regard to his resources for +defending Kingston, the Key, as it has been termed, to the Lower Province, +little short of madness. Nothing but a determination to attach blame to the +conduct of Sir George Prevost could have induced the Reviewer to hazard so +groundless and unmilitary a stricture. That Sir George was alive to the +importance of attacking this place, and of destroying the means there +possessed by the enemy for increasing their marine, and for carrying on +from thence their offensive operations, will appear evident from the +measure which will be immediately adverted to, and which has drawn upon the +Commander of the forces the acrimonious censure of the Reviewer. + +In December, 1812, Sir George Prevost, aware of the importance of +strengthening himself against the threatened attempts upon the Canadas, in +the interval which would elapse before any reinforcements could by +possibility arrive from Europe, had directed Lieutenant-General Sir John +Sherbrooke, and Major-General Smyth, to make arrangements for forwarding to +him, during the winter, by land, the 104th regiment, then in New Brunswick. +This arduous march, which had not before been attempted, and which was +thought extremely hazardous, if not altogether impracticable, was effected +in the month of March without the loss of a single man, and by the end of +April six companies of that regiment arrived at Kingston. This accession to +the strength of that garrison enabled Sir George Prevost, who, as already +stated, reached Kingston with Sir James Yeo about the middle of May, to +avail himself of the opportunity afforded by the sailing of the American +fleet for the head of the Lake, to attempt a diversion in favour of the +points threatened by the enemy on the Niagara frontier. The expedition +against Sackett's Harbour was accordingly resolved upon, the moment the +absence of the enemy's squadron was ascertained. The circumstances which +attended this expedition, have been misrepresented in the most +extraordinary manner by the Quarterly Reviewer,[48] who, instead of +ascribing the failure of the enterprise to its real and natural causes, as +given in the official report of Colonel Baynes,[49] and which will now be +more particularly detailed, has not scrupled to attribute that failure to +the indecision and misconduct of the Commander of the forces. As the whole +force, which could be mustered for this service, hardly exceeded 700 men, +consisting of the greater part of the garrison of Kingston, it must be +obvious that means so inadequate could justify an attempt to carry +Sackett's Harbour only by surprise. This, in fact, was the sole object in +view; and the troops being embarked, together with two field-pieces, on +board of our squadron, sailed in the evening of the 27th May, under the +immediate command of Colonel, now Major-General Baynes. Sanguine hopes were +entertained of teaching the enemy's post in the course of the night, when +the surprise would have been complete, and our success infallible; but +owing to light and baffling winds, it was not until between 10 and 11 +o'clock on the following morning, the 28th, that our fleet was able to +approach within 12 or 15 miles of Sackett's Harbour. Previously to this, +and as soon as our squadron had been discovered from the port, alarm-guns +had been fired, and boats were seen filled with armed men, continually +passing down the shores of the Lake, from Oswego towards Sackett's Harbour, +to assist in its defence. In the mean time, the troops on board the fleet +were held in readiness for landing in the boats, as soon as the vessels +should have approached sufficiently near to the shore for that purpose, as +well as for insuring their co-operation in the attack. At this period, +unfortunately, the wind, which had been rather fair, though light, +altogether failed, and shortly afterwards the breeze came almost +immediately from the point which the fleet was endeavouring to approach. To +have attempted a landing in boats, at the distance of fifteen miles from +the object of attack, would have been a most tedious and hazardous +undertaking, exposed, as the men must have been, to the fire of musketry +and field-pieces from the shore, and to the direct _enfilade_ of all the +heavy cannon in the enemy's forts and batteries. The day was too far +advanced to leave any hope of completing the service before dark; and +without the efficient co-operation of the fleet, which, from the state of +the wind, could not be obtained, the most gallant exertions of the troops, +as was afterwards proved, would have been ineffectual. From these +circumstances, it was the unanimous opinion of the principal officers of +the expedition under Colonel Baynes, who, together with Sir James Yeo, had +been consulted by him as to the expediency of persevering in the +enterprise, that the attempt should be abandoned, and orders were +accordingly given for the return of the squadron to Kingston. The incident +of the surrender of the cavalry officer and his party, which is stated by +the Reviewer with his usual incorrectness, did certainly lead to the +determination, which was subsequently taken, of persisting in the +expedition; but it was the information obtained from those persons, with +regard to the force of the enemy, and their means of defence, which +principally influenced that determination. It appearing probable, from the +state of the wind, which towards evening again became favourable for +approaching Sackett's Harbour, that the men might be brought under cover of +the night to the point of attack, in which they would be supported by the +active co-operation of the fleet, it was resolved to make the attack at +day-break the following morning. In order to favour the belief that we had +abandoned the attempt, the ships' heads were kept towards Kingston until +the evening commenced, when the squadron stood in for the shore. The troops +were in the boats at ten o'clock, and confident hopes were indulged that, +on the approach to the landing at day-break, they would be assisted by the +artillery, and receive the effectual support and co-operation of the fleet, +which was judged most essential to the success of the undertaking. The +landing took place as was intended, nearly at day-break; and, considering +the local impediments, was effected in a style highly creditable to the +military skill of Colonel Baynes. Notwithstanding the want of our +artillery, which being on board of a schooner, towed by the boats of the +squadron, was still at a considerable distance, and the state of the wind, +which prevented the squadron from approaching the shore, our troops, after +landing and taking possession of one of their field-pieces and a tumbril, +had, by a spirited advance, driven the enemy before them, at the point of +the bayonet, through the woods, which were most obstinately maintained by +them, and had forced them to retire towards their works and loop-holed +barracks. But these works were found to be of such strength, as to render +it next to impossible for our small force, unprovided with heavy cannon, to +make any impression upon them. The men had been now engaged for several +hours, and had sustained a considerable loss. It was at this period that +Sir George Prevost, who had landed shortly after the troops, and who had +followed their course and progress, came up with the main body engaged with +the enemy; and it was then that he received from the officer commanding the +expedition, the report of the manner in which the enemy had been driven +towards their works and loop-holed barracks, and of the difficulty, if not +impossibility, of forcing them without the aid of our artillery and the +co-operation of our fleet. The former, with all the exertions made in +towing the schooner, had not been landed; and the latter, from the state of +the wind, could not approach sufficiently near for their guns to bear upon +the enemy's batteries. + +The Commander of the forces then, for the first time, interfered, so as to +give any orders respecting the expedition. Though there was scarcely a hope +of success, yet he determined not to abandon the enterprise whilst a +possibility of attaining his object remained. He accordingly directed +Colonel Baynes to concentrate his scattered force, and to advance upon the +enemy, who were posted in considerable numbers in front of and behind their +loop-holed barracks. Not more than from 300 to 400 men could be assembled +for this last attack. It was, however, made by this small band with +intrepid gallantry. The enemy, though superior in numbers, were driven from +their position, and forced to take shelter in the town; but in the further +attempt to approach the works, our troops were met by such a galling and +destructive fire of grape and musketry, both in front and flank, that they +were compelled to abandon a contest to which their numbers were so unequal. +The force of the enemy, at this period, consisted, by their own +acknowledgment, exclusive of their killed and wounded, of upwards of 1,100 +men, including 142 artillerymen. They were strongly posted in Fort +Tompkins, armed with heavy guns, and in their block-houses and loop-holed +barracks, the very situation which renders the youngest American recruit (a +marksman from his youth), more than a match for the most experienced +veteran. Our force was reduced to nearly one-third of its effective +strength from the casualties of the field, and from the absence of those +who had withdrawn to the rear with the wounded and prisoners. We possessed +not a single field-piece, the artillery not having yet been landed. Colonel +Young had retired from exhaustion, in consequence of previous illness. All +the other field-officers, one excepted, were wounded, together with most of +the captains and subalterns. Captain Mulcaster commanding the gun-boat, +made every exertion in his power; but there was no hope of assistance from +the fleet, in consequence of the state of the wind. Under such +circumstances, that so small a band, exhausted by previous exertion, should +have attacked and carried Fort Tompkins, the block-houses, and the +remaining loop-holed barracks of the enemy, so numerously defended as they +were, might probably be expected by such experienced warriors as the +Quarterly Reviewer, and those upon whose authority he relies; but it was +apparent to every officer and man who was present, that success was +impossible. Such being the conviction of the Commander of the forces, who +had witnessed with feelings of poignant regret the last gallant though +unavailing exertions of his troops, he reluctantly ordered their +re-embarkation, which was effected in the most perfect order, and without +the slightest precipitation, the enemy not attempting to offer the least +molestation. This expedition, though certainly attended with a considerable +loss on our part, was not unproductive of advantage to us, or of damage and +serious inconvenience to our adversaries. Their apprehensions of the result +of the last attack, ignorant as they were of the trifling force by which it +was made, induced them to set fire to their new ship and naval arsenal; and +although, afterwards, when their fear subsided, from a more perfect +knowledge of the state of our force, they succeeded in extinguishing the +fire on board the ship, before it had got to any height, yet, by their own +acknowledgment, they lost their arsenal, with a large quantity of valuable +stores; while one field-piece, and upwards of 200 prisoners were brought +away, together with some camp-equipage, and another field-piece was +rendered useless. Their loss, also, in killed and wounded was, by their own +admission, upwards of 150 men. From this detail of facts, to the truth of +which there are abundant living witnesses to vouch, it must be obvious +that the main object of the expedition failed principally from the +smallness of our numbers, compared with the superior force of the enemy; +from the want of our artillery, which could not be landed in time; and +particularly from the little assistance which, from the state of the wind, +the squadron could afford in taking off the fire of the forts. So far from +nearly _two days_ being lost, as the Reviewer has stated,[50] it is +notorious to every person who was employed in that expedition, that the +fleet sailed on the evening of the 27th May from Kingston, and did not +arrive at Sackett's Harbour until the morning of the 28th, when the +intended attack was prevented solely by the impossibility of approaching +the shore from the state of the wind, and that it did in fact take place on +the following morning, the 29th, within 24 hours after the fleet had +appeared off the place. It is a fact equally well known to every person +engaged in this enterprise, that Sir George Prevost did not take the +personal command of it, in the sense in which the Reviewer[51] would have +it understood. That he accompanied the expedition was never denied, or +attempted to be concealed. His zealous and anxious feelings prompted him to +that measure, to prevent any delay in the contemplated service, should a +reference to him become necessary. It is freely admitted, that when +present he could not divest himself of his authority, or responsibility as +Commander of the forces. But independently of its being contrary to all +military usage, for the Governor in Chief and Commander of the forces in +British North America, to assume the immediate command[52] of so +inconsiderable a force, no instance of his interference took place until +the period of the last attack, which certainly produced the greatest damage +that the enemy sustained. The order to retreat was neither precipitate,[53] +nor one which the gallant officers "believed with difficulty."[54] They +were all convinced, not excepting the naval commander, Sir James Yeo, that +it was impossible longer to contend with any prospect of success, and with +our diminished means, against the superior numbers and resources of the +enemy. It may indeed be confidently asserted, in direct opposition to the +Reviewer's statement, that although "the troops withdrew to their boats in +disappointment," at their not having been able to accomplish their object, +they felt no disgrace in retiring from a contest which they had so long and +so bravely supported; nor did either officers or men experience any +indignation or shame at a retreat which, after the most gallant, though +unavailing exertions, they knew to be indispensable for their own +preservation. It may here be observed, that the situation of our troops at +the time of the retreat was most critical. At that very period, a +reinforcement of 600 men, under Colonel Tuttle, reached Sackett's Harbour. +With the overwhelming superiority which this accession to their force gave +the enemy, it is obvious that with very moderate pretensions to either +skill or enterprise, they might have opposed most formidable obstacles to +our re-embarkation. A further perseverance in the attack on our part, or +the least delay in the retreat, would probably have ended in the capture or +destruction of the whole of our troops. Fortunately, the coolness and +deliberation with which that measure was executed, served to deceive the +enemy with regard to our numbers and losses; and the re-embarkation being +effected without opposition, the troops returned the same day to Kingston +with the field-piece, camp-equipage, and prisoners which they had taken. + +On the following morning the American squadron, which had been recalled +from the head of the Lake to the assistance of Sackett's Harbour, appeared +off Kingston, and it was a most fortunate circumstance that they did not +fall in with our fleet, encumbered as it was with troops and wounded men. +One material advantage immediately accrued from this expedition, by the +recal of the enemy's fleet to Sackett's Harbour. Sir George Prevost lost +not a moment in availing himself of the opportunity of their being in port, +to embark the 49th regiment on board the squadron, and to despatch it to +the head of the Lake to reinforce Brigadier-General Vincent, who was then +hard pressed by the enemy, and to whose small force that regiment proved an +important accession of strength at a very critical period. Sir James Yeo +accordingly sailed with, and safely landed them, and from that time our +full equality at least, if not our ascendancy, was established on Lake +Ontario. + +In reviewing the events that took place during the campaign of 1813, it +will be necessary to notice the operations on the Detroit frontier, and on +Lake Erie, more especially as the Commander of the forces has been accused +of neglecting the representations of Colonel Procter, who commanded in +that quarter. + +The battle of Frenchtown, in which the Americans were totally defeated, and +their General captured, was highly creditable to the talents of Colonel +Procter, who certainly, until the retreat from Amherstburgh, was entitled +to the reputation of a zealous and active officer. + +It is said by the Quarterly Reviewer, that at this period Colonel Procter +was positively restrained by Sir George Prevost from any offensive +operations. The nature of the instructions given by the Commander of the +forces to that officer has been already shewn; and will further appear by a +reference to the letters[55] of Sir George Prevost to Colonel, now become +Brigadier-General Procter, in answer to the despatches received from him, +announcing the different operations which had taken place in the Michigan +territory. These operations, though not always attended with success on the +part of General Procter, and though they occasioned a considerable +diminution of his small force from his repeated losses, were yet favourably +viewed by Sir George Prevost, who, as it appears from the correspondence +already referred to, was always disposed to give him full credit for his +exertions, and to put the most favourable construction upon his failures. +That Sir George Prevost was fully aware of the importance of General +Procter's position, and of the necessity of strengthening it by every means +in his power, will now be shewn by the testimony of General Procter +himself. + +The letters of that officer fully prove, in contradiction to the assertion +of the Reviewer, who has attributed to the Commander of the forces, the +neglect (if any took place) in forwarding to him the reinforcements which +he had so strongly solicited, that no such neglect is imputable to Sir +George Prevost. + +As early as the month of March, 1813, a confidential letter was addressed +by Sir George Prevost to General Procter, upon the subject of the +reinforcements he had solicited, and Captain M'Douall, one of the Commander +of the forces' Aids-de-camp, was sent for the purpose of ascertaining +General Procter's wants, and the best mode of relieving them. In the +correspondence between the Commander of the forces and General Vincent, the +situation of General Procter was constantly alluded to, and the former +officer was desired to pay his particular attention to the subject. On the +20th June, Sir George Prevost acquainted General Procter that General de +Rottenburg, who had been appointed to the command of the forces serving in +Upper Canada, had received his directions to push on the remainder of the +41st regiment, from the head of Lake Ontario to Amherstburgh. And in his +subsequent letters to General Procter, of the 11th and 12th July, after +stating that his wants of money, clothing, &c. had been supplied as far as +lay in the power of the Commander of the forces, and that those articles +were then on their passage to him, he informed him that the whole of the +41st regiment were either on their way, or would be with him before that +letter could arrive. This assurance was given by Sir George Prevost, in the +full confidence that the orders which he had sent to the officer commanding +in Upper Canada, for the immediate forwarding of the remainder of that +regiment to Amherstburgh, had been complied with. That they were not +complied with as early as Sir George Prevost intended they should be, was +owing to circumstances over which the Commander of the forces had no +control. The force under Major-General de Rottenburg, from which the 41st +regiment was to be detached, was then before an enemy greatly superior in +numbers and resources, and he was very unwilling to weaken it by sending +off the remainder of that regiment, until other reinforcements which were +on their way to him should arrive. It appears, however, by his letter to +Sir George Prevost, of 9th July, 1813, that he had, on the 6th of that +month, sent forward 120 men of that regiment to Long Point, in order that +thence they might be transported by means of the fleet to Amherstburgh, and +that it was his intention to send the remainder of the regiment to General +Procter, as soon as the Royals, then daily expected, should arrive. In a +subsequent letter from Sir George Prevost to Major-General de Rottenburg, +dated 23d July, 1813, in which his high opinion of General Procter's merits +and conduct is pointedly expressed, he says, "I trust the reinforcements +and supplies, which, in consequence of my orders to you, must be near him," +&c. + +From these letters it is evident that it was Sir George Prevost's intention +that General Procter should be reinforced to the extent he had required, +and that the commanding officers in Upper Canada, who from the peculiar +circumstances in which they were placed at the time, thought themselves +justified, as they really were, in so doing, were the persons who delayed +the forwarding of such reinforcements. + +That to this cause the delay was attributed by General Procter himself, is +unequivocally proved by his correspondence respecting it with the Commander +of the forces. The letter to Sir George Prevost, of the 4th July, 1813, to +which the Reviewer has referred,[56] commences in a way little to be +expected, from the extract which that writer has given from it. He says, "I +have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th ult. +and _am fully sensible_ that this district has received a due share of your +Excellency's attention. I beg to add, that _if I had received from the +Line_ the reinforcements _which you had directed should be sent_, I should +by this time," &c. + +It must not be forgotten that this letter was before the Reviewer, and that +he must therefore have designedly suppressed that portion of it, which +completely exonerates Sir George Prevost from any charge of neglect. + +In General Procter's next letter to the Commander of the forces, of the +11th July, he says, "I beg leave to add, that we are fully confident of +every _aid from your Excellency_, and of the fortunate result of the +contest, _if we are allowed the benefit of your consideration of us_; but I +am unfortunately so situated, that your best intentions towards me are of +no avail. If the means were afforded me, and which were no more than what +your Excellency has repeatedly directed, &c."--In his next letter to the +Commander of the forces, of the 13th July, he says, "The reinforcements +which have been reluctantly afforded me, _notwithstanding your Excellency's +intentions_, have been so sparingly and tardily sent me, as in a +considerable degree to defeat the purpose of their being sent. I have no +hopes of any aid from the _centre division_, where our situation is little +understood, or has ever been a secondary consideration."--These extracts +clearly shew that General Procter ascribed the delay in forwarding to him +the remainder of the 41st regiment, not to the Commander of the forces, but +to General de Rottenburg, who then commanded the centre division in Upper +Canada. + +Notwithstanding the Reviewer must have known this to have been the fact, +from the very correspondence he was quoting, he has had the hardihood to +say, "that although Sir George Prevost fully acknowledged, in his letter of +the 12th July, his immediate ability to grant the reinforcement General +Procter had asked for, in his letter of the 4th of that month, it will +scarcely be credited, that even after this, he should have suffered _above +five weeks_ to elapse before he _despatched_ the small amount of regular +troops, &c."[57] + +Now it appears from General de Rottenburg's letter, before referred to, +that 120 men of the 41st, _had been despatched_ to Amherstburgh on the 6th +July; and by a return made to the Military Secretary's Office, by Captain +Chambers, Deputy-Quarter-Master-General with General Procter's army, dated +Amherstburgh, 13th August, 1813, it further appears, that up to the _10th +August_, more than 300 rank and file of the 41st, and 41 rank and file of +the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, with nearly 50 officers and +non-commissioned officers, _had arrived at that post_, which was further +strengthened, within ten days afterwards, by a detachment of 50 provincial +dragoons. The cavalry and men of the Newfoundland Regiment were +particularly requested, by General Procter, in his correspondence with the +Commander of the forces, to be sent to him. + +It may here be observed, that General Procter appears to have attached by +far too much importance to his own command, and not to have made proper +allowances for the critical situation of the centre division, from which +his reinforcements were expected. Upon the safety of that division his own +altogether depended; for had they been defeated, or obliged to retire from +the Upper Province, he would have been cut off from all supplies and +assistance, and his capture would have been inevitable. Whereas, as +afterwards happened, a disaster to the force under General Procter, and the +capture of Amherstburgh, would not necessarily involve in it the safety of +the centre division. These reasons, without doubt, weighed with General de +Rottenburg, in retaining the remainder of the 41st regiment, until they +could be despatched to General Procter, without injury to the more +important service for which they were required on the Niagara frontier. + +Having thus proved that, as far as depended upon Sir George Prevost, +General Procter's requisitions, of every description, had been complied +with, we now proceed to shew that he did not neglect our marine on Lake +Erie. + +The Quarterly Reviewer, indeed, has not hesitated to say, "that in the +whole course of that vacillation and error, which unhappily distinguished +the administration of Sir George Prevost,[58] his imbecility of judgment +and action was most flagrant and palpable, in the circumstances which led +to the destruction of our marine on Lake Erie." These censures, unfounded +as they are, may perhaps be thought to require a more particular and +detailed reply. + +To the exertions made by Sir George Prevost, both before the war and after +its commencement, to preserve our naval ascendancy on Lake Erie, we have +already had occasion to refer. From these statements it will appear, that, +independently of the new schooner, Lady Prevost, launched, armed, equipped, +and upon the Lake, before the month of August, 1812, the Detroit, a ship to +carry 18 guns, which the Reviewer would have his readers believe was only +_laid down after Captain Barclay's arrival at Amherstburgh in June_,[59] +had been commenced building before the month of _March_ preceding, together +with several gun-boats. The latter were launched in April. The ship was, in +fact, in a state of considerable forwardness, when Captain Barclay assumed +the command on the Lake. Upon the declaration of war, we had only one ship +and a schooner on Lake Erie; and, within little more than a year +afterwards, our fleet there consisted of two ships, a brig, a schooner, and +two small vessels. In order properly to appreciate the efforts made for the +construction and armament of this squadron, it must be borne in mind that +the whole of the supplies necessary for that purpose, with the exception +perhaps of the timber alone, were to be transported from the Lower to the +Upper Province, by the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario, and from thence to +Lake Erie, where the superiority of our marine enabled us to convey them to +Amherstburgh. As the efficiency of this squadron necessarily depended upon +the number and discipline of the crews with which it was manned, the +subject of a supply of able seamen, for that service, early engaged the +attention of Sir George Prevost. Upon Sir James Yeo's arrival at Kingston, +and the appointment by him of Captain Barclay, to take the naval command +on Lake Erie, the Commander of the forces urgently requested Sir James to +supply that officer with a greater number of seamen than he was disposed, +from his own wants, to allow him. As the obtaining the naval ascendancy, on +Lake Ontario, was a primary consideration, and as the seamen whom Sir James +Yeo brought with him were not sufficient adequately to man his own ships, +Captain Barclay was obliged to proceed with a very scanty supply of men. +The Commander of the forces was in hopes that there might be other +opportunities of increasing Captain Barclay's force, and that, in the mean +time, the reinforcements which he intended, and immediately afterwards +directed, should be sent to General Procter, would enable him to spare a +sufficient number of soldiers for the use of the squadron on Lake Erie, +until Captain Barclay's wants could be more efficiently supplied. The first +letter from Captain Barclay, upon the subject of these wants, was addressed +to Brigadier-General Vincent, who then commanded on the Niagara frontier, +and was dated 17th June, 1813. The principal object of that letter was to +obtain a reinforcement of troops for General Procter, in order to enable +him to co-operate with Captain Barclay, in an attack upon the enemy's naval +establishment at Presqu' isle, and in that letter he expressly states that +he was making an application for seamen to Sir James Yeo. This +communication was forwarded to the Commander of the forces by General +Vincent, with an intimation that he should immediately push forward the +remainder of the 41st regiment, (a company of the regiment having been sent +by him the preceding month) in order to assist in the proposed attack upon +the enemy's fleet. Before the above letter either was or could be received +by Sir George Prevost, he had appointed Major-General de Rottenburg to the +command of the forces in Upper Canada, and had given him particular +directions for supplying General Procter's wants, and for immediately +despatching to him the remainder of the 41st regiment. The Reviewer has +asserted,[60] that "Captain Barclay stated the wants of his squadron in +men, stores, and guns, with the same truth and earnestness as General +Procter had repeatedly expressed; but the _only reply_ of Sir George +Prevost, to his statements, was a cold and general promise, in a letter to +General Procter, that some petty officers and seamen, for Lake Erie, should +be sent forward on the first opportunity." + +Captain Barclay's wants were particularly detailed by him to the Commander +of the forces, in the only letter he addressed to him on the subject, dated +Long Point, 16th July, 1813. The receipt of this letter was acknowledged +by Sir George Prevost, on the 21st of the same month, he having the day +before sent an extract from it, with a strong letter of representation upon +the subject, to Lord Bathurst. In this letter to Captain Barclay, Sir +George Prevost states, that he is fully aware of all that officer's +difficulties, and that he should endeavour to relieve his wants, as far as +was in his power, explaining to him the reasons which prevented him from so +doing to the extent required. He repeats, also, what he had before said to +General Procter, that Captain Barclay must endeavour to obtain his naval +stores from the enemy, but that being satisfied that such a measure could +not be effected without an addition to his present strength, he had +strongly pressed upon Sir James Yeo the necessity of immediately sending +forward to him a supply of petty officers and seamen, and that he (Sir J. +Yeo), had assured the Commander of the forces that he would do so without +delay: that he had also given positive directions for the remainder of the +41st regiment to be sent to General Procter, and hoped that the arrival of +these reinforcements would afford the timely means of attempting something +against the enemy's flotilla, before it should be in a state to venture out +upon the Lake.--With this assurance from Sir James Yeo, that seamen and +officers should be supplied to Captain Barclay, and in the hope that his +repeated orders for the reinforcement of General Procter, with the +remainder of the 41st regiment, had been complied with, Sir George Prevost +might with justice point out to Captain Barclay the necessity of supplying +his further wants from the enemy's resources,[61] more especially as +General Procter had repeatedly declared that a supply of troops alone would +be sufficient to enable him to succeed in an attack upon Presqu'isle. + +Subsequent to Captain Barclay's letter to the Commander of the forces, of +the 16th July, all further representations respecting the supply of seamen +for Lake Erie, were made by General Procter, in his letters to Sir George +Prevost. The several answers to these representations the Reviewer has not +thought proper to notice, contenting himself with giving a partial and +immaterial extract from Sir George Prevost's letter to General Procter, of +the 22nd August, evidently for the purpose of introducing what he is +pleased to term a _taunt_, but which was in fact neither designed as such +by Sir George, nor so considered by the gallant Captain Barclay. After +stating that General Procter had, in his letter of the 18th August, 1813, +announced to the Commander of the forces, that the Detroit was launched, +and that, if he had seamen, a few hours would place that district in +security, the Reviewer adds, "but instead of replying to this application, +with _an immediate reinforcement of seamen_, the Commander-in-chief +answered it as usual, on the 22nd of August, with mere promises." + +Without dwelling upon the Reviewer's error in supposing that Sir George +Prevost, who had no control whatever over the seamen belonging to the +squadron on Lake Ontario, who were exclusively under the orders of Sir +James Yeo, could by any possibility immediately have sent forward to +Captain Barclay the reinforcement of seamen required, we shall shew that +Sir George Prevost's answer to the application was not one of _mere +promises_, but that the reinforcement required, and which had been +previously provided by him, was then actually on its way to its +destination. Within two days after the date of the letter of the Commander +of the forces to Captain Barclay before referred to, he acquainted General +Procter that Sir James Yeo had assured him, that as many petty officers and +seamen as could be spared, should be forwarded to Captain Barclay without +delay, but that he, Sir George Prevost, much feared they would, as to +numbers, fall short of his expectations. That he was, however, endeavouring +to obtain a further supply from Quebec, which he meant should be +exclusively appropriated for the service of Lake Erie. This letter, which +was an answer to that of General Procter, of the date of 13th July,[62] +referred to by the Reviewer, has been altogether suppressed by him, as well +as the material fact that almost immediately after the letter of 13th July +was written, General Procter relinquished the intended expedition against +Presqu'isle, although 120 men of the 41st had been sent forward to Long +Point, to be there taken on board by Captain Barclay for that purpose, and +employed the whole of his disposable force in an unsuccessful expedition to +Forts Meigs and Sandusky, by which proceeding that force was considerably +diminished. In his answer of the 22d to General Procter's letter of the +18th August, before referred to, an extract from which is given in the +note, Sir George Prevost expressed his opinion of that expedition, and +stated the measures he was taking to remedy the inconveniences which might +arise from it.[63] After mentioning the reinforcements which he intended +to send forward to General Procter, he informed him, that, of the three +troop-ships which had arrived at Quebec with De Meuron's regiment, two had +conveyed to Halifax 500 American prisoners of war, and the third, the +Dover, had been laid up _in consequence of his having directed +three-fourths of the officers and seamen to be landed and sent forward for +the naval service on the Lakes_; and that he had the satisfaction to inform +General Procter, that the first Lieutenant of that ship, with 50 or 60 +seamen, were then at Kingston, from whence they were to be forwarded, +without delay, to Amherstburgh. This circumstance Sir George Prevost +requested might be made known to Captain Barclay. This portion of the +letter, which so clearly shews the exertions Sir George Prevost had made, +and was then making, to send a supply of seamen to Lake Erie, the Reviewer, +with the whole letter before him, has thought proper to omit, and in lieu +of it, to insert as the only reply given by Sir George Prevost to General +Procter's request for further assistance, a passage in the letter[64] which +was evidently meant as a compliment to the bravery of General Procter's +troops, and an encouragement to him to persevere under the difficulties of +his situation, assured, as he must have been, that every endeavour was +making to relieve him. On the 26th August, four days after the date of the +last letter, the Military Secretary informed General Procter that Colonel +Talbot had been sent to the head of the Lake to await the arrival of the +seamen mentioned in his letter of the 25th, and to forward them to +Amherstburgh with all possible despatch. He was further informed, that 12 +24lb. carronades for the new ship, the Detroit, were expected in the fleet +at Burlington Bay, and General Procter was desired to request Captain +Barclay, on his arrival at Long Point, to send off an express to the +officer commanding at Burlington Heights, to say when he would be ready to +receive them on board. In this letter, the Military Secretary, Captain +Freer says, "His Excellency trusts, that upon the arrival of the seamen, +Captain Barclay will be able to make his appearance on the Lake to meet the +enemy." + +From all that has been stated upon this subject, it must satisfactorily +appear, that every exertion in the power of Sir George Prevost was made by +him to supply the wants of Captain Barclay and the squadron, both with +seamen and stores, and that at the very period when the action was fought, +more men were on their way to him. + +The truth of the Reviewer's assertion, that the conduct of Sir George +Prevost contributed to the destruction of our marine on Lake Erie, will be +best ascertained by a reference to Captain Barclay himself; and the +following letter from that officer to the present Sir George Prevost, will +clearly shew how unwarrantably the character of the Commander of the forces +in the Canadas has been attacked on this occasion. + + "_Edinburgh, 14th January, 1823._ + + "Sir, + + "I have had the honor to receive a letter from Miss + Prevost, acquainting me that the family of the late + Lieut.-General Sir George Prevost are preparing a + pamphlet, in vindication of his memory and conduct, so + ungenerously and cruelly aspersed in the Quarterly + Review for October, 1822, and appealing to me for the + truth or falsehood of that portion of the article, + which attributes the defeat and capture of His + Majesty's squadron on Lake Erie, then under my command, + to the imbecility of his conduct, and general + inattention to our necessities. + + "I most deeply lament that an article so ungenerous and + severe, should have been written, when the object of + its hostility has been so long in his grave, which must + not only lacerate most deeply the feelings of his + family, but which also tends to open again a + controversy which I had hoped was at rest. + + "Agitated, however, as the question again is, by this + anonymous publication; appealed to as I am for its + truth or falsehood, I declare that as far as relates + to Lake Erie, nothing can be more false and groundless. + So contrary indeed is the fact, that I can say, the + only communication which was made by me direct to the + Commander of the forces, and which I was only induced + to make by the extreme urgency of the case, was + answered by his ordering a reinforcement of seamen from + Quebec, and which I am confident would have been + larger, _had it been possible to have waited_ for them. + + "It is also but justice in me to declare, that I ever + considered his peremptory order[65] to risk a battle, + (which, however, did not arrive till after the battle + was over,) arose from his firm conviction of the + paramount necessity of a strenuous exertion on the part + of the navy for the preservation of the post, and from + a generous desire on his part, to share with me the + responsibility of a measure so hazardous, should the + issue prove unsuccessful. + + I have the honor to be, + Sir, + + Your most obedient servant, + R. H. BARCLAY. + + "_Sir George Prevost, Bart. + Oriel College, Oxford._" + +The subjoined extract of a letter from Sir James Yeo to Sir George Prevost, +will also shew that the Naval Commander on the Lakes entertained a very +different opinion on this subject from the Reviewer. + + "_Kingston, 23d March, 1814._ + + "Dear Sir, + + "I have had the honor of your Excellency's letter of + the 14th inst. + + "It is impossible any person can be more truly sensible + of your Excellency's unremitting attention and + assiduity to every thing connected with the naval + department in this country than myself, &c. + + * * * * * + + I have the honour to remain, + With the highest respect, + Dear Sir, + Your Excellency's + Most obedient servant, + JAMES LUCAS YEO." + +With regard to the naval action on Lake Erie, we shall only observe, that +it certainly was not lost from the want of skill or courage on the part of +the officers and men of our squadron. The decided superiority of the enemy +in their weight of metal and seamen, gave them an advantage which the +bravest efforts of our squadron, directed and encouraged by the +distinguished gallantry and conduct of their Commander, were insufficient +to resist. The causes of the disastrous result of that action are best +told, in the words of the sentence of the Court-martial upon Captain +Barclay and his officers, which will be found in the Appendix.[66] The +situation of General Procter was such, after this disaster, as to render it +indispensable for him to take the most prompt and energetic measures for +withdrawing his troops from posts which were no longer tenable, and to join +the main body of the army on the Niagara frontier, to whose force he knew +his men would prove a seasonable and powerful accession. Upon this +disastrous retreat it is unnecessary to dwell. It must, however, be +remarked, that from the sentence of the Court-martial upon General Procter, +and the subsequent remarks upon that sentence by order of His Royal +Highness the Prince Regent, it certainly appears that General Procter did +not avail himself, with sufficient energy and activity of the period which +elapsed between the loss of our fleet and the action at the Moravian +village, to effect the important object of retiring with his troops to a +place of safety. + +However meritorious had been the conduct of General Procter, and of the +troops serving under him previous to his retreat from Amherstburgh, it was +not possible for Sir George Prevost to avoid noticing in the public orders, +which announced to the army the capture of the greater part of those troops +at the Moravian town, what appeared to him the disgraceful circumstances +with which the affair had been attended. Although General Procter might +feel hurt by the reflections thus passed upon his conduct, yet the +Commander of the forces, in consideration of his former services, was +unwilling to make that conduct the subject of public investigation, until +His Majesty's Government, to whom General Procter's explanation had been +submitted, should determine upon the course to be pursued. It was in +obedience to their orders that General Procter was at length put upon his +trial.[67] + +That the charges against General Procter could only rest upon the events of +the retreat which he was accused of misconducting, and that "a long period +of arduous services and neglected representations"[68] could form _no part +of such charges_, must be obvious to the lowest capacity. General Procter +had, of course, the opportunity of availing himself of those services +before the Court-martial, and that he did so the nature of the sentence +would lead us to suppose. But it surely cannot be inferred from the opinion +of the Court, that Sir George Prevost had any other motive in preferring +the charges, than the good of the service, and obedience to the commands of +his superiors. Whether, under these circumstances, and with the knowledge +of Sir George Prevost's military life, which the Reviewer must have +possessed, he is justified in making the gross insinuation with which he +concludes his strictures on this subject, will be left to the candid reader +to determine. + +The greater part of the troops under General Procter having been captured, +General Vincent was compelled immediately to retreat to Burlington Heights, +a measure which the information received by that officer of the extent of +General Procter's loss, and the probable immediate advance of the enemy, +seemed to render indispensable. + +The first intelligence received of General Procter's defeat was through a +Staff-Adjutant, who had escaped from the field of battle, and who, by +exaggerated accounts of this disaster, and of the consequences to be +expected from it, spread terror and dismay through the country as he +passed rapidly along to Kingston, where he arrived on the 12th October. In +the mean time, General Vincent, whom these reports had reached, and who had +also on the 8th received from General Procter intelligence of the action, +had begun his retreat from the four-mile creek, and had halted at the +twelve-mile creek, when a communication from Colonel Young, at Burlington, +induced him immediately to fall back upon that place as a post where he +might with less difficulty maintain himself if attacked, and where he might +wait for instructions from General de Rottenburg, the officer commanding in +Upper Canada. + +General de Rottenburg, who was on his way from York to Kingston, when the +intelligence of General Procter's defeat overtook him on the road, +immediately sent to General Vincent, directing him, in his despatch of the +10th October, if he did not consider himself sufficiently strong to hold +out against the superior force of the enemy, to destroy the stores, &c. and +to fall back on Kingston. These directions, it is to be observed, were +given under the impression created by the Staff-Adjutant's account, which, +in a very short time was discovered to be greatly exaggerated; and it +appears from General Vincent's letter to General de Rottenburg, previous to +the receipt of the despatch last mentioned, as well as from the one in +answer to it, that he had no immediate intention of retreating from the +position he then occupied, although he thought circumstances might +afterwards render such a measure necessary. In the mean time the same +exaggerated accounts of the action at the Moravian village, which had been +carried to Kingston, having been received at Montreal by the Commander of +the forces, together with General de Rottenburg's despatches, communicating +the orders he had sent to General Vincent in consequence of that +intelligence, Sir George Prevost in his letter to General de Rottenburg of +the 18th October, approved of those orders, and directed them to be carried +into execution. + +On the 18th October, the very day on which this last despatch was dated, +General de Rottenburg informed Sir George Prevost, by letter, that the +Staff-Adjutant's account, by which he had been induced to give the +directions to General Vincent to retreat to York, preparatory to falling +back on Kingston, was false and scandalous. As soon as it was thus +ascertained at head-quarters at Montreal, what the real nature of General +Procter's disaster was, the Commander of the forces having also reason to +believe, from the information transmitted to him by General de Rottenburg, +that the enemy had designs upon York from Sackett's Harbour, instructions, +dated the 29th October, were sent to that officer, directing him to +prevent General Vincent's further retreat, and to order him to occupy both +Burlington and York with the force under his command. The orders, which +were accordingly sent from General de Rottenburg to General Vincent to that +effect on the 1st November, were received by him on the 4th, and he in +consequence remained in the position he then occupied at Burlington +Heights, which undoubtedly led afterwards to the recovery of the Niagara +frontier. + +From the above correspondence it incontrovertibly appears, that the orders +transmitted from the Commander of the forces, through General de Rottenburg +to Major-General Vincent, were the real and only cause of that officer's +_not retreating_ to York, and of his continuing to hold his position at +Burlington; which, as appears by his own letter of the 27th October, before +referred to, he was preparing to leave on the 1st November. + +Sir George Prevost's orders to General Vincent, to fall back upon Kingston, +had not reached him on the 23rd October; previous to which, his orders to +retreat had been discretionary. On the 27th he was preparing to obey them, +and on the 4th of November he received orders to remain where he was. + +There cannot, therefore, be a doubt of the gross incorrectness of all the +Reviewer's statements,[69] of the repeated peremptory orders to retreat; +of the advice which the firmness of General Procter and others had induced +them to give General Vincent to disobey those orders, and of his being +persuaded upon their responsibility to adopt it. + +It was, in fact, the prompt and decided measures of Sir George Prevost, as +soon as the truth, with regard to General Procter's defeat, was made known +to him, that alone prevented General Vincent from continuing his retreat, +and that led to those offensive operations which followed shortly +afterwards on the Niagara frontier, and which, notwithstanding the attempt +made by the Reviewer to give the sole credit of them to General Vincent and +Colonel Murray, originated in the instructions which the former officer had +received from General de Rottenburg, then commanding in Upper Canada. Even +the attack upon Fort Niagara had previously been pressed upon the +consideration of Major-Generals de Rottenburg and Sheaffe, by the Commander +of the forces, as desirable, whenever circumstances might render such a +measure practicable. + +In summing up the events of the campaign of 1813, the Reviewer +observes,[70] "that on the British side, the occurrences of the year, on +the part of the _subordinate commanders_ and troops, presented a brilliant +series of achievements, the greater number of which were rendered nugatory +or imperfect in result, from the absence of all energy, talent, and +enterprise, in their Commander-in-Chief." + +In support of this opinion, which is sufficiently singular, considering +what the Reviewer has himself stated to have been the result of the +campaign, he adds, that the successes obtained by General Vincent and +Colonel Harvey, by General Procter, Colonel Murray, and Lieutenant-Colonel +Morrison, were ALL obtained either against the positive commands of Sir +George Prevost, or without any instructions from him; and that in the only +measure which could be ascribed to him, he endeavoured to wrest the merit +from Lieut.-Colonel De Salaberry, because he happened to arrive when the +enemy were beaten. + +The following observations will afford a full answer to this unfounded and +disgraceful attack upon the character and reputation of Sir George Prevost. +The brilliant affair at Stoney Creek, under Major-General Vincent and +Colonel Harvey, and the equally successful operation on the Michigan +frontier, when General Procter defeated the forces of Winchester and Clay, +arose out of the circumstances of the moment, of which those officers +immediately, with great judgment and gallantry, availed themselves. There +could, therefore, be no time for communication with the Commander of the +forces, and consequently the operations in question could not have taken +place in direct opposition to commands which were never received. With +regard to the general instructions under which the subordinate Commanders +acted, it has already been shewn that General Procter had discretionary +orders from Sir George Prevost to act on the defensive or otherwise, as +circumstances might require; so likewise had General Vincent; and the +marked approbation expressed, both in general orders, and in the despatches +to the Secretary of State announcing these events, is a further strong +proof that the conduct of those officers was in perfect accordance with the +orders and instructions which they had received from the Commander of the +forces. Colonel Murray's expedition against Plattsburg was, as appears by +the despatch to Lord Bathurst, of the 1st August, 1813, planned altogether +by Sir George Prevost, who had previously endeavoured to place our marine +on the Richelieu, which had been increased by the capture of the two +schooners from the enemy, on a respectable footing; first, by the +appointment of Captain Pring to the naval command there, and subsequently +by obtaining the services of Captain Everard, and the officers and seamen +of the Wasp sloop of war, then lately arrived at Quebec from Halifax, to +man these vessels and the gun-boats. Colonel Murray was the officer +particularly selected by Sir George Prevost to command on this expedition, +from the opinion he entertained of his zeal and energy. The event amply +justified his expectations, and this enterprise, undertaken by the orders +and under the instructions of the Commander of the forces, was in every +respect successful. + +The daring exploit which was subsequently achieved by Colonel Murray, in +the capture of Fort Niagara, so far from being in opposition to Sir George +Prevost's orders, or in the absence of any instructions respecting it, was +the consequence of the verbal instructions given by Sir George Prevost to +Lieutenant-General Drummond, previous to his assuming the command in Upper +Canada, and confirmed in his letter to him of the 3rd December, 1813. +Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison had been detached from Kingston with the 49th, +the 2nd battalion of the 89th, and the Voltigeurs, as a corps of +observation, to follow the motions of General Wilkinson's army, then +threatening Montreal from Sackett's Harbour, in consequence of the _express +orders and directions of Sir George Prevost_; a fact established by his +despatch to Lord Bathurst of the 15th November, 1813. + +The foresight of the Commander of the forces in providing this force to +watch the enemy, and his judgment in the selection of Lieut.-Colonel +Morrison to command it, led beyond all doubt, to the defeat which General +Boyd received at Chrystler's farm, and ultimately, by the interruptions +thus occasioned to General Wilkinson's plans, to the safety of Lower +Canada. That the measures adopted by Sir George Prevost might in some +degree have contributed to the success which attended Lieut.-Colonel De +Salaberry's defence of his position at Chateaugay, the Reviewer seems most +unwillingly to admit, while at the same time he imputes to him the base and +unworthy attempt of endeavouring to assume to himself the merit which on +that occasion was alone due to Colonel De Salaberry. + +In Sir George Prevost's despatch to Lord Bathurst on this subject, of the +date of 30th October, 1813, he expresses himself fortunate at having +arrived at the scene of action shortly after it commenced, as it enabled +him personally to witness the conduct of the officers and men engaged in +it, and to form a proper judgment of their merits, which he then severally +details in his letter. The unqualified praise which he bestows upon the +officer immediately commanding, (Lieut.-Colonel De Salaberry) is of itself +a sufficient refutation of this libel on the part of the Reviewer.[71] + +The checks thus received by the forces under Generals Wilkinson and +Hampton, from Lieut.-Colonel Morrison, and Lieut.-Colonel De Salaberry, +were, without doubt, no inconsiderable causes of their repulse in the +attempt upon Lower Canada; but it was also the duty of the Reviewer to have +noticed the prompt and judicious measures adopted by Sir George Prevost, as +soon as he had ascertained that General Wilkinson was descending the St. +Lawrence to attack Montreal, for the defence of that place, by calling out +the whole militia of the district, and by collecting all his disposable +force at La Chine, where he commanded in person. The formidable defences +which he had prepared both at Coteau du Lac, and at the Cedars, together +with the imposing force of militia which had been assembled at a very short +notice, must have convinced General Wilkinson that he could not hope to +make any impression upon a people who shewed so much zeal and alacrity in +defending themselves, and who were commanded by one who possessed their +entire confidence and affection. Under these circumstances, and from the +opposition already experienced to his attempt, the American Commander +resolved to abandon it as impracticable, more particularly as he found +himself without support from General Hampton, who had retired towards Lake +Champlain. + +In detailing the events of the campaign of 1814, the Reviewer has again not +scrupled, in his account of Captain Pring's expedition to Vergennes, to +distort the truth, for the purpose of attaching the blame of this failure +to Sir George Prevost. So far from the Commander of the forces refusing to +Captain Pring the assistance of the troops stationed at Isle aux Noix, as +the Reviewer asserts,[72] a strong detachment of the marines then in +garrison at that post, was embarked on board of his squadron, and the +despatch to Lord Bathurst from Sir George Prevost, of the 18th of May, +1814,[73] proves that this expedition was planned and directed by the +Commander of the forces, and probably failed from the circumstance alone of +Captain Pring being prevented by baffling winds for four days from reaching +his destination, before the enemy had time to mature their preparations for +defence. + +A similar degree of incorrectness prevails in the Reviewer's statements +with regard to the force retained by Sir George Prevost in Lower Canada. +That Lower Canada, in the middle of April, 1814,[74] had nothing to dread, +may be confidently denied. On the 22d and 30th March, two attempts had been +made by General Wilkinson to penetrate into that Province by the Montreal +frontier, and in the latter instance, in considerable force. Though he was +repulsed in both cases, and in the latter with severe loss, he still +continued to keep a considerable body of men on the frontier line, from +which he did not withdraw until towards the middle of May.[75] Sackett's +Harbour, instead of being weakly garrisoned, had been strengthened by two +regiments from General Wilkinson's army, besides other reinforcements; and +our fleet on Lake Ontario was so far from being at that period ready for +sea, that it was not until the 14th of April, that the two ships, which +were to constitute its principal strength, had been launched, nor was our +squadron in a situation to take the Lake until the beginning of May. The +only reinforcements which, up to this period in 1814, and even until the +beginning of June, had arrived in Lower Canada, were the 2d battalion of +the 8th regiment, which the foresight of the Commander of the forces had +induced him to draw in the depth of winter by land from New Brunswick, +whence they arrived in the month of March, together with 200 picked seamen +from Admiral Griffiths for the fleet on Lake Ontario, without a single +accident. This regiment is enumerated by the Reviewer amongst his nine +regular regiments of infantry, with three squadrons of dragoons, six +strong battalions of militia, and a numerous _division_ of artillery, the +_whole_ of which he has untruly asserted, were crowded together in +inactivity at Chambly, behind a strong frontier, without an enemy to oppose +them;[76] adding, that although reinforcements were daily arriving or +expected, not a man was sent to strengthen the inadequate force on the +Niagara frontier, until the middle of July, when only two of the Peninsular +regiments were reluctantly yielded for that service. Of the nine regular +regiments of infantry, of which the Reviewer speaks, one was De Meuron's +foreign corps, another the Canadian Fencibles, a third a battalion of +Marines, a fourth the Canadian Voltigeurs, militia-men, subject to militia +law, and whose force at the utmost was 450 men. Of the real regular +regiments, viz. the 8th, 13th, 16th, 49th, and 70th, the 16th did not +arrive until June, together with two companies of artillery. This regiment +was almost immediately stationed at Montreal, where it remained the whole +of July, and in August was despatched to Upper Canada. The 70th garrisoned +Quebec, with a portion of artillery, and a small corps, composed of the +recruits of the other regiments in the Province. The 13th was in advance at +St. John, and La Cole Mill, and the battalion of marines garrisoned Isle +aux Noix. Of the six battalions of embodied militia, one was at La +Prairie, and another, if not two of the others, at different parts of the +frontier; the Voltigeurs were also in advance, and part of the Canadian +fencibles were at Coteau du Lac. From this statement, made out from +documents, the authenticity of which cannot be doubted, it will appear that +the troops under Sir George Prevost in the Lower Province, which were +barely adequate to its defence, in lieu of being all assembled at Chambly, +were stationed in different parts of the Province, where their services +were most required, and that they did not at any time, collectively form +the camp of instruction of which the Reviewer speaks. Previous even to the +1st of May, when the Reviewer has stated that Sir James Yeo was ready with +his fleet for any operation, no part of this force could, consistently with +the safety of Lower Canada, have been despatched for the reinforcement of +General Drummond. Still less could a sufficient portion of it have been +spared, to have enabled that officer, with any prospect of success, to +attempt an attack on Sackett's Harbour. General Drummond was, in fact, +aware that, from the period of the first attack on that place, in May, +1813, the enemy had been indefatigable in fortifying it, and that it was at +all times guarded by a large body of regular troops and militia, together +with a number of able and experienced seamen. Nothing, therefore, short of +the full co-operation of a superior fleet, and a large body of troops, +could have afforded him a well-grounded expectation of succeeding. General +Drummond well knew that, up to May, 1814, and for some time afterwards, no +force of this description could be spared from the Lower Province. However +desirable he might have thought it, to destroy the naval depôt at Sackett's +Harbour, he knew that no adequate means were within his power, or that of +the Commander of the forces; and until, by fresh reinforcements from +England, those means should be acquired, he was obliged to content himself +with operations compatible with his resources. We accordingly find that, as +soon as the fleet was in readiness to take the Lake, General Drummond, in +consequence of the previous communication which had taken place between Sir +George Prevost and himself, undertook the expedition against Oswego, which +terminated in the capture of that place, together with a quantity of +stores, provisions, and ordnance, most of which being designed for the +squadron at Sackett's Harbour, must have materially delayed its equipment. +Of this enterprise the Reviewer has thought proper to say nothing, because +he knew that it might in a great degree be attributed to the measures of +Sir George Prevost. For a similar reason he has altogether omitted to +notice the extraordinary and energetic measures which had been adopted by +the Commander of the forces, for relieving Michilimachinac, and affording +to that garrison an important reinforcement of troops, seamen, and +provisions, under the command of an able and experienced officer, who +afterwards gave ample proofs of his courage and talents in his successful +defence of that post against a powerful attack of the enemy. The +reinforcement of that distant position, whilst the enemy were in possession +of the whole of the Michigan territory, and by a route never before +attempted, reflected the greatest credit upon the Commander of the forces +who directed, and upon Lieutenant Colonel M'Douall, who executed, this +arduous enterprise, which was highly important in its consequences as +respected our Indian allies, and the safety of the Upper Province. +Independently of this reinforcement to the troops in Upper Canada, we shall +find that Sir George Prevost continued mindful of Lieutenant-General +Drummond's situation, and desirous of assisting him, as soon as the means +of doing so were placed within his power. It has been already shewn, that +out of the force which the Commander of the forces possessed for the +defence of Lower Canada, and of which the Reviewer has given so incorrect a +statement, the 2nd battalion of the 8th arrived from New Brunswick in +March, and the 16th with two companies of artillery in June. It was not +until the month of July that the next reinforcements, consisting of the +90th regiment, from the West Indies, and the 6th and 82nd from the army +under the Duke of Wellington, reached Montreal. These three regiments were +immediately sent forward to the Niagara frontier. The despatch to the +Secretary of State, announcing the arrival of these troops, sufficiently +and satisfactorily explained the reasons which had hitherto prevented Sir +George Prevost from strengthening General Drummond's force in the Upper +Province. In the beginning of June, and previously to the arrival of these +reinforcements, Sir James Yeo had retired into port after blockading +Sackett's Harbour; and from that period, until October, the enemy had the +ascendancy on Lake Ontario. Our operations in Upper Canada were, therefore, +necessarily confined to the defensive; and although the superior numbers of +the enemy gave them at times an advantage over us, and occasioned a +considerable loss of valuable lives, the efforts made by the Commander of +the forces, to supply these losses, enabled General Drummond successfully +to maintain the contest, and to prevent the Americans from gaining any +permanent footing in the Province. Upon the arrival of the Nova Scotia +Fencibles, a battalion of the Royals, and the 97th regiment towards the end +of July, the latter regiment was immediately sent to Kingston, and Sir +George Prevost continued to make every exertion to reinforce the army on +the Niagara frontier. + +Before we proceed to the consideration of the much misrepresented affair of +Plattsburg, the orders under which Sir George Prevost acted, and the plan +of operations proposed upon the arrival of the reinforcements from the Duke +of Wellington's army, it will be necessary to expose the perverted +statement with which the Quarterly Reviewer has introduced his account of +this expedition. "In _June_ and _July_," he says, "a numerous fleet arrived +in the St. Lawrence from Bourdeaux, with the flower of the Duke of +Wellington's army."[77] Now connecting this paragraph with the one that +follows soon afterwards--"that the Peninsular troops were suffered to +ascend no higher than the ill-fated camp of Chambly, where they were +detained _during the whole month of August_"[78]--it is evident that the +Reviewer meant his readers to believe that the brigades, under Generals +Robinson, Brisbane, Power, and Kempt, had arrived in Canada in June and +July, so as to enable Sir George Prevost to assemble them for any service +at Chambly by the beginning of August, and yet that he kept them the whole +of that month unemployed. It appears, however, from Sir George Prevost's +despatches to Lord Bathurst, dated 28th June, 1814, that the only part of +the Duke of Wellington's army, which arrived in June, were the 6th and 82nd +regiments. The transports having those regiments on board passed Quebec for +Montreal, about the 26th of that month, but did not reach the latter place +until the first or second week in July, from whence they were immediately +pushed forward to reinforce Lieutenant-General Drummond on the Niagara +frontier. The brigade under Major-General Power, which was accompanied by +Major-General Brisbane, did not arrive at Quebec until late in July; indeed +so late, that Sir George Prevost, in his despatch to Lord Bathurst +announcing their arrival, states, that they would scarcely be able to +arrive at Montreal, with every exertion, before the _20th of August_. The +two last brigades, under Generals Kempt and Robinson, arrived still later; +and Sir George Prevost's despatch of the 5th August, 1814, announcing their +approach to Quebec, stated that it would be impossible, with every +exertion, to collect the whole force, viz. all the brigades in the +neighbourhood of Montreal, _before the end of that month_. In fact, it was +not until towards the end of August, that two of the brigades above +mentioned were assembled at Chambly, and in the neighbourhood; the other +brigade, under Major-General Kempt, being stationed partly at Montreal, +and partly in advance towards Kingston, in order to be in readiness for the +service for which it was designed, whenever our ascendancy on Lake Ontario +should be required. + +In his next observations, the Reviewer has confounded both dates and facts, +in order to make it appear that Sir George Prevost knew not how to dispose +of the succours which had reached him; with which, in the Reviewer's +opinion,[79] he ought instantly to have made a rapid movement towards Lake +Ontario, for the purpose of attacking Sackett's Harbour; an attempt which, +it is stated, should have been made whilst Sir James Yeo was blockading +that place, instead of wasting some of the most valuable months of the +summer in the camp at Chambly:[80] and further, that the march of General +Izzard to Sackett's Harbour, with 3,000 or 4,000 regular troops, was a +proof that the American Government felt (although our Commander did not), +that all objects on the frontier were insignificant, in comparison with the +protection of the numerous squadron which was blockaded in their ports on +Lake Ontario. + +Unfortunately for the Reviewer's consistency, he had previously stated, +that in consequence of Commodore Chauncey having prepared two new frigates +for sea, Sir James Yeo discontinued his blockade of Sackett's Harbour, and +retired to Kingston, to await the equipment of the St. Lawrence, and that +during the months of _August_ and _September_, Chauncey _held the Lake_. + +General Izzard was despatched to Sackett's Harbour about the _end of +August_, or _1st of September_, and consequently the American Government, +from the Reviewer's own shewing, could not at that time have any +apprehensions for their _numerous squadron_, blockaded _in their Port on +Lake Ontario_. So far indeed from the American squadron being at this time +in danger, Kingston, and Sir James Yeo's numerous squadron, were actually +at the period of General Izzard's march to Sackett's Harbour, most +rigorously blockaded by Chauncey, and so continued for nearly six weeks +afterwards. Sackett's Harbour was in fact only blockaded by Sir James Yeo, +from the beginning of May to the beginning of June, at which latter period +he relinquished the blockade, and did not make his appearance on the Lake +until the middle of October following. + +It has been already shewn what Sir George Prevost's force really consisted +of, in the Lower Province, during the period of this blockade, and until +the month of July, when the first reinforcements from France reached him. +These reinforcements were immediately sent to the Upper Province. It is +consequently most evident that he did not then possess the means of +attacking Sackett's Harbour, and that after the blockade had ceased, +tenfold the means he possessed would not have sufficed for the service, +without the co-operation of the fleet.[81] + +It is in the highest degree improbable, that any man in Sir George +Prevost's army, or in the Provinces, possessing a knowledge of these facts, +which were within the reach of all, should have thought it possible that on +the arrival of the troops from Bourdeaux, Sackett's Harbour was or could be +the point of attack, so long as our squadron was not able to take the Lake. + +It will, it is apprehended, tend very materially to elucidate the +subsequent operations of the war, to state the views which probably +influenced His Majesty's Government in sending so large a force from the +Duke of Wellington's army to Canada, and the manner in which it was +directed to be employed. The circumstances under which the war had been +commenced on the part of the Americans, and the refusal of their Government +to consider the revocation of the Orders in Council, the ostensible ground +of war as a cause for pacification, had justly offended both the +Government and people of Great Britain. The efforts, however, which they +were called upon to make in Europe, had, until the termination of the +contest by the abdication of Buonaparte, prevented the British Government +from furnishing any other reinforcements for the army in the Canadas, than +such as were barely sufficient, aided by the bravery of the troops, and the +talents, zeal, and energy of their Commander, for the defence of the +country from the repeated attacks of the enemy. As soon, however, as the +peace with France placed a larger force at their disposal, His Majesty's +Government resolved to avail themselves of a portion of it, in order to +retaliate upon America her unjust aggressions, and to carry the war into +such parts of her territory as might prove most assailable. In consequence +of this determination, the expeditions to the Chesapeake and the Mississipi +were planned; and with the same views three brigades were ordered from +Bourdeaux to Canada. The objects contemplated in sending this reinforcement +to Canada, will be best understood by a reference to Lord Bathurst's +despatch to Sir George Prevost, of the 3d June, 1814, in which it is said, +"The object of your operations will be, First, To give immediate +protection, secondly, to obtain, if possible, ultimate security, to His +Majesty's possessions in America. The entire destruction of Sackett's +Harbour, and the naval establishment on Lake Erie and Lake Champlain, come +under the first description."--"Should there be any advanced position on +that part of our frontier which extends towards _Lake Champlain_, the +occupation of which would materially tend to the security of the Province, +you will, if you deem it expedient, expel the enemy from it, and occupy it +by detachments of the troops under your command, _always, however, taking +care not to expose his Majesty's troops to being cut off by too extended a +line of advance_"--"At the same time, it is by no means the intention of +His Majesty's Government to encourage such forward movements into the +interior of the American territory, _as might commit the safety of the +force placed under your command_." It must be evident to every person in +the least acquainted with the territories of America bordering upon the +Canadas, that none of the objects of offensive warfare contemplated in the +foregoing despatch could be undertaken without the aid and co-operation of +a fleet able to contend with that of the enemy. That His Majesty's +Government might be aware of the impossibility of complying with the views +and wishes above described, until the naval ascendancy should be secured on +Lakes Ontario and Champlain, Sir George Prevost, in his despatch to Lord +Bathurst, of the 12th July, before referred to, expresses his opinion on +this head, stating that he did not expect from the reports he had received +from Sir James Yeo, and the officer commanding our naval forces on the +Richelieu, that their fleets would be in readiness before the middle of +September. + +Upon the arrival of the troops from France, and upon their being assembled +as before stated in the neighbourhood of Montreal towards the end of +August, it was ascertained that the new ship at Kingston would not be +launched until towards the middle of September, and consequently, that Sir +James Yeo would not be ready to take the Lake, at the earliest, until the +beginning of October. All, therefore, that could be done with regard to the +projected expedition against Sackett's Harbour, was to make such a +disposition of the troops designed for the service, that they might be in +readiness for it, whenever it might be deemed advisable to make the +attempt. Major-General Sir James Kempt, who was to have the command, was +accordingly dispatched to Kingston, and two brigades were quartered partly +at Montreal and partly in advance, wherever he judged they might be best +placed, with a view to the ultimate service for which they were designed. +The employment of the remainder of the force from France next became the +subject of Sir George Prevost's consideration. The enemy had at that time +a strong squadron on Lake Champlain, and their naval depôt at Vergennes +furnished them with the means of continually adding to it. They had also +since the first attack fortified Plattsburg, a position which, provided we +had the ascendancy on the Lake, it might be expedient for us to occupy for +the security of the Lower Province. Should, therefore, our squadron, +equipping in the Richelieu, be ready to co-operate with the army before the +season was too far advanced for offensive operations, it was clear that one +of the objects contemplated by Government might be undertaken with every +prospect of success. The enemy's fleet, if they waited the attack upon them +in Plattsburg bay, or elsewhere, might be destroyed, or the depôt at +Vergennes might fall into our hands by the occupation of Plattsburg, and +the further advance of the army aided by the fleet. That the enemy were not +assailable in any other quarter, (Sackett's Harbour being out of the +question from what has been before stated,) it can scarcely be necessary to +mention, nor has it ever been pretended that they were. + +The State of Vermont on the east shore of the Lake might, indeed, have been +entered from St. Amand, and our townships on that frontier, without the +assistance of our squadron. But independently of there not being any +object of sufficient consequence in that quarter to make an attack upon it +advisable, it was deemed highly imprudent to molest that State by a mere +predatory expedition, whilst two-thirds of the supplies of fresh meat for +the army in Canada were furnished by American contractors, and whilst +droves of cattle, as well as large sums of money in specie were constantly +passing by that route from the United States into Canada; a fact which is +not generally known, and which strongly marks the wisdom of that policy +which Sir George Prevost pursued during the American warfare. As the +destruction of the enemy's naval depôt on Lake Champlain was then the only +operation contemplated by His Majesty's Government, which could be +undertaken with any prospect of success, Sir George Prevost with a view to +that object, had, immediately after the receipt of the despatch of the 3rd +June, above referred to, used every possible exertion to accelerate the +building of the new ship at Isle aux Noix, and the efficient arming and +equipment of the squadron there, for the service in which it was proposed +to be employed. Some time previous to this period it appears from Sir +George Prevost's correspondence with Sir James Yeo, that he had repeatedly +called the particular attention of that officer to the manning of the +squadron for Lake Champlain.[82] In addition to this, his correspondence +with Captain Fisher, and Vice Admiral Otway, tends to establish the fact of +his unwearied and successful exertions to accomplish that object. + +The Confiance was launched on the 26th of August, and Sir George Prevost +having reason to believe that the efforts which were making for her +equipment would enable Captain Fisher to take the Lake in the course of a +few days, proceeded, on the 30th, to inspect the first brigade of troops +quartered at Chambly; and on the 31st. established his head-quarters at +Odell Town, close upon the enemy's frontier. Having here received +information that General Izzard had suddenly quitted his position at +Champlain Town, and had marched with a body of troops in the direction of +Niagara, evidently for the purpose of joining General Brown, who had +established a footing on the Niagara frontier, and was pressing upon +Lieutenant General Drummond, Sir George Prevost determined to lose no time +in entering the enemy's territory, (even though our fleet was not ready to +co-operate,) in the hope by this movement of checking General Izzard's +progress, and of thus making a diversion in favour of General Drummond. Our +troops accordingly crossed the frontier line, and on the 3d of September +took possession of Champlain Town, which the enemy had abandoned on their +approach. Our forces advanced the following day to Chazy and Simpson's Inn, +about eight miles from Plattsburg, where they halted on the 5th. Previously +to this advance Captain Fisher, who had superintended the building of the +Confiance, and whose local knowledge would have rendered his services +peculiarly useful in the joint operations contemplated, had been suddenly +and unexpectedly superseded by Sir James Yeo in the command of our naval +force on the Richelieu, and Captain Downie had been appointed to succeed +him. This officer did not arrive at Montreal from Lake Ontario until the +3rd September, and on the following day repaired to Isle aux Noix to +superintend the equipment of the new ship. On the 5th of September, the day +on which the troops halted at Simpson's Inn, an interview took place +between Sir George Prevost and Captain Downie, when the latter assured the +Commander of the forces, that his flotilla would be ready to co-operate +with the army in less than forty-eight hours; that he had correctly +ascertained the state and condition of the enemy's fleet; and that in +consequence he entertained no apprehensions of the result of an action. +Sir George Prevost then explained to Captain Downie the reason of his +having pressed forward before the latter was ready. On the following day, +the 6th September, the army advanced to Plattsburg, and took possession of +that part of it situate on the northern side of the Saranac, the enemy's +troops having retreated thence to the south side, and to their fortified +position on the crest of the hills. + +No sooner had this position been taken, than Sir George Prevost, conceiving +that the enemy, on the first approach of our troops, might not be fully +prepared to receive them, proposed that the works should be immediately +attacked;[83] but it being represented to him that one of the brigades was +extremely harassed, having been brought forward from Chazy with great +celerity, and that after allowing the men a reasonable time to rest, the +afternoon would be too far advanced to attempt an operation for which it +was desirable to have day-light, as the movement was to be made through so +thick and intricate a country, Sir George was induced to acquiesce in this +reasoning; and being likewise satisfied, from the assurance given him, by +Captain Downie, that the fleet would be ready to co-operate in a day or two +at farthest, he finally resolved to defer the attack until the junction of +the squadron. The enemy's fleet had retired from the mouth of the Chazy +(where it was placed, when our troops entered the American territory), to +Plattsburg Bay, and there, on the arrival of our army, it was found +anchored; their gun-boats, which had been employed to interrupt the march +of our army on the Lake road, being placed so as to manifest a +determination to support their troops and position on the south side of the +Saranac. On the morning of the 7th, it was discovered that the enemy's +flotilla had changed their position since the preceding evening, and had +moved further into the bay, out of the range of cannon from the shore, +evidently with the object of avoiding the fire from the works, in case they +should be attacked and carried. + +As soon as Sir George Prevost had, by a thorough reconnoitring of the +enemy's position, on shore and in the bay, satisfied his own mind that +their fleet was moored too far from the shore to receive any support from +their own batteries, or any injury from ours, he communicated the enemy's +force and situation to Captain Downie, by a letter[84] dated the 7th +September, seven o'clock a. m., and stated, that if Captain Downie felt the +vessels under his command equal to the contest, the present moment afforded +advantages that might not again occur, requesting, at the same time, his +decision on the subject. This letter was delivered by Major Fulton, +Aid-de-Camp to Sir George Prevost, who was ordered particularly to explain +to Captain Downie the position of the enemy's squadron, and that they were, +in his opinion, anchored out of range of shot from the shore. Major +Fulton's statement[85] on this subject, shews most clearly the views which +Captain Downie then entertained, and the confidence which he felt in the +result of the contest, for which he declared he would be ready in 24 hours. +Captain Downie's letter, in reply to Sir George Prevost's communication, +although more guarded in expression, contained in substance what he had +said to Major Fulton, and confirmed the expectation of his being able to +meet the enemy in a day or two. On the 8th of September Sir George Prevost +again despatched a letter to Captain Downie, stating that he had sent his +Aid-de-Camp, Major Coore, to give him correct information with regard to +the enemy's naval force in the bay, and that he, Sir George Prevost, only +waited the arrival of Captain Downie to proceed against General Macomb's +position. In this letter he particularly points out the co-operation which +he expected from Captain Downie. That officer's answer, dated on the same +day, states, "that his ship was _not ready, and that until she should be, +it was his duty not to hazard her before the enemy_;" and this +determination of Captain Downie's appears to have been still more strongly +expressed by him in his conversation with Major Coore. Hitherto, therefore +it may be assumed as an incontrovertible fact, that nothing had been either +said or written by Sir George Prevost to Captain Downie which might lead +the latter to expect any assistance in his approaching contest with the +American fleet, from the forces on shore, or that any simultaneous attack +was to be made upon the enemy's works, with a view to afford such aid or +support. Being thus perfectly aware of the number, force, and position of +the enemy's fleet, and finding himself ready for a conflict, of the +successful issue of which we may be assured that he had not a doubt, +Captain Downie, on the 9th of September, wrote to Sir George Prevost, +informing him that it was his intention to weigh and proceed with his +squadron, so as to approach Plattsburg Bay at day-break on the 10th, and to +commence an immediate attack on the enemy's squadron, if it should be found +anchored in a position to afford any chance of success. Immediately upon +the receipt of this letter, Sir George Prevost gave orders for the troops +to be held in readiness to assault the enemy's works at the same time that +the naval action should commence. On the 10th, the fleet not making its +appearance, Sir George Prevost addressed a letter to Captain Downie, +acknowledging the receipt of his communication of the 9th, and acquainting +him that, in consequence of it, the troops had been held in readiness since +six o'clock in the morning, to storm the enemy's works at nearly the same +moment as the naval action should commence in the bay; that he ascribed the +disappointment he had experienced to the unfortunate change of wind, and +should rejoice to learn from him that his expectations had been frustrated +by no other cause. At day-break, on the 11th, Sir George Prevost proceeded +to the quarters of Lieutenant-General de Rottenburg, (who was second in +command,) in company with the Adjutant-General, and acquainted him that, as +the wind was then fair, the fleet, unless prevented by accident, might +soon be expected, and therefore directed him immediately to circulate the +orders for the troops to hold themselves in readiness, as directed on the +preceding day. This was immediately done by Captain Burke, +Assistant-Adjutant-General, who personally delivered these orders to +Major-Generals Brisbane, Robinson, and Power, viz. to cook, and hold +themselves in readiness as on the preceding day. These orders were so +delivered by Captain Burke _before the fleet had made its appearance, and +before the scaling of their guns was heard_. It seems by the time on shore +to have been about eight o'clock when the fleet was first discovered, and +about nine when it rounded Cumberland head, and stood into the Bay. Orders +having been given by the Commander of the forces that the batteries should +open upon the enemy's works, the moment the naval action should commence, +they were accordingly opened, and actually commenced the fire a full +quarter of an hour before the Confiance had fired a shot at the enemy's +vessels. The fire from our shore-battery was so well served, that the +enemy's Lake battery, the only one which could possibly annoy our squadron, +or afford protection to that of the enemy (but from which not a shot was +fired in the direction of the Lake) was very soon silenced, and the men +driven from it to seek shelter in the higher redoubt. Almost immediately +upon the commencement of the naval action, orders were despatched for the +troops to take their allotted positions for the assault of the enemy's +works. In consequence of these orders, the two brigades under +Major-Generals Robinson and Power, proceeded in the rear of their Bivouacs, +to approach the ford of the Saranac, which it was intended they should +cross and proceed through the wood, in order to conceal their movements +from the enemy, whose position it was then contemplated to attack in +reverse, the ground being broken and uneven, and the works much too strong +to be attempted in front. Whilst these movements were making by our troops, +which from their nature, must have been equally concealed from the fleet on +the Lake, and from the enemy, Major-General Brisbane's brigade had formed, +and was ready to force the bridge of the Saranac, on the right of the +enemy's position, as soon as the troops under Generals Robinson and Power +should have passed the ford, and made their appearance before the enemy's +works. These movements must necessarily have required time for their +completion, but no person in the army for an instant doubted that the +duration of the naval action would enable the troops to accomplish the +design of penetrating, by the ford, and through the road, to the foot of +the works which were the object of attack. Unfortunately, during this +period, and whilst the two fleets were still engaged, a wrong direction, +by the mistake of the guides, was taken through the wood which led to the +ford of the Saranac. As soon as the error was discovered, the troops were +counter-marched, but before they could recover the right direction, full +three-quarters of an hour, and perhaps an hour was lost--an invaluable +portion of time, which, had not the mistake occurred, must have brought the +troops to the very foot of the enemy's position. On approaching the ford, +it was found to be guarded by a strong force of the enemy on the other +side. At this period cheers were distinctly heard, which General Robinson +supposed to proceed, either from our squadron that had been successful, or +from General Brisbane's brigade advancing to the assault. Major Cochrane +was therefore despatched to head-quarters to ascertain the fact, and to +learn whether there were any further orders. Upon his arrival there, the +fleet having at that time surrendered, Sir George Prevost most reluctantly +gave the order for the recal of the troops from the attack of the forts, +and it is well known to those who were in his confidence, with what +poignant regret he thus sacrificed his private feelings to what he +considered his paramount public duty. Upon Major Cochrane's return with +these orders, he found that the troops had only been enabled to force the +ford of the Saranac, and were then in the act of advancing through the +wood to the enemy's position. Under these circumstances, General Robinson +felt himself bound to obey the orders, and the forces retired from the +attack. + +Having thus given a full and correct statement of the circumstances which +attended the enterprise against Plattsburg, it is necessary to notice the +animadversions which have been made upon the military character of Sir +George Prevost, in consequence of the unfortunate result of that +expedition. In no instance has the conduct of Sir George Prevost been +attacked with more virulence and injustice, than by the writer in the +Quarterly Review, whose representations are, as the reader must already +have perceived, in the highest degree incorrect. + +The charges which have been brought forward by the Reviewer and by others +are, that Sir George Prevost improperly urged Captain Downie into action +before his ship was adequately prepared; that he disregarded the signal for +the supposed co-operation between the army and the fleet, as solemnly +agreed upon by himself and Captain Downie, and neglected to assault the +fort when our fleet was engaged with the enemy; and lastly, that he did +not, after the defeat of our squadron, persist in his attack upon the fort, +by which it is pretended, that our fleet might still have been saved. + +With regard to the accusation, that Captain Downie was prematurely +hurried, against his better judgment, into an unequal contest with the +enemy, the correspondence between that officer and Sir George Prevost +already referred to, fully negatives any such supposition. The co-operation +of the fleet being deemed essentially necessary to the success of the +land-forces, Sir George Prevost was naturally anxious that Captain Downie +should be prepared as early as possible to meet the enemy. It has been +seen, that upon the 7th of September, Captain Downie informed the Commander +of the forces, that it would take a day or two at least, before the +Confiance would be in an efficient state, and that the engagement did not +take place till the 11th, four days after the above communication. So far +was Sir George Prevost from attempting by "taunt and inuendo"[86] +improperly to hurry the fleet into action, that in his letter to Captain +Downie, of the 9th of September, he says, "I need not dwell with you on the +evils resulting to both services from delay, _as I am well convinced you +have done every thing in your power to accelerate the armament and +equipment of your squadron_, and I am also satisfied that nothing will +prevent its coming off Plattsburg the moment it is ready." On the same day +Captain Downie announced his intention of commencing an attack on the +enemy's squadron the ensuing morning. Up to this time, therefore, it +appears that however anxious Sir George Prevost was to make an immediate +attack upon Plattsburg, for which purpose the assistance of the fleet was +requisite, he never urged Captain Downie to engage the enemy while +unprepared, but on the contrary, expressed his confidence that the moment +_the fleet was ready_, it would appear before Plattsburg. + +An expression in Sir George Prevost's letter, of the 10th, has indeed been +construed by the Quarterly Reviewer into a "taunt," which is supposed to +have driven Captain Downie to an engagement against his cooler judgment. In +that letter the Commander of the forces, after informing Captain Downie +that in consequence of his communication of the 9th, the troops had been +held in readiness since six in the morning to storm the enemy's works: thus +continues, "I ascribe the disappointment I have experienced to the +unfortunate change of wind, and shall rejoice to learn that my expectations +have been frustrated by no other cause." It must be obvious that many other +causes, independent of the wind, might have prevented Captain Downie from +sailing as he had intended to do on the 9th, although the state of the wind +was in fact the real cause of the delay. In consequence of the despatch +used in equipping his ship, articles might have been overlooked or +omitted, which at the last moment only might have been discovered to be +indispensably necessary; accidents might have happened to different parts +of the squadron in their progress, and even the reinforcements of soldiers +from the 39th, although they had been immediately ordered upon his +requisition, might not, from various circumstances, have been supplied in +time. All, or any of these causes might, as they naturally did, suggest +themselves to the mind of the Commander of the forces, and his anxiety to +be correctly informed upon the subject, as naturally induced him to express +himself to Captain Downie in the terms above stated. It is in the highest +degree improbable, that Captain Downie could for a moment construe those +expressions in an unfavourable sense. But whatever might have been his +impression, it is evident, that a letter written on the 10th, could not +have influenced the determination which he took on the 9th, of engaging the +enemy the following morning. + +Nor will the assertion, that Sir George Prevost disregarded the supposed +signal of co-operation, and neglected to attack the fort according to his +promise, be more difficult to disprove. No such signal was in fact ever +arranged, nor was any such promise ever given. The destruction of the +enemy's fleet being the primary object of the expedition, and until that +was effected, the ulterior operations not being practicable, Sir George +Prevost resolved not to assault the fort until he was satisfied that our +squadron was actually proceeding to attack the enemy. Of the result of the +action when the fleets were once engaged, neither the Commander of the +forces, nor any one in our army allowed themselves to entertain a single +doubt. That Sir George Prevost intended to assault the enemy's works +simultaneously, or nearly so, with the commencement of the naval action, +and that Captain Downie was aware of that determination, appears from the +correspondence between those officers. But that Captain Downie should have +gathered from these communications any thing like a promise or agreement on +the part of the Commander of the forces to support, assist, or co-operate +with him during the naval engagement, is quite impossible. Sir George +Prevost had satisfied himself by personal observation, and by the most +accurate intelligence, that the American fleet was anchored out of range of +the batteries, and he must therefore have known that it was out of his +power to offer any support to Captain Downie. To have held forth to that +officer any hope or promise of assistance was consequently out of the +question. It was of the first importance, with a view to the success of Sir +George Prevost's operations, that the fleet should be engaged at the same +time, or before the fort was assaulted, but of no consequence whatever to +Captain Downie, that the fort should be attacked simultaneously with the +naval force. Sir George Prevost, therefore, in his communications with the +naval Commander, and particularly in his letter of the 10th, mentioned his +intention of making nearly a simultaneous attack, _as part of his own plan +of operations_, with which it was necessary that Captain Downie should be +acquainted. It is highly probable, that Captain Downie inferred from this +communication, that the attack on the fort which Sir George Prevost had +been in readiness to make on the morning of the 10th, would be made at the +time when the fleets should engage, but there is not the _slightest_ ground +for believing that this expectation led him to place any reliance upon the +land attack, as a co-operation in support of the naval force, or that it +induced him to hasten into action, at a time when he felt unequal to it, or +unprepared for the contest. Had he considered the expressions used by Sir +George Prevost, in his letter of the 10th, as importing an agreement to +assist him by a simultaneous attack on shore, he would certainly have +answered that communication, and have availed himself of the services of +Captain Watson, who was left with him for that purpose, to express to the +Commander of the forces his reliance on the promised aid, and his assurance +that it was the state of the wind alone, which had prevented him from +appearing with the fleet on the morning of the 10th, as he had intended. At +the time when this letter was written by the Commander of the forces, he +was ignorant of the causes which had delayed the fleet, and he was +ignorant, likewise, of Captain Downie's further intentions, with regard to +the time when he would be prepared to attack the enemy's squadron. Had +Captain Downie, therefore, relied, in the slightest degree, on the +co-operation of the land forces, he would have informed Sir George Prevost +of the exact time when he contemplated an engagement, that the troops on +shore might be prepared to second his efforts. No reply, however, was +despatched by him to the Commander of the forces, who thus remained in +uncertainty with regard to the actual state and condition of the squadron, +and the intentions of its commander. Captain Watson, whose directions were +to proceed immediately to head-quarters, with intelligence of the sailing +of the squadron, should not Captain Downie have previously despatched him, +did not arrive until after the fleet had made its appearance. It has, +indeed, been asserted, by the Quarterly Reviewer, that the scaling of the +guns of our squadron was to be the signal for the advance of the columns of +attack. This misstatement appears to have arisen out of the evidence which +was given before the Court-Martial on Captain Pring; for in no other place +is any allusion to such a fact to be discovered. The error of that +statement, which, without doubt, was unintentional, is manifest. The signal +in question is said to have been concerted with Major Coore on the 10th, +when, in fact, no interview or communication whatever took place between +him and Captain Downie on that day; and that no such signal was mentioned +to the former on the 8th, the day on which he _did_ see Captain Downie, is +a fact to which the Major (now Colonel Coore) is ready to bear witness. In +all probability Captain Watson, who was with Captain Downie on the 10th, +was the person who was mistaken for Major Coore, and to him Captain Downie +might have communicated his intention of scaling his guns, previous to +rounding Cumberland Head, in order to announce to the Commander of the +forces the approach of the squadron. Whatever may have been the nature of +Captain Downie's communication by Captain Watson, it is certain that it +never reached Sir George Prevost. + +It has thus been shewn, that there was not even an understanding between +Sir George Prevost and Captain Downie, that the attack by land and sea +should take place simultaneously, for the purpose of affording protection +or support to our squadron, much less that there existed any "solemn +agreement" to that effect. It must also be evident, from the previous +statement, that the attack on shore did actually take place at the +commencement of the naval action, and that the sudden and unexpected +termination of the latter engagement alone prevented the prosecution of the +military operations. Orders, as we have already shewn, had been given by +Sir George Prevost, on the 9th, for the troops to hold themselves in +readiness for the attack of the enemy's works on the morning of the 10th, +and those orders were accompanied, as every military man knows, and as the +Reviewer[87] himself must have known, is usual, by an order _to cook_, when +the time will admit.[88] It has also been shewn, that early on the morning +of the 11th, and before the fleet was in sight, or the scaling of their +guns was heard, similar orders were circulated for the troops to hold +themselves in readiness for the attack, and so well prepared were the +forces on shore to make the attack, that almost at the same moment when the +Confiance began to engage the enemy, the troops were in motion for the +assault. Our batteries, as mentioned above, opened on the enemy's works +some time before the commencement of the naval action on the part of the +Confiance. Until confidently assured that the fleets would engage (and many +circumstances might have intervened to prevent it even after the appearance +of our squadron) Sir George Prevost felt that it would be highly imprudent +in him to commence the attack; but the moment he learned that Captain +Downie was actually in contact with the enemy, the troops were immediately +ordered to take their position for the assault. + +Although our naval official accounts of the transaction state the +engagement to have lasted for two hours and a half, that is from eight +o'clock in the morning until half-past ten, when the Confiance struck, the +American naval account, which is corroborated by the testimony of all who +witnessed the action from the shore, represents the engagement to have +terminated in about an hour and a half. The American account also +corresponds with the statements of our officers on shore, that our fleet +did not round Cumberland Head until between eight and nine o'clock, before +which time all the statements of persons on shore agree in admitting that +the action did not begin on the part of our fleet. With regard to the +period when the engagement terminated, all the accounts appear to coincide. +It has already been shewn, that notwithstanding the unfortunate mistake of +the attacking columns taking a wrong route, they had at that very period +forced the ford of the Saranac, and were then in the vicinity of the +enemy's works, and prepared to make an instant assault, and that the +unexpected result of the naval action was the sole cause which induced Sir +George Prevost to countermand that assault. It now remains to explain more +fully the reasons of the Commander of the forces for giving those orders, +which will afford an answer to the last charge brought against him. + +It has been often and confidently asserted, that both the enemy's squadron +and our own were within reach, of the guns of the works. It is not, +therefore, surprising that an unfavourable impression should have been made +upon the minds of many persons with regard to the policy of not persevering +in an attack, which might, under such circumstances, have led to the +recovery of our own fleet, or the destruction of that of the enemy. The +fact of the relative situation of the two squadrons and of the enemy's +works, has, like most of the other facts connected with this expedition, +been grossly misrepresented. Had an opportunity been offered by a public +investigation of the transaction, it could and would have been +satisfactorily proved, that neither of the fleets was within the range of +the enemy's guns from any part of their works, and that their own squadron +was anchored more than a mile and a half from the shore. + +The grounds of the Reviewer's statement upon this subject it is impossible +to ascertain; but, in opposition to what he affirms[89] on the testimony of +Captain Pring, and "_numerous_ other _eye-witnesses_" it can be proved by +testimony from on board the Confiance, as well as by officers without +number on shore, that she was taken possession of within half an hour after +she struck; and it can also be proved, in opposition to the decided opinion +of the number of officers, who are stated to have visited Plattsburg after +the peace, that the anchorage of the American squadron was not within range +of the forts. + +The evidence of the greater part of the General Officers accompanying the +expedition to Plattsburg, who viewed the naval action; of the commanding +officer, and others of the Artillery; of naval men on board of our fleet, +and of various other persons on shore, could and would have been produced +upon the trial of the question, had it taken place, in proof of the fact as +here stated. But independently of all opinion upon the subject, is it +probable or credible that the American naval Commander would have placed +his squadron in such a situation, that by possibility they could be +annoyed or injured from works which he saw it was the evident intention of +Sir George Prevost to attack, and which he must have felt convinced would +in such a case have fallen? That he was aware of the danger to which his +squadron was exposed by its vicinity to the forts, appears from the +circumstance before adverted to, of his having moved further into the Bay +from the station which he occupied on the 6th, the day of the arrival of +our troops before Plattsburg. The position which the American Commander +thus took, was one in which, according to his judgment, he could not have +been annoyed by the fall of the works on shore, an event for which he was +prepared. This opinion was expressed in the presence of a British officer +who had been made prisoner during the naval action. The same opinion was +entertained by Captain Henley, of the American brig, Eagle, who had himself +reconnoitred the position in which the fleet was anchored, and which upon +his report was selected by the American Commander, because it was evidently +out of the range of the guns from the shore. If any thing more were wanting +in confirmation of this fact, it will be amply supplied by the opinions of +the two officers most capable of forming a correct judgment on the subject. +The following letters of Commodore Macdonough and General Macomb, the +American Naval and Military Commanders, will, it is apprehended, set the +question at rest in the mind of every unprejudiced person. + + "_Portsmouth, New Hampshire, + July 3, 1815._ + + "Dear Sir, + + Your letter of the 26th ult. came to hand yesterday; + the letter you addressed to me at Washington has not + been received, or it assuredly should have been + attended to. + + In reply to yours of the 26th ult. it is my opinion + that our squadron was anchored one mile and a half from + the batteries at Plattsburg, during the contest between + it and the British squadron on the 11th September, + 1814. + + I am, with much respect, + + Your obedient servant, + (Signed) J. MACDONOUGH." + + "_Cadwr. Colden, Esq._" + + * * * * * + + "_City of New York, June 15, 1815._ + + "Sir, + + I should have replied earlier to your letter of the + 26th ultimo, had it not been mislaid amidst a mass of + communications on the subject of the army. + + With respect to the distance of the American squadron + from the batteries at Plattsburg, I will state that it + is my decided opinion that the squadron was moored + beyond the effectual range of the batteries, and this I + know from a fruitless attempt made to elevate our guns + so as to bear on the British squadron during the action + of the 11th of September last. No guns, however, were + fired, all being convinced that the vessels were beyond + their reach. This opinion was strengthened by + observations on the actual range of the guns of the + Confiance--her heaviest metal falling several hundred + yards short of the shore when closely engaged with our + vessels. + + With a hope that this reply will be satisfactory, I + subscribe myself, + + Sir, + + Your most obedient servant, + + (Signed) ALEX. MACOMB." + + "_Cadwr. R. Colden, Esq._" + + * * * * * + + "_New York, August 1, 1815._ + + "Sir, + + In reply to your letter of the 30th ult. asking the + distance of the American squadron from the batteries of + Plattsburg, on the 11th day of September, 1814, while + engaged with the British squadron, I will state that it + is my decided opinion that the American squadron was + upwards of three thousand yards distant from the + batteries, being confirmed in that belief from + observations made on the actual range of the heaviest + guns of the British ship, Confiance, when fired towards + the batteries, the balls falling short upwards of five + hundred yards. + + With respectful consideration, + + I am, Sir, + + Your obedient servant, + (Signed) ALEX. MACOMB." + + "_To Cadwr. R. Colden, Esq._" + +If therefore our squadron could not have been recovered, or that of the +enemy annoyed or injured by the capture of their works on shore, it may be +asked, what advantages could have resulted from persevering in the attack? +It has been already shewn that the primary object of this expedition was +the destruction of the enemy's flotilla on the Lake. Had that object been +accomplished, Plattsburg might have been occupied by our troops, and from +thence, with the assistance of our squadron, they might have been +transported to other parts of the Lake for the further annoyance of the +enemy. The loss of our squadron, however, immediately rendered all these +important operations impracticable. Without the assistance of a fleet, +nothing beyond the occupation of Plattsburg could have been accomplished. +That Plattsburg would have fallen, neither the Commander of the forces, +nor a man under him, could have entertained a doubt. The enemy were indeed +strongly entrenched, and under works, which afforded complete shelter to +several thousand expert marksmen, from whose fire our troops must have +suffered most severely; but granting, that after a considerable loss, we +had carried the enemy's works, what adequate advantages should we have +gained? To retain Plattsburg was not possible without the assistance of a +fleet, which would have been necessary to the provisioning of our army; a +retreat, therefore, after destroying all we could not carry away, would +have been indispensable. Such was, however, the state of the season and of +the weather, that 24 hours delay in retiring with our troops to Canada, +would not only have made such a measure dangerous, from the advance of the +enemy in every direction, but would have rendered the conveyance of our +ordnance and stores exceedingly difficult, if not impossible. The militia +of the state of New York and Vermont were turning out, and rapidly +increasing in numbers; and although in the open field our troops would +justly have despised them, they would have proved most formidable in the +woods, and hanging upon the flank and rear of a retreating army. Sir George +Prevost knew that he had only to give the word, and that his gallant troops +would accomplish all his wishes,[90] but he knew at the same time how +useless the acquisition would be, and how costly the sacrifice at which it +was probable it would be made. He was also bound to bear in mind the +instructions of His Majesty's Government, with regard to the committal of +the force under him, so necessary for the preservation of the Provinces +entrusted to his care. + +He therefore wisely determined to retreat, whilst retreat was practicable, +and whilst it could be effected with the least possible loss. The order was +accordingly given for that purpose, and such was the energy and promptitude +of the execution, that the retreat was conducted without the smallest +molestation from the enemy, who, in fact, were not aware of it until it was +nearly completed. Notwithstanding the almost impassable state of the roads, +from the rains which were falling, not a gun was left behind; and, although +the subject has been much exaggerated, yet in fact only a very small +quantity of provisions and stores, together with _fifteen_ wounded men in +hospital, was left to the enemy. Of deserters, the utmost amount was under +300 men, which was the consequence, not as has been falsely asserted, of +the _retreat_,[91] but of the _advance_, many of them having deserted upon +our entry, and as we afterwards penetrated into the American territory; a +consequence which almost invariably attended every attack upon their +frontier, and was most strongly manifested in Colonel Scott's expedition, +in December, 1813, against part of General Wilkinson's army, when, out of a +force of not more than 500 men, he lost upwards of 90 by desertion. + +The exaggerated account of this retreat having induced his Majesty's +government to call upon Sir George Prevost for a more particular detail of +the losses attending it, it appears, by Sir George Prevost's reply to Lord +Bathurst's despatch on the subject, together with the documents +accompanying it, that the whole loss in killed, wounded, prisoners, and +deserters, from the time of the army entering the American territory, until +it was withdrawn, did not amount to 500 men. This affords a complete answer +to one of the Reviewer's concluding mis-statements, that when Sir George +Prevost wrote the despatch from Montreal, though dated at Plattsburg,[92] +"he knew that the desertion of 800 men had attended his shameful defeat." + +The unfortunate loss of our fleet, and the consequent withdrawing of our +troops from the American territory, afforded an opportunity to the party +opposed to Sir George Prevost's civil administration in Canada, of which +they immediately and eagerly availed themselves, of circulating the most +unfounded statements, and the most exaggerated accounts, with respect to +both those transactions. These were industriously transmitted to England by +a private ship belonging to one of Sir George Prevost's most violent +opponents, and upon their arrival, and in the absence of any official +accounts of the transactions to which they referred, they created a general +belief that the disastrous result of the naval action had been occasioned +by a want of co-operation from the shore; that the retreat had been +conducted in a precipitate and disgraceful manner; that a severe loss of +men, guns, stores, and provisions, had been the consequence of it; and that +the whole army was indignant at the conduct of their commander. The arrival +of Sir George Prevost's despatches, together with the explanations +afforded, as well by them as by the person to whom they had been given in +charge, could not fail to undeceive His Majesty's Government on this +subject, and to convince them of the grossness of the misrepresentations +which had gone forth. Had not some expressions in Sir James Yeo's letter, +accompanying the account of the naval action, been construed into charges +against Sir George Prevost, which, in justice to him, as well as to the +public, it was deemed proper to call upon him to answer, there cannot be a +doubt but that the further management of the war in the Canadas would still +have been entrusted to the Commander who had hitherto so successfully +conducted it. Even if the subsequent conduct of Sir James Yeo did not +afford ample proof of the fact, there is not wanting other evidence to shew +that the letter in question was written by him under the irritation of the +moment, and in consequence of Captain Pring's communication to him of the +result of the naval action, but without any intention of making a charge +against Sir George Prevost, and without the most distant idea that it could +be so construed. Sir James Yeo must have possessed too honourable a mind to +become a guest in Sir George Prevost's family, and to partake of his +attention and hospitality, had he for a moment supposed that his public +letter, on the subject of the naval action at Plattsburg, could have been +construed into a formal accusation. Had he really meant it as such, he +would most undoubtedly, in a manly and open manner, have communicated the +proceeding he had adopted to the party accused; and, under such +circumstances, would, no less certainly, have refused the kindness and +attention of the person of whom he had publicly expressed so unfavourable +an opinion. That this must have been the case may further be inferred, from +the circumstance that, although Sir George Prevost was recalled to answer +the charges, amounting to three in number, supposed to be contained in Sir +James Yeo's letter, it was not until more than four months after both these +officers arrived in England, that the precise charges upon which he was to +take his trial, were officially communicated to him, and which charges +differed materially from those in Sir James Yeo's letter. Whether, under +these circumstances, Sir James Yeo would have supported the charges, had +the investigation taken place, cannot now be determined; but a confident +appeal may be made to the intelligent reader, whether, upon the facts +disclosed in these pages being made known, such an attempt must not have +utterly failed. + +With regard to the naval action on Lake Champlain, we are unwilling to say +more than may be necessary for the vindication of the character and conduct +of Sir George Prevost. The real causes of the disastrous result of that +affair, were such, as particularly belong to naval actions, and which, when +they do occur, must materially influence the issue of the conflict. It is +not a little remarkable, that the naval Court-martial on Captain Pring and +his officers, should have overlooked or disregarded these causes; and it is +greatly to be regretted, that they should have thought themselves justified +in ascribing the disaster to the conduct of Sir George Prevost, and in +passing so severe a censure upon an officer of another service, of whose +orders and instructions they must necessarily have been ignorant, and who +was neither present to defend himself, nor amenable to their jurisdiction. +It is clear that it was Captain Downie's intention, on going into action, +to lay his own ship, in the size and strength of which he seemed to place +great confidence, along side of the American Commodore; but the unfortunate +failure of the wind, before he could accomplish this object, obliged him to +anchor at a distance of more than half a mile from his opponent; the same +circumstance also induced Captain Pring, in the Linnet, to take his +situation still farther from the enemy. But even this disadvantage would +probably not have been attended with the consequences which afterwards +ensued, had Captain Downie's invaluable life been spared, and had all under +him done their duty. The Finch, in going into action, grounded out of the +line of fire, and was shortly afterwards taken possession of by the enemy. +The gun-boats, when the action commenced, were considerably distant from +the enemy's line, and slowly pulling up in apparent confusion. The Chub, +very shortly after the action, having her cables shot away, drifted into +the enemy's line, and was obliged to surrender. The Confiance, it would +thus appear, being left nearly alone to bear the brunt of the whole action; +the greater part of the enemy's fire being directed against her; the two +schooners gone, and the gun-boats, with the exception of two or three, +taking no part in the contest, it is not to be wondered at, that against +such fearful odds, the men could not be kept to their guns, and that, +notwithstanding the exertions and bravery of the officers, she was +compelled to surrender. The real causes of the disaster must, therefore, be +sought for in the unfavourable circumstances under which the action +commenced; in the squadron's not taking the station which Captain Downie +had designed they should; in the early loss of that officer; the grounding +of the Finch; the surrender of the Chub, and the desertion of the +gun-boats--circumstances more than sufficient to account for the capture of +our squadron, without having recourse to a reason which the gallant Downie +would have scorned to assign, and which we have already shewn to be without +the slightest foundation--namely, the want of a co-operation from the army. +Had even the gun-boats done their duty, the result of the action might, +and probably would, have been widely different, as the men on board of the +Confiance assigned it as one reason for their refusing to stand to their +guns, that the gun-boats keeping at a distance, the whole fire of the enemy +was directed against the Confiance. The Commander of these gun-boats, it is +to be observed, was so sensible of his own misconduct, that he shortly +after the action, made his escape from Kingston, and was not afterwards +heard of. The removal of Captain Fisher from the command of the Lake +Champlain squadron, precisely at the period when it was about to be +employed in the service before mentioned, was particularly unfortunate; and +it was no less so that his zealous offer to Captain Downie, to serve under +him in command of the gun-boats, could not be accepted by that officer. + +In the month of March, 1815, Sir George Prevost received the despatch +communicating to him the Prince Regent's pleasure, that he should return to +England to answer the charges preferred against him by Sir James Yeo, and a +commission was, at the same time, transmitted to Lieutenant-General +Drummond, revoking the appointment of Sir George Prevost as +Governor-in-Chief and Commander of the forces in the Canadas, and +authorizing General Drummond to assume, provisionally, the chief civil and +military command of those Provinces. By this measure, Sir George Prevost +was compelled either to remain for six weeks, until the navigation of the +St. Lawrence should be open--a private individual in the country over which +he had so lately presided as its chief magistrate, and exposed to the +observations of all who had been hostile to his measures,--or to encounter +at a most inclement season the fatigue and dangers of a journey, to be +performed, frequently on foot, through the wilderness to New Brunswick. His +high and honourable feelings did not permit him to hesitate for a moment as +to the course which it was his duty to pursue, and he immediately quitted +his government. It was no inconsiderable consolation to him, under +circumstances like these, to know that he carried with him on his departure +the regret and the good wishes of the inhabitants of Canada, which were +manifested, not only by the different addresses and letters[93] which were +presented to him upon this occasion, but in a still more striking manner, +by the terms of a vote of the House of Representatives, who proposed to +present to their late Governor-General a service of plate of the value of +5,000_l._ This munificent act, though honoured with the approbation of the +Prince Regent, was not carried into effect, in consequence of a refusal to +accede to it on the part of the legislative council.[94] + +On the arrival of Sir George Prevost in England, in the month of May, 1815, +it was evident that his constitution had suffered a fatal injury. His +health had yielded to the excessive fatigues of his journey to New +Brunswick, and his illness was aggravated by the delays which he +experienced in urging forward the investigation which he so earnestly +desired. Notwithstanding all his efforts, the Court-martial was not +directed to assemble before the month of January, 1816--a delay which +proved fatal to his hopes. He died on the 5th January, 1816, in the 49th +year of his age.[95] + +That Sir George Prevost was a zealous, active, and faithful servant to his +king and country, the preceding pages are amply sufficient to prove. The +defence of Dominica, and the preservation of the Canadas against greatly +superior forces, attested his merits as officer, and excited the admiration +of some of the first soldiers of the age. His system, upon both occasions, +was necessarily a defensive one; and he has, therefore, lost much of that +eclat which attaches to more active operations. But had his field of action +been different, he would, doubtless, have displayed the same gallant and +enterprising spirit which distinguished him on former occasions, and +particularly when he led the assault on Morne Fortunée, in the island of +St. Lucie. Of his total disregard of personal considerations, and of his +readiness to sacrifice his own fame for the promotion of the great +interests committed to him in America, there cannot be a stronger proof +than that afforded by his conduct at Plattsburg. He must have been well +aware that the capture of the works, especially after the loss of the +fleet, would be considered by the public in general as a brilliant exploit, +which could not fail to add to his military reputation; and he must also +have foreseen the popular outcry which the resolution he adopted would +occasion. But those personal feelings gave way to considerations of far +greater weight in the mind of a wise, humane, and honourable soldier. Sir +George Prevost had justly calculated the consequences of his probable +success--a great loss of valuable lives, the immediate abandonment of his +conquest, and an unavoidable and difficult retreat. Although these +considerations were far from obvious, and not of a nature to be justly +appreciated by the public at large, he chose, without hesitation, that line +of conduct which his judgment and heart approved, and, notwithstanding his +conviction that this determination would necessarily expose him to much +unmerited odium, he resolutely adopted it. His subsequent recal, and +premature decease, were undoubtedly the consequences of this measure; but +his country will not fail, finally, to do justice to the purity of his +motives, and, on an impartial review of his conduct, to rank him amongst +its ablest and most faithful defenders.[96] + +As a civil governor, Sir George Prevost had the gratification of knowing +that he was invariably esteemed and respected by the people over whom he +was placed. His zeal and devotion to his duties, both in his civil and +military character, were eminently conspicuous. No personal considerations, +no fatigue, no dangers, ever interfered with what he esteemed the good of +the service. Over the public interests he watched with the most sedulous +attention. In private life, he was remarkable for the purity of his moral +character, for the generosity of his heart, and for his pleasing and +conciliatory manners. + +In consequence of the lamented death of Sir George Prevost, at the very +period when he was on the point of substantiating, before a competent +tribunal, his innocence of the charges preferred against him, the care of +his honour and reputation devolved upon his widow; nor did she neglect this +sacred trust. Soon after Sir George Prevost's decease, his brother, Colonel +William Augustus Prevost, addressed a letter to His Royal Highness the +Commander-in-Chief, in which, after stating the distressing situation in +which Sir George Prevost's family were placed, he requested that an +investigation of his brother's conduct might be ordered before a court of +inquiry. A reference to the Judge-Advocate was made upon the subject, who +was of opinion that such an inquiry could not properly be instituted. +Immediately after this determination, Lady Prevost represented, by letter, +to the Commander-in-Chief, the painful circumstances in which she was +placed. She intreated his Royal Highness to extend his protection to +herself and her family, and to procure from His Royal Highness the Prince +Regent a gracious consideration of their claims, to such marks of +distinction as might be due to the memory of the deceased. The receipt of +this letter was acknowledged by the Commander-in-Chief, who assured Lady +Prevost, that he would gladly do any thing calculated to alleviate her +distress, but that he declined interfering with the Prince Regent on the +subject, to whom he was of opinion it could only be regularly submitted by +His Majesty's ministers. + +A memorial was accordingly drawn up by Lady Prevost, which was submitted to +the Prince Regent through the regular channel. His Royal Highness, having +taken the same into consideration, was graciously pleased publicly to +express the high sense entertained by him of the services of Sir George +Prevost; conferring, at the same time, as a mark of his approbation, +additional armorial bearings to the arms of his family. + +The following grant of heraldic distinctions appeared in the London Gazette +of 11th September, 1816. + +_"Whitehall, September 3rd._--His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, taking +into his royal consideration the distinguished conduct and services of the +late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Baronet, during a long period +of constant active employment in situations of great trust, both military +and civil, in the course of which his gallantry, zeal, and able conduct +were particularly displayed at the conquest of the island of St. Lucie, in +1803, and of Martinique, in 1809; as also, in successfully opposing, with a +small garrison, the attack made in 1805 by a numerous French force upon the +island of Dominica, then under his government; and while Governor-General +and Commander-in-Chief of the British provinces in North America, in the +defence of Canada against the repeated invasions perseveringly attempted by +the American forces during the late war; and His Royal Highness being +desirous of evincing, in an especial manner, the sense which his Royal +Highness entertains of these services, by conferring upon his family a +lasting memorial of His Majesty's royal favour, hath been pleased, in the +name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to ordain that the supporters +following may be borne and used by Dame Catherine Anne Prevost, widow of +the late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, during her widowhood; viz. +"On either side a grenadier of the 16th (or Bedfordshire) regiment of foot, +each supporting a banner; that on the dexter side inscribed "West Indies," +and that on the sinister, "Canada;" and the said supporters, together with +the motto _servatum cineri_, may also be borne by Sir George Prevost, +Baronet, son and heir of the said late Lieutenant-General, and by his +successors in the said dignity of a baronet, provided the same be first +duly exemplified according to the laws of arms, and recorded in the +Herald's office. And His Royal Highness hath also been pleased to command, +that the said concession and especial mark of Royal favour be registered in +His Majesty's College of Arms." + +Whilst the impartiality of His Majesty's Government towards the servants of +the public is strongly evidenced by the recal of Sir George Prevost from +his command in the Canadas, under the circumstances before stated, their +sense of justice is no less strongly manifested by the above grant of +posthumous honours to his family, whose feelings of satisfaction were +greatly heightened by the gratifying manner in which His Royal Highness the +Commander-in-Chief was pleased to express himself upon this occasion, in +the following letter. + + "_Horse Guards, 17th September, 1816._ + + "Madam, + + "I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Ladyship's + letter of the 12th inst., and to assure you that I am + highly gratified to find that His Majesty's Government + has adopted a measure grateful to your feelings and + honorable to the memory of your late distinguished + husband. + + I am, Madam, + + Your most obedient servant, + + (Signed) FREDERICK." + + _Lady Prevost._ + +Lady Prevost having thus satisfactorily accomplished the great wish of her +heart, the vindication of her husband's injured fame, was almost +immediately afterwards attacked by an alarming disorder, evidently +occasioned by her severe afflictions, under which, after suffering for +several years, she finally sunk in 1821.[97] The family of Sir George +Prevost, deprived by an untimely death of one parent, and called upon to +witness the calamitous state of the other, were neither able nor willing, +under such circumstances, to enter into any further discussion upon the +merits of their father's conduct, in reply to the anonymous attacks made +upon it. They knew that in the opinion of every unprejudiced person, his +military character had been fully redeemed from the obloquy cast upon it, +by the high and honorable approbation bestowed upon it by his Sovereign, +and they had hoped that this strong attestation to Sir George Prevost's +worth would have sheltered his name from further attack or reproach. The +article in the Quarterly Review having disappointed them in this reasonable +expectation, it has become imperative upon them to prepare the present +statement. Whatever were the objects and motives of the Reviewer, it is +certainly not too much to say, that he has deliberately advanced charges +which he knew to be unfounded. The just feelings of indignation which every +page of the article in question is calculated to excite, were restrained by +the persuasion alone, that it was only requisite that the real facts of the +case should be made known, to rescue the memory of an honorable and gallant +officer from the aspersions thus wantonly cast upon it. In the Reviewer's +assertions, with regard to the preparations for the war; the care of our +Provincial Marine; the orders given to the subordinate Commanders; the +attack upon Sackett's Harbour; the reinforcing of General Procter's +division; the neglect of Captain Barclay's demands; the successes of +General Vincent, Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey, and others; the disposal of the +troops which arrived from Bourdeaux, and the expedition against Plattsburg; +in _all_ of these instances, the Reviewer has been convicted, by the most +unimpeachable evidence, of shameful inaccuracy, and in many of them of +gross ignorance and of wilful misrepresentation. In ascribing to the +Commander of the forces in the Canadas "vacillation, indecision, and error" +at the commencement of the war, it has been shewn that the Reviewer was +totally ignorant of, or misconceived the grounds and motives of his policy +and conduct, which in the very instances selected by the critic for +censure, received the pointed approbation of His Majesty's Government. To +"the want of talent, energy, and enterprise," of which the Reviewer has not +scrupled to accuse Sir George Prevost in the prosecution of the war, have +been opposed the various measures in which his vigilance and foresight were +conspicuous, in planning and directing those successful operations, the +merit of which the Reviewer would give to the subordinate Commanders alone. +To the charge of neglecting to preserve our marine ascendancy on Lake +Ontario and Lake Erie, which the Reviewer has styled "the most fatal and +palpable error" of Sir George Prevost, and the one in which his imbecility +of judgment and action was most flagrant, a reply has been given not only +by facts, in direct contradiction to his assertions, but by the letters of +the Naval Commanders on both Lakes; the one from Sir James Yeo, who +commanded in chief, in strong approbation of the general attention of the +Commander of the forces to the Marine service, and the other from Captain +Barclay, directly asserting the falsehood of the Reviewer's statement. The +true causes of the failures at Sackett's Harbour and at Plattsburg, which +have been so unjustly attributed to Sir George Prevost's misconduct, have +been distinctly pointed out, and the wisdom and energy of his proceedings, +upon both those expeditions, clearly established. To the Reviewer's +laboured attempts throughout the whole article, to prove that Sir George +Prevost was not the real defender of the Canadas, an answer has been given, +by shewing, that for three campaigns those provinces were preserved, whilst +he held the chief command in them, from the persevering attempts of a +powerful and superior enemy, and that to his unwearied efforts, the +inhabitants repeatedly expressed their firm conviction that they were +mainly indebted for their safety. + +The expression of concern and indignation with which the appearance of this +Review was instantly met amongst all who were in any degree qualified to +form a judgment upon the subject, was highly consolatory to the wounded +feelings of Sir George Prevost's family. They have in particular, the +greatest satisfaction in presenting to the public the two following +letters, addressed to the present Sir George Prevost, by Sir Herbert +Taylor, and by Earl Bathurst. + + "_Horse Guards, Nov. 15th, 1822._ + + "Sir, + + "I am directed by the Commander-in-Chief to acknowledge + the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, + containing a statement,[98] "which the family of the + late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost have felt + themselves called upon to make public, in reply to a + wanton and malignant attack which has been recently + made in an article of the Quarterly Review upon his + military character and reputation." + + "His Royal Highness orders me to assure you, that it + has not been without great concern and indignation that + he has noticed the ungenerous and cowardly attack to + which you advert: ungenerous, because, even if it had + been borne out by facts, it was calculated to wound + most deeply the feelings of respectable and amiable + individuals who had not provoked it; cowardly, as being + directed by an anonymous libeller against the memory of + an officer whose premature death had alone deprived him + of the benefit of an investigation into accusations + which he was prepared to meet, with the confident + expectation that he could successfully refute them. His + Royal Highness' sentiments upon the character, conduct, + and services of the late Sir George Prevost, have, upon + a former occasion, been conveyed to his family. Those + of His Majesty's Government, in approval of his + distinguished services, his gallantry, zeal, and able + conduct, are recorded in a public act of His Majesty's, + dated 4th September, 1816, which you have inserted in + your statement. To that record His Royal Highness + conceives that you may with confidence appeal for a + refutation of the calumnies recently published; and + having adverted to that document, so honorable to the + memory of the late Sir George Prevost, His Royal + Highness considers that he needs only to add, that + nothing has since the date of it come to his knowledge, + which can shake the opinion he then entertained in + perfect unison with the sentiments therein expressed. + + I have the honor to be, + Sir, + Your obedient humble servant, + + (Signed) HT. TAYLOR." + + "_Sir George Prevost, Bart. + Oriel College, Oxford._" + + * * * * * + + "_Cirencester, Nov. 13, 1822._ + + "Sir, + + "I have had the honour of receiving your letter, + inclosing a statement which you inform me that the + family of the late Lieutenant-General Sir George + Prevost consider themselves compelled to make public, + in reply to some attack which has recently been made + upon his memory. + + "In returning the statement, I can only say that I read + with the utmost regret the cruel attack which has been + so unwarrantably made in the Quarterly Review upon your + Father's memory, and can well understand the anxiety + which his family must feel to refute it as soon as + possible. + + I have the honor to be, + Sir, + Your obedient humble servant, + (Signed) BATHURST. + + "_Sir George Prevost, Bart. + Oriel College, Oxford_." + +The family of the late Sir George Prevost, justly proud of the sentiments +thus expressed by such high authorities upon his character and conduct, +consider any further attempt to vindicate his fame as altogether +unnecessary. In sanctioning the present publication, they have been +actuated solely by the pure motive of rescuing the reputation of their +father from unmerited reproach. Called upon by every feeling of filial +affection to expose the injustice of the cruel aspersions which have been +cast upon his memory, they trust that their endeavours will not be +fruitless, and that the impartial readers of these pages will be convinced +that the merits of Sir George Prevost were not confined to the private +virtues which endeared him to his family and friends, but that in public +life, as a Civil Governor and a Military Commander, he deserved the esteem +and approbation of his country. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Vide the Quarterly Review for October, 1822, p. 405. + +[2] Vide Beatson's "Naval and Military Memoirs," vol. iv, p. 518, Appendix, +No. I. + +[3] Mr. Gibbon to Mr. Holroyd.--"Let me tell you a piece of Lausanne news. +Nanette Grand is married to Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost. Grand wrote to me; +and by the next post I congratulated both father and daughter. There is +exactness for you.--_Beriton, Oct. 31st, 1765._" Vide Gibbon's +Miscellaneous Works, vol. i. p. 439. + +[4] See Appendix, No. II. + +[5] Vide Letter from the Duke of Portland, Appen. No. III. + +[6] Vide Appendix, No. IV. + +[7] Vide Appendix, No. V. + +[8] Vide accounts of the capture of St. Lucie and Tobago, from the Annual +Register, Appendix, No. VI. + +[9] Vide extracts from letters, Appendix, No. VII. + +[10] Vide Appendix, No. VIII. + +[11] Vide account of this expedition from the Annual Register, Appendix, +No. IX. Also the public despatches and letters, No. X. + +[12] Vide letter from H. R. H. the Duke of York to the Earl of Camden, +Appendix, No. XI. + +[13] Vide Appendix, No. XII. + +[14] Vide the resolutions, Appendix, No. XIII. + +[15] Vide the resolutions, and the letter of the chairman general Prevost, +Appendix, No. XIV. + +[16] Vide the resolutions, Appendix, No. XV. + +[17] Vide extract from the Dominica Journal, Appendix No. XVI. + +[18] Vide the public despatches, and letters from Lord Castlereagh, +Appendix, No. XVII. + +[19] Vide the addresses and answer, Appendix, No. XVIII. + +[20] Vide Appendix, No. XIX. + +[21] Vide Appendix, No. XX. + +[22] Vide Review, page 413. + +[23] Vide Quarterly Review, p. 413. + +[24] Review, p. 413. + +[25] Review, p. 413. + +[26] Review, p. 414. + +[27] Ibid. p. 413. + +[28] Ibid. p. 409. + +[29] Review, p. 410. + +[30] Review, p. 411. + +[31] Review, p. 411. + +[32] Review, p. 414. + +[33] Review, p. 411. + +[34] Review, p. 414. + +[35] Review, p. 415. + +[36] Review, p. 413. + +[37] Review, p. 418. + +[38] Review, p. 414. + +[39] Ibid. p. 415. + +[40] Review, p. 415. + +[41] Review, p. 415. + +[42] Ibid. + +[43] Review, pp. 415, 416. + +[44] Review, p. 412. + +[45] Vide the Addresses in the Appendix, No. XXI. + +[46] Review, p. 417. + +[47] Review, p. 411. + +[48] Review, pp. 418, 419, 420. + +[49] Vide the Report in the Appendix, No. XXII. + +[50] Review, p. 419. + +[51] Review, p. 418. + +[52] Review, p. 420. + +[53] There cannot be a stronger contradiction to the Reviewer's assertion, +that the order to retreat was precipitate, than the fact which was known to +every officer engaged in the expedition, that after the last assault, and +before any order was given for the retreat or re-embarkation of the troops, +a flag of truce was sent into the town, with a summons for the surrender of +the place, and that some time necessarily elapsed before a refusal was +received to that demand. It was not until after the return of the officer +with that refusal, and when all hope of the co-operation of the fleet had +been relinquished, the artillery still not having been landed, that the +order was given for the re-embarkation of the troops. + +[54] Review, p. 419. + +[55] Vide Appendix, No. XXIII. + +[56] Review, p. 425. + +[57] Vide Review, p. 426. + +[58] Review, p. 427. + +[59] Review, p. 425. + +[60] Review, p. 427. + +[61] Review, p. 427. + +[62] Review, p. 427. + +[63] "I have had the honor to receive your letters of the 9th and 18th +inst. The first I received at York on my way to the centre division, and I +cannot refrain from expressing my regret at your having allowed the clamour +of the Indian warriors to induce you to commit a part of your force in an +unequal and hopeless combat. + +"You cannot be ignorant of the limited nature of the force at my disposal +for the defence of our extensive frontier, and ought, therefore, not to +count too largely upon my disposition to strengthen the right division." + +[64] Review, p. 428. + +[65] The order here alluded to by Capt. Barclay, is contained in a letter +from the Adjutant-General, Col. Baynes, to General Procter, dated the 18th +Sept. 1813, nine days after the naval action had taken place, and before +the account of it had reached Sir George Prevost. This letter was written +in contemplation of the necessity of General Procter retiring from +Amherstburgh, in consequence of the difficulties of his situation, in which +case it was thought advisable that an action should be risked. + +[66] Vide Appendix, No. XXIV. + +[67] Vide the Proceedings of the Court-martial, Appendix, No. XXV. + +[68] Review, p. 432. + +[69] Review, pp. 433, 434. + +[70] Ibid, pp. 438, 439. + +[71] Vide General Orders, Appendix, No. XXVI. + +[72] Review, p. 440. + +[73] Vide Extracts in the Appendix, No. XXVII. + +[74] Review, p. 441. + +[75] Review, pp. 440, 441. + +[76] Review, p. 441. + +[77] Review, p. 442. + +[78] Ibid. p. 443. + +[79] Review, p. 443. + +[80] Ibid. + +[81] As a confirmation of this statement, the reader is referred to an +extract from a Letter addressed by Major-General Kempt to Sir George +Prevost upon the subject of the intended attack on Sackett's Harbour, of +which General Kempt was to have taken the personal command. Appendix, No. +XXVIII. + +[82] The extract from a letter addressed by Sir James Yeo, to Sir George +Prevost, given in the Appendix, No. XXIX. will shew his opinion of the +manner in which the Lake Champlain Squadron was manned. + +[83] The following is the Reviewer's mode of stating this:--"Had the +Commander-in-Chief suffered these works to be assaulted _as was eagerly +proposed to him_ on the same evening, there is no question but they must +have fallen with scarcely an effort before a single brigade."--p. 445. + +[84] Vide the whole of this Correspondence in the Appendix, No. XXX. + +[85] This statement and those of the General and other officers, +subsequently referred to, all of which are under the hand, and many of them +attested by the oaths of the parties, contain the facts relative to the +expedition against Plattsburg, to which those officers would have been +ready to depose before a Court-Martial. + +[86] Review, p. 446. + +[87] Review, p. 446. + +[88] In the celebrated action between our fleet, commanded by Lord Howe, +and that of the French, on the 1st of June, 1794, whilst they were in sight +of each other, and preparing for action, the order was given for our men to +go to breakfast. See Brenton's Naval History, vol. i. p. 272-307. + +[89] Review, p. 448. + +[90] Notwithstanding the opinion entertained by Sir George Prevost and the +army regarding the probable fall of Plattsburg, it must be recollected that +failure was possible, and that nearly at this very period we had been +disappointed in our attempts both upon Baltimore and New Orleans. The +opinion of the Americans themselves upon this subject, will be found well +expressed in an extract from a Burlington paper (State of Vermont) of that +period, given in the Appendix, No. XXXI. + +[91] Review, p. 447. + +[92] Review, p. 448. + +[93] Vide Appendix, No. XXXII. + +[94] A further confirmation of the favourable sentiments entertained in +Canada, on the subject of Sir George Prevost's conduct and services, during +the war, will be found in the extracts given in the Appendix, No. XXXIII. +from Christie's Memoirs of the Administration of the Government of Lower +Canada, and Bouchette's Topographical Account of that Province. + +[95] Sir G. Prevost's family, at the time of his decease, consisted of his +widow and three children, viz. the present Sir George Prevost and two +daughters. He likewise left two brothers, Major-General Wm. Prevost, late +Lieutenant-Colonel of the 67th regiment, and James Prevost, Esq. +Post-Captain in the Royal Navy. A monument to the memory of her husband was +erected by Lady Prevost in Winchester Cathedral, with the inscription which +will be found in the Appendix, No. XXXIV. + +[96] The motives by which Sir George Prevost was actuated, upon this +occasion, are forcibly expressed in his private despatch to Lord Bathurst, +given in the Appendix, No. XXXV. + +[97] Lady Prevost was the eldest daughter of Major-General Phipps, of the +Royal Engineers. + +[98] A few copies of the statements above referred to, which first appeared +in the Courier of 13th Nov. 1822, were printed and distributed, under the +title of "A brief Reply to the Calumnies of the last Quarterly Review, +against the military character and reputation of the late +Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart." + + + + +POSTSCRIPT. + + +Since the foregoing sheets were sent to press, some observations have +appeared in the British Critic, for May, 1823, upon the Civil +Administration of Sir George Prevost, in Canada, which may perhaps be +thought to require a brief notice. The writer of the remarks in question, +after premising that the military conduct of the late Commander of the +forces in the Canadas has been _sufficiently exposed_ in another Journal, +(the Quarterly Review) proceeds to assert, "that his domestic management of +the Colony was no less censurable. That finding that the Canadian party +gave him most trouble, his object was to obtain a temporary popularity for +his own administration, and a peaceable residence for himself, by every +possible species and degree of weak concession, which he dignified with the +name of conciliation. That the Catholic Bishop being at the head of the +party, was honoured with a seat in the Legislative Council, received a +pension of 1,500_l_. per annum, which he still enjoys, and was either +overtly or tacitly confirmed in all the usurpations of power and of +Government property, (about 40,000_l._ per annum,) upon which he had +ventured, whilst discouragement and _insult_ (a term of which the Critic +informs his readers he does not repent) were heaped upon the Protestant +Bishop and his Clergy, and upon the Loyal Members of both houses, and that +the just remonstrances of his Lordship in defence of the rights of his +Church, and which it was his first duty to protect, were represented at +home as the dictates of party spirit and political feeling." + +Although the generality of most of these remarks might seem to preclude the +necessity of any reply to them, yet, as the writer, in descending to +particular statements, displays a gross want of information, it becomes +necessary to expose his misrepresentations, in order that his censures may +be rightly appreciated. + +The policy of Sir George Prevost towards the Canadians, was, as the +foregoing pages will shew, adopted immediately upon his assuming his +government, and could not therefore be the consequence of any trouble given +him by the Canadian party, from whom, on the contrary, he invariably +received the most cordial support. His object in that policy was to +strengthen the hands of Government, and to avail himself, as he afterwards +did, of the whole resources of the country, in case it should be attacked. +But that any concession whatever was made by Sir George Prevost to effect +that object is altogether untrue. + +The Catholic Bishop, though his character and influence well entitled him +to that distinction, was _not_ honoured with a seat in the Legislative +Council during the government of Sir George Prevost, nor did he receive +during that period a pension of 1,500_l._ per annum. In 1775, the British +Government granted to the then Catholic Bishop a pension of 200_l._ per +annum. In the year 1778, a further sum of 150_l._ per annum, was given to +the same Bishop for the hire of the Episcopal Palace at Quebec, for public +offices. These two sums were continued to the subsequent Bishops, and +constituted the only income received by them from Government, until the +arrival of Sir George Prevost in Canada. During his administration, His +Majesty's Government was pleased to _increase_ that salary to the sum of +1,000_l._ per annum, in favour of M. de Plessis, the present Catholic +Bishop, "as a testimony," to use the words of Lord Bathurst, in his +despatch upon the subject, "of the sense which His Royal Highness the +Prince Regent entertained of the loyalty, and good conduct of M. de +Plessis, and of the other Catholic clergy of the Province." + +The charge that Sir George Prevost either tacitly or overtly confirmed the +Catholic bishop in all the usurpations of power and of government +property, upon which he had ventured, is so obscurely worded, that it is +difficult to give it a distinct answer. The privileges and possessions of +the Catholic clergy were assured to them at the period when Canada became a +British province, and the present Catholic bishop is not in possession of +any property, nor does he exercise any power which his predecessors have +not enjoyed since that period with the knowledge and concurrence of all +former governors of the Province, and of His Majesty's Government. The +"accustomed dues and rights" of the Catholic clergy of Canada, are formally +secured to them by the act of 14 Geo. 3. c. 83, §. 5. + +To the assertion, positive in proportion to its want of proof, that the +Protestant Bishop and his clergy, and the loyal members of both Houses, +were treated with insult, it will be merely necessary to answer, that Sir +George Prevost was incapable of treating any person, much less those of a +sacred character and profession, with indignity or insult--and a confident +appeal is made to the Protestant clergy of Canada, and to the loyal members +of both Houses, against an insinuation as base as it is groundless. + +To the critic's charge of general mismanagement in the affairs of the +Colony, a reply, if any were wanting, will, it is trusted, be found, in the +foregoing pages; in the approbation of His Majesty's Government of the very +policy which this writer so acrimoniously condemns, and in the highly +flattering testimonials to the merits of Sir George Prevost's civil +administration, which he received not only from the Canadians, but from the +most respectable of the English inhabitants. + +It is evident that the writer of the article in the British Critic has +blindly adopted the prejudices and feelings of the Quarterly Reviewer +towards Sir George Prevost, and as he appears to dwell with particular +complacency upon the exposure which he imagines to have been made of that +officer's military character, he is justly entitled to share in the +disgrace which must attend his coadjutor's failure, and in the odium which +will always attach to the anonymous traducer of departed merit. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +No. I. + +_Extract from Beatson's Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain, vol._ +iv. _p._ 518-529. + +Upon the first alarm of the enemy being on the coast, General Prevost +exerted himself to the utmost, to increase and strengthen the +fortifications of the town of Savannah; and was most ably seconded in his +operations, by Captain James Moncrieffe of the engineers, and Captain Henry +of the navy. Orders were sent to the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Maitland, who +was posted with a considerable detachment of troops at Beaufort, and to +Captain Christian, of his Majesty's ship Vigilant, to repair as soon as +possible to Savannah, with the troops, ships, and galleys, then at Port +Royal island. Unfortunately, the express with these orders was intercepted +by some of the rebel patrols; and, previous to the arrival of a second +messenger, the enemy had time to seize on the principal communications +between the two places. This rendered the junction of that detachment with +the garrison, upon which alone any hope of defending Savannah could be +reasonably founded, a matter extremely precarious, difficult, and +dangerous. Happily, however, the abilities of Colonel Maitland, and the +zeal of the troops under his command, powerfully aided by the professional +skill of Lieutenant Goldesborough, of the navy, who was thoroughly +acquainted with the various creeks, inlets, and cuts, with which the +interior navigation of this country abounds, overcame every obstacle in +their way. The battery at Tybee was destroyed; the leading marks for the +bar were cut down; and the little naval force there was held in readiness +to run up the river Savannah, as soon as the French fleet were seen making +for the mouth of it. + +On the 9th, the whole of the French fleet anchored off the bar: and on the +10th, four frigates weighed and came to Tybee anchorage. M. d'Estaing had +got from Charlestown, a large supply of small craft, into which he put his +troops; and they proceeded into Ossabaw inlet, and made good the +debarkation of their forces at Bowley, 13 miles from Savannah, under cover +of four galleys. The French frigates prepared, at the same time, to advance +up the river. + +Captain Henry and the naval department were employed, from the 10th to the +13th, in conveying to Savannah part of the guns and ammunition of the Rose +and Fowey, in vessels which General Prevost had sent down for that purpose. +On the 13th, both frigates being much lightened, sailed over the Mud-flat +to Five Fathom Hole, from which the remainder of their guns and ammunition +were conveyed up to the town, which is only three miles distant. The Comet +galley, Keppel brig, and some armed vessels, were so placed as to cover the +passage of Colonel Maitland, with the forces under his command, from Port +Royal, through Wallscut. On the 14th and 15th, the seamen completed the +important business of landing the cannon and ammunition from the ships and +small vessels: and they were appointed to the different batteries, under +the command of Captains Henry, Brown, and Fisher, of the navy. Some masters +of transports, and the master of a privateer, with their men,[99] made +voluntary offers of their service; as did Mr. Manley; merchant of Jamaica. +Their offers were accepted; and they had their posts assigned them. The +marines were incorporated with the grenadiers of the 60th regiment. + +On the 16th, the Compte d'Estaing sent a haughty letter to General Prevost, +summoning him to surrender the place to his Most Christian Majesty: +informing him, at the same time, that among the troops which he had the +honour to command, was the detachment which had stormed the Hospital Hill +at the Grenades. He begged leave to recal this to his memory; and assured +him, that he gave him this notice from motives of humanity, in order to +spare the shedding of human blood. General Prevost, on receiving this +message, called a meeting of the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, and +Field-Officers in the garrison, who authorised him to say, that he declined +surrendering on a general summons, without specific terms; but that, if +such were proposed as he could with honour accept, he would then give his +answer. This drew a reply from M. d'Estaing, in which he affirmed, that it +was customary, not for besiegers, but for those who were besieged, to +propose terms of capitulation; stated, that he had no objections to allow +the General every indulgence consistent with his duty; and informed him +that, as it was his intention next day to form a junction with the army of +the United States of America, if his answer was not immediately ready, he +must in future treat with General Lincoln and him. General Prevost, in +return, demanded a cessation of hostilities for 24 hours; as a time +absolutely necessary for deliberation, and for the discussion of various +interests. Towards the evening of the 16th, the Compte d'Estaing returned +an answer, in which he consented to this demand. The two armies joined on +the 17th, and formed separate but contiguous encampments. + +It was during this parley, that the detachment under Lieutenant-Colonel +Maitland, consisting of upwards of 1,000 men, arrived from Beaufort. The +enemy well knew, how important it would be to their interests to prevent +this junction; and for that purpose, had attempted an enterprise, which +proved unsuccessful, by their pilots refusing to undertake to place the +French frigates in the necessary stations, for enabling them to cut off +Colonel Maitland's communication with Savannah. Of this circumstance the +Colonel availed himself: and after undergoing immense fatigues, joined +General Prevost in the evening of the 16th, with 500 men; and the remainder +of his detachment arrived about noon the next day. As he found the enemy in +possession of the ship-channel, the Colonel had been obliged to come round +Dawfaskie, and land on the marshes; and after dragging his boats (empty) +through a cut, got into the Savannah river above the French frigates, and +from that came down to the town. A Council of War was held, in which it was +determined to defend the place to the last extremity: and notice of this +resolution was sent to the besieging Generals. To this M. d'Estaing +returned an answer. Hostilities immediately recommenced: and the British +tars could not refrain from giving three huzzas from their batteries. Both +sides now exerted themselves with the utmost assiduity. When the town was +first summoned, there were not above eight or ten guns mounted; but so +indefatigable were the exertions of Captain Moncrieffe, the senior engineer +in the place, in putting it in a proper state of defence, that, by adding +the guns landed from the ships to those which were in store, he had, in the +course of a few days, nearly 90 pieces of cannon ready to oppose to the +enemy, as soon as their batteries should open. He had likewise erected many +redoubts, batteries, and other works, to retard their progress. In all +these operations, the soldiers and sailors, with the utmost cheerfulness, +worked day and night in the face of hostile troops flushed with conquest: +the enemy were greatly astonished at the activity of the garrison. + +From the accounts given to M. d'Estaing, of the situation of things at +Savannah, he considered his success against it as certain. He had made +repeated declarations to the Americans, that, as the season of the year was +so far advanced, he could not remain more than ten or fifteen days on +shore, lest his fleet should be injured on such a dangerous coast. The +reinforcement which the garrison had received, reduced the besiegers to +the alternative of either storming or besieging the town of Savannah. The +latter plan was adopted, and they took their measures accordingly. + +As it was apprehended, that the enemy's ships might come too near the town, +and annoy the rear of the British lines, Captain Moncrieffe had some +fire-rafts prepared, and in readiness to act against them, if they should +make the attempt. It was also judged expedient, in order effectually to +prevent it, to sink a number of vessels to stop up the passage. As his +Majesty's ship the Rose was in so very bad a condition, that, by the report +of shipwrights lately employed to survey her, she could not swim above two +months; as her guns, ammunition, and stores, had been landed; and as her +weight would keep her across the channel, when lighter vessels might shift, +owing to the rapidity of the current, and to the hardness of its sandy +bottom, in which they could have little hold, Captain Henry selected her as +a vessel proper to be sunk. The Savannah armed ship, and four transports, +were also scuttled and sunk, and by these the channel was blocked up. Above +the town several smaller vessels were sunk, and a boom was laid across the +river, to prevent the enemy from sending down fire-rafts among the +shipping, or landing troops in the British rear. Previous to the vessels +being sunk, the Fowey, Keppel brig, Comet galley, and Germain provincial +armed ship, were got up to the town: and the latter having guns, was placed +off Yamairaw, to flank the lines. While the enemy's batteries were getting +ready to play against the town, three French frigates advanced up the river +to Mud-flat. One of them, having twelve-pounders, and two rebel galleys, +carrying each two eighteen-pounders in their prows, anchored in Five Fathom +Hole; from which one of the frigates sailed into the back river, with a +design to cannonade the rear of the British lines. She fired a great number +of shot; which, being at their utmost range, did no execution. The galleys +advancing nearer, did some damage to the houses; but a few shot now and +then from the river battery, made them keep a respectable distance. + +Two sallies, one of them on the 24th; commanded by Major Graham, of the +16th regiment; and another on the 27th, commanded by Major M'Arthur, of the +71st regiment; were admirably well conducted, did the enemy considerable +mischief, and killed and wounded a great many of their best troops, while +the loss on our side was very inconsiderable; In the first sally, Major +Graham artfully drew the enemy into a snare, by which the French and the +rebels fired on each other, and had near 50 men killed before the mistake +was discovered. + +The batteries played on every place where the enemy were perceived to be at +work; and more than once obliged them to discontinue their labour. It was +the 3rd of October, before they opened any of their batteries: and then, +about midnight they began to bombard from nine mortars of eight and ten +inches, and continued the bombardment about two hours. At day-light, their +fire commenced again from the nine mortars, and also from 37 pieces of +cannon from the land side, and 16 from their shipping: and in this they +persisted with little variation during several days. The execution done by +this heavy fire, was much less than could have been imagined. It consisted +in killing a few helpless women and children, and some few negroes and +horses in the town, and on the common. On the 6th, the enemy threw some +carcasses into the town, which burnt one wooden house: and about 11 +o'clock, the General sent a letter, by a flag of truce, to M. d'Estaing, +requesting permission to send the women and children out of the place, on +board of ships and down the river, under the protection of a French ship of +war, until the siege should be ended. After three hours, and a deal of +intermediate cannon shot and shells, an insulting answer was returned by +Messrs. Lincoln and d'Estaing, in which they refused to comply with this +reasonable and humane demand. + +The garrison, undismayed by this brutal conduct on the part of their +opponents, kept up a smart fire against them; and during the night were +extremely busy in adding to their works, and in repairing such of them as +had sustained damage. Thus things went on until the morning of the 9th; +when, a little before day-break, after a heavy, and as usual, incessant +cannonade and bombardment, the enemy attacked General Prevost's lines. + +The attack being upon the left of his centre, in front of the French; and +very soon after, upon his left and right. It was yet dark, and the darkness +was increased by a very thick fog, which made it impossible to determine +with precision, where the real attack was to be made, or how many assaults +were intended. No reinforcements therefore were sent; but every thing was +kept in readiness for that purpose, and the troops waited with the greatest +coolness in their different posts, for the approach of the enemy. Those in +the lines were prepared to charge them, wherever they should attempt to +penetrate: and the General had the greatest hopes, that the fire of the +field artillery, which was placed to support the advanced redoubts, would +enable him, while the enemy were entangled among these, to throw them into +some confusion; and, perhaps, with a good prospect of success, to order his +corps de reserve to sally forth and charge them. The ground toward both his +flanks, owing to its natural defects, which the utmost efforts of Captain +Moncrieffe had been unable effectually to remove, was but too favourable +for an enemy. On the right was a swampy hollow, by which they could +approach under cover to within fifty yards of his principal works, and in +some places still nearer; and there, he supposed, that the rebels would +make their assault. On the left, the approach was neither so well covered, +nor of so great an extent as that on the right; but as it was sufficiently +large to admit troops to act, as the ground was firm and clear, and as it +was near their encampment, he expected that the French regulars would make +their attack there: but in this he was mistaken. A real attack did take +place there: but the principal attack, composed of the flower of the French +and rebel armies, and led by the Compte d'Estaing in person, assisted by +all the principal officers of both, was made upon his right. Under cover of +the hollow, they advanced in three columns; but, owing to the darkness, +took a wider circuit than they needed or intended to have done, and went +deeper into the bog. These circumstances prevented them from beginning the +attack so soon as they had concerted; and besides occasioning a loss of +critical time, produced considerable disorder in their ranks. The attack, +however, was very spirited, and for some time obstinately maintained; +particularly at a redoubt on the Ebenezer road, which was a scene of hot +action, great loss, and consummate bravery. Two stand of colours were +actually planted, and several of the assailants killed upon the parapet; +but they met so determined a resistance, that they could not, with all +their efforts, force an entrance. It was now, that the skill and design of +the defences raised by Captain Moncrieffe, were fully displayed; for, while +the conflict was still dubious and bloody, the field-pieces, from three +batteries which were manned by the sailors, took them in every direction, +and made such havock in their ranks, that they were thrown into confusion, +and compelled to make a pause. At this critical moment, Major Glacier, of +the 60th regiment, with the grenadiers of that corps and the marines, +advanced rapidly from the lines; in the most impetuous manner, charged the +enemy with their fixed bayonets; and plunging among them, into the ditches +and works, drove them, in an instant, from the ditches of the redoubt, and +from a battery a little to the right of it. Following up the blow, they +forced them to fly, in great confusion, over the abatis, and into the +swamp. On this occasion, Captain Wickham, of the 2d battalion of the 60th +grenadiers, greatly distinguished himself. When the grenadiers advanced, +three companies of the second battalion of the 71st regiment were ordered +to sustain them: and although they were posted at no considerable +distance, and marched forward with the usual ardour of that corps, such was +the rapidity with which the grenadiers had made their attack, and so +precipitate was the enemy's retreat, that they could not come in for a +share of the victory. One of the enemy's columns a little more to their +left, in every attempt which it made to come out of the hollow, was +repulsed by the brisk and well directed fire of a redoubt, where the +militia were posted, aided by Hamilton's small corps of North Carolinians, +who were on the right, and moved there with a field-piece to bear obliquely +against it, while one of the seamen's batteries took it directly in flank. +It was now day-light: but the fog was not sufficiently cleared off, to +enable General Prevost to judge with any degree of certainty of the +strength, disposition, or further intentions of the enemy on the right. On +the left, and in the centre, the fog, with the addition of the smoke, was +still impenetrably close: and a smart firing being still kept up there, the +General thought it would be improper to draw from it a number of troops +sufficient to make a respectable sortie. By these means, an opportunity was +lost of taking complete advantage of the confusion of the enemy, by +charging them in their retreat; but they did not get off without being +severely cannonaded by the batteries and field-pieces, as long as they were +in sight, or judged to be within reach. They were every where repulsed: and +those on the left were only heard, being concealed from view by the +thickness of the fog. + +Lieutenant-Colonel de Porbeck, of Weissenbeck's Hessian regiment, was +field-officer of the right wing: and being in the redoubt when the attack +began, had an opportunity, which he well improved, of signalizing himself +in a most gallant manner. It would not be doing justice to the different +corps who defended the redoubt, if we neglected to mention them. They were +part of the South Carolina Royalists; and the light dragoons dismounted, +and commanded (by special order) by Captain Tawae, a good and gallant +officer, who nobly fell with his sword in the body of the third man he had +killed with his own hand. The loss on the part of the British in this +battle, consisted of one captain, and fifteen rank and file killed; one +captain, three subalterns, and thirty-five rank and file wounded. The loss +sustained by the enemy, as acknowledged by the French, was about a thousand +or twelve hundred men killed and wounded; of these, they lost forty-four +officers and seven hundred men: and the deserters, of whom there were a +great many, all declared, that the loss on the part of the rebels was not +less than four hundred men. Among the wounded was M. d'Estaing, (in two +places) M. de Fontange, Major-General; and several others of distinction. +Count Polaski, (who has been mentioned in the course of these Memoirs), a +Colonel of cavalry in the rebel service, in making a desperate push at the +British lines, was mortally wounded. + +About ten o'clock, the enemy requested a truce, and leave to bury their +dead, and carry off their wounded men. This was granted for those who lay +at a distance from the lines, or out of sight of them: but those within or +near the abatis were interred by the British. Their numbers were on the +right, two hundred and three; on the left, twenty-eight. One hundred and +sixteen prisoners, most of them mortally wounded, were delivered to the +enemy. To this loss, considerable of itself, must be added, the numbers +buried by them, the numbers who perished in the swamp, and many who were +carried off by them when they retreated. + +From this time to the 18th, nothing very material happened. Several flags +of truce were sent during that period by the enemy, and a great deal of +civility passed mutually between the French and British. Many apologies +were made for their refusal to allow the women and children to be sent out +of town: and the blame of this base conduct was laid, by a French Colonel, +Compte O'Duin, entirely on the scoundrel Lincoln, and the Americans.[100] +The offer was then made with great earnestness, that the ladies and +children should be received by the Chevalier du Romain, on board of the +Chimere; but the answer given to it was blunt and soldierly, that what had +once been refused, and that in terms of insult, was not in any +circumstances deemed worth acceptance. All the French officers seemed quite +ashamed of this affair. As it was with them only, that the British had any +intercourse after the repulse on the 9th, the sentiments of the Americans +could not be so well known. But, as the letter was signed by d'Estaing, as +well as by Lincoln, their imputing this harsh, cruel, and unprecedented +refusal, entirely to the brutality of the American General, may serve to +shew their consciousness, that it was altogether indefensible; but is by no +means sufficient to exculpate the French Commander, from his share of the +blame and disgrace, inseparable from it. An author,[101] who is extremely +partial to the American cause, endeavours to defend this measure from +motives of policy: "The combined army (says he) was so confident of +success, that it was suspected, that the request of sending away the women +and children, proceeded from a desire of secreting the plunder lately taken +from the South Carolinians, and artfully covered under the specious veil of +humanity. That the Commanders were suspicious, considering the stratagem +Prevost had practised after being summoned, is not strange. It was also +presumed, that a refusal would expedite a surrender." There does not seem +to have been much cordiality between the French and Americans in this +enterprise. M. d'Estaing would have been well pleased to have done the +business without them, by summoning the place to surrender to his Most +Christian Majesty. This, the latter took much amiss, as they considered +themselves as principals, and the French only as auxiliaries: and for this +piece of presumption, some concessions were made. When the time assigned by +M. d'Estaing for this expedition had elapsed, and still more was required +by the engineers, if it was expected that the garrison should be compelled +to surrender by regular approaches, he became extremely impatient to bring +matters to a quick decision, and urged giving the assault to the place. +This measure, says Mr. Gordon, was forced on M. d'Estaing by his naval +officers, who had remonstrated against his continuing to risk so valuable a +fleet in its present unrepaired condition, on such a dangerous coast in the +hurricane season; and at so great a distance from the shore, that it might +be surprised. These remonstrances were enforced, by the probability of +their being attacked by the British fleet completely repaired, with their +full complement of men, soldiers, and artillery on board, when the ships of +his Most Christian Majesty were weakened, by the absence of a considerable +part of their crews, artillery, and officers, employed at the siege of +Savannah. These reasons had great weight with M. d'Estaing: and he +prevailed on General Lincoln to storm the place without farther loss of +time. The Americans seemed to think, that by a little more patience and +perseverance, the town must have submitted; as in a few days, the lines of +the besiegers would have been carried quite close to the works of the +besieged. Their allies, however, judged themselves to be in so critical a +situation, that they acquiesced in M. d'Estaing's proposal; for, if the +French had retired to their ships, the siege must have been raised, so that +there remained only one alternative for them to adopt. The repulse which +they had received, was not followed by mutual accusations of want of +courage or conduct in either party; but the French, in all their +conversations, spoke of the Americans with the greatest contempt. + +It was not perceived until the 18th, that the enemy had raised the siege; +but, the fog clearing up in the morning of that day, it was found that they +had moved off. For some days previous to this, they had been busy in +drawing off their cannon and mortars, and in embarking their sick and +wounded, of whom they had a great number. General Prevost immediately +detached parties in pursuit of them; but they had got to such distance +before it was discovered they had retreated, that they could not overtake +them: the enemy in their march having broken down all the bridges. The +French embarked in Augustine creek, and the rebels crossed the river +Savannah, at Zubley's ferry, and got into South Carolina. The enemy's fleet +quitted the coast on the 26th October, and their frigates and galleys on +the 2d of November, as soon as an exchange of prisoners had taken place. +The balance of prisoners was in the enemy's favour: for while they were off +this coast, on the 11th of September, his Majesty's ship, Ariel, of 24 +guns, was taken by the French frigate, the Amazon, of 36 guns; and besides +taking the Experiment, they took also the Myrtle, navy victualler; and +Champion, storeship. The last of these was a prize of considerable +importance to them, for their fleet was very badly manned, their crews +sickly, their ships in bad condition, short of anchors and cables, and no +running rigging to reeve, but this ship afforded them a supply. She had +been sent from New York, with naval stores for the ships and vessels, under +the command of Captain Henry. + + +No. II. + +_Address from the Council and House of Representatives of St. Vincents to +Lieut.-Col. Prevost, p. 7._ + +"SIR, + +The Committee of His Majesty's Council, and of the Representatives of the +Inhabitants of St. Vincents, deeply impressed with the many and eminent +services you have rendered this colony, beg leave to offer their most +grateful thanks to you, not only on their own account, but on that of the +community at large. It might be irksome to you to minutely particularize +these services: the Committee, however, cannot forbear mentioning your +voluntary and unsolicited return to the defence of the Colony, and to +participate in a most laborious and perilous war, against an inglorious +enemy. Such zeal, Sir, strongly characterizes the soldier. The happy +consequences to the public cause, although unfortunate to yourself, of your +late gallant attack on the enemy's advanced post, demand the warmest +acknowledgments, and the universal wish that you may speedily recover from +your wounds, and that our gracious Sovereign may discern, and properly +reward such distinguished merit. + +"_10th March, 1796._" + + +No. III. + +_Letter from the Duke of Portland to Brigadier-General Prevost, p. 7._ + + "_Whitehall, 29th April, 1801._ + +"SIR, + +"The satisfactory manner in which you have conducted the Administration of +Public Affairs in St. Lucie, and the representations made to the King in +your behalf by the Members of the Court of Appeal, have induced His Majesty +to appoint you Lieutenant-Governor of that Island. I transmit to you +inclosed His Majesty's Commission; and I have only to add, that I am +persuaded that your conduct in the administration of your Government will +continue to justify the very flattering and favorable intentions of the +Court of Appeal, to contribute to the support of the respectability of your +civil station. + + "I am, Sir, + + "Your most obedient humble servant, + + (Signed) "PORTLAND." + + +No. IV. + +_Address to Brigadier-General Prevost from the Inhabitants of St. Lucie, p. +7._ + + Les Habitans de l'Isle de St. Lucie, à Son Excellence + Monsieur le Brigadier-Général George Prevost, + Lieut.-Gouverneur de cette Isle, &c. + +Monsieur le Gouverneur, + +Lorsque le paix, objet de tous ties voeux, fait rentrer l'Isle de Sainte +Lucie sous la domination Française, c'est un hommage bien légitime que de +vous rendre au nom de tous les Colons un témoignage public de l'amour, du +respect, et de la reconnoissance que votre gouvernement doux et paternel, +et votre sage administration, ont fait naître dans tous les coeurs. Les +avantages sans nombre dont vous avez fait jouir la Colonie, depuis que vous +en avez pris le Commandement, l'attachent hautement. En effet, M. le +Gouverneur, l'amour constant que vous avez manifesté pour le bien public; +les soins infinies que tous avez pris pour rendre et faire rendre la +justice dans un tems où toutes les loix étaient en oubli; le zèle +infatigable avec lequel vous tous êtes occupé des discussions des intêrets +des Colons; votre gouvernement paternel, qui, en vous conciliant tous les +esprits, à detruit les divisions qui pouvaient exciter, a fait regner +l'union et la concorde parmi les habitans, et a fait renaître la confiance, +et la prospérité. Enfin, votre gouvernement tutelair, qui a fait chérir +l'authorité de sa Majesté dans la votre, sont autant de bienfaits dont vous +avez fait jouir les habitans de la Colonie, et dont ils conserveront +éternellement le souvenir. + +Mais il en était un plus grand que le zèle et l'amour du bien public, qui +vous animaient, reservoit à la Colonie; c'est votre sollicitude paternelle +qui a emploié et obtenue, pour nous, de sa Majesté, qu'elle nous rendit nos +loix, non tribunaux, nos magistrats, c'est-à-dire, le témoignage le plus +convainçant qu'elle préferait au droit de nous traiter comme un peuple +conquis, la douceur de nous adopter pour ses enfans, et de nous rendre les +objets de sa tendresse. Nous en sommes tellement convaincus, M. le +Gouverneur, que nos infortunes ont été adoucis, et que nous en avons +ressentis les plus grands effets. Le bonheur, la tranquillité et la +prospérité dont les habitans de la Colonie out jouis jusqu'à present, ils +les tiennent de la bonté du Roi, et de votre administration paternelle, M. +le Gouverneur; et si notre reconnoissance ne trouve pas d'expressions assez +forte pour vous peindre aussi vivement que nous le sentons, notre +admiration pour vos talens, notre vénération pour vos vertus, et notre +amour profonde pour votre personne,--daignez permettre que la Colonie vous +présente, comme un foible témoignage, une épée, sur la lame de laquelle +seront gravé ces mots:--_La Colonie de St. Lucie reconnoissante._ + +Jouissez, M. le Gouverneur, du bien que vous avez fait à la Colonie; et les +voeux des Colons pour votre gloire et votre bonheur vous suivront à votre +patrie. + + +No. V. + +_Letters from Sir Thomas Trigge, Commander of the Forces in the West +Indies, p. 7._ + +"Sir, + +"I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th +inst., and feel very great regret, that your state of health is such as to +render your returning to England necessary, by that means depriving His +Majesty and myself of your services in this country. You may rely I shall +not fail to express my sentiments on this subject when I write home, as in +rendering this tribute of justice to your character, I shall discharge the +most pleasing and gratifying part of my duty. I beg you will be pleased to +signify to the council, that in consequence of your absence, I have +appointed Brigadier-General G. H. Vansittart, to succeed to the civil and +military command of the Island of St. Lucie, per interim, in order that he +may be recognised accordingly, and take upon him the functions and +authorities of that situation. + +"I have now, Sir, to take my leave, and to offer my best wishes for your +welfare and happiness; entertaining the firmest hope and assurance, that +you will meet on your arrival in England those marks of approbation, which +in every instance you have so highly and eminently merited. + +"With sentiments of the purest esteem and regard, I have the honor to be, +Sir, + + "Your most obedient and faithful humble servant, + + (Signed) + + THOS. TRIGGE, + Lieut.-General." + +_Sir Thomas Trigge to Colonel Brownrigg._ + + * * * * * + +"Sir, + +"The return of Brigadier-General Prevost to England, calls on me to express +to His Royal Highness, the Commander-in-Chief, the opinion with which his +conduct has impressed me, both in his civil and military capacities during +his command in the island of St. Lucie, as, did I fail to point out those +officers who are deserving of His Royal Highness's countenance and support, +I should be as wanting in justice to the individual, as deficient in point +of duty to the Commander-in-Chief. + +"I cannot but view with infinite regret Brigadier-General Prevost's +departure from this country, as he has invariably conducted his command in +the most satisfactory manner. The zeal and unremitting exertion which he +has on every occasion shewn, and the exact attention which he has paid to +the several duties of his situation, point him out as a distinguished and +excellent officer, and whom it is my duty to recommend in the strongest +terms to His Majesty, and to the Commander-in-Chief. + + "I have the honor to be, Sir, &c. &c. + + (Signed) + + "THOS. TRIGGE, + Lieut.-General." + + +No. VI. + +_Account of the Capture of St. Lucie and Tobago, from the Annual Register +for 1803, p. 8._ + +"On the 22nd June, the island of St. Lucie was taken by General Grinfield +and Commodore Head. The French Commander, General Naguês, refused to +capitulate, and the expectation of approaching rains rendered it necessary +to get possession of the Morne Fortunée with as little delay as possible. +It was therefore determined to attack it by storm; the defence was gallant; +yet, by the determined bravery of the British soldiers and seamen, the +works were carried in about half an hour, not without some loss, chiefly, +among the officers. This conquest was of considerable importance as a naval +station. The island as a colony is valuable, but the climate is unhealthy. + +"The British commanders lost no time in pursuing their victorious career; +and on the 25th, they sailed for Tobago, which they reached on the 30th. It +was defended by General Berthier, an officer of note in the French service; +but being apprised of the number of the British, and of the gallantry they +had displayed at St. Lucie, he did not think it prudent to risk an +engagement. A capitulation was agreed to on the same day, upon the most +liberal terms, the garrison marching out with the honours of war, and to be +sent back to their native country."--_Annual Register_ for 1803, p. 283. + + +No. VII. + +_Extract of a Letter from Major-Gen. Grinfield relative to the expedition +against St. Lucie and Tobago, p. 8._ + +"It is with real satisfaction I send you the enclosed extract from Colonel +Clinton's letter to me." + + * * * * * + +_Extract of a Letter from Colonel Clinton to Lieutenant-General Grinfield, +dated_ + + "_Horse Guards, 3rd Sept. 1803._ + +"This despatch, addressed to the Commander-in-Chief, bears testimony, in +the handsomest terms, to the meritorious services of Brigadier-General +Prevost; and to the zealous promptitude with which he left his government +of Dominica, to fulfil your wishes. In reply, I am directed to acquaint +you, that His Royal Highness is perfectly sensible of the zeal, which +induced Brigadier-General Prevost to volunteer his service on the late +occasion, under your command; a circumstance which redounds much to his +credit; and which, on a proper opportunity, His Royal Highness will not +fail to mention to His Majesty." + + * * * * * + +_Extract of a Letter from Lord Hobart to Brigadier-General Prevost._ + +"I cannot omit to congratulate you upon the complete success of the +expeditions against St. Lucie and Tobago, in which you were so actively and +honourably engaged; and I have the satisfaction of acquainting you, that +His Majesty has been graciously pleased to notice, with particular +approbation, your conduct upon those services." + + +No. VIII. + +_Letter to Brigadier-General Prevost from General Naguês, p. 9._ + +"Depuis la prise du Morne Fortuné, je ne cease d'éprouver de la part du +Général en Chef des égards que j'aie dû attribuer à un caractère de loyauté +qui se remarque des que l'on se trouve en rapport avec le Général +Grinfield. + +"Mais je n'ignore pas, Général, qu'animé des mêmes principes, je dois à vos +dispositions particulières une partie des precédés généreux dont je me suis +vu comblé. Avant de vous témoigner toute ma reconnoissance, laissez moi, je +vous prie, m'arrêter sur un fait qui vous est personnel, je veux parler de +l'humaine prévoyance que vous avez eue de placer, à votre arrivée au Morne, +une Sauve Garde à l'hôpital militaire pour la sureté de nos malades. Citer +un pareil trait c'est assez dire pour le Guerrier qu'il honore et +distingue. Je viens maintenant, Général, aux sentimens que vous m'avez +inspiré, et je vous prie de croire que je n'y mets point de reserve. +Veuillez donc bien m'agréer l'hommage, et recevoir mes très humbles +salutations. + + (Signéd) "NAGUÊS."[102] + + "_Caséuge, + le 6 Messidor, an 11._" + + +No. IX. + +_Account of the Attack upon Dominica by a French Squadron, p. 9._ + +"It may easily be supposed that much alarm prevailed at home, when it was +known that two such formidable fleets[103] of the enemy were actually at +sea, and which were aggravated by reports of strong detachments of the +Brest fleet having also escaped, with a view to some grand combined +exertion of the enemy. Where the blow was to fall, occupied the public +mind. Malta, Brazil, the British West Indies--a general junction of the +whole of the combined force of the enemy, in order to cover a descent upon +Ireland. In short, every possible point of annoyance or attack was warmly +agitated in the public mind. At length intelligence was received on the 6th +May, from the British Commander-in-Chief of the forces in the windward and +leeward islands, that Dominica had been attacked on the 22nd February +preceding, by a French armament of one three-decker, and four other line of +battle ships, three frigates, two brigs of war, and a schooner, with about +4,000 landmen on board. Brigadier-General Prevost, the Governor of the +island, immediately made the best dispositions for its defence, and +opposed, with the small force under his command, the landing of the French +inch by inch. At length the whole of the enemy's force, consisting of 4,000 +men, under the cover of the tremendous fire of the Majestueux, of 120 guns, +four 74's, and the frigates, having landed, and having made such a +disposition as threatened to cut off the retreat of the Governor, and his +few remaining troops from the town and fort of Prince Ruperts, and thereby +reduce the whole island; General Prevost, with the utmost promptitude and +presence of mind, directed the regular force, under Captain O'Connell, to +make a forced march across the island, and join him at Prince Ruperts; to +which place he himself repaired attended only by his staff, and arrived in +24 hours: the troops also arriving there with their wounded, after four +days continued march, through the most difficult country existing. The +Governor immediately took the necessary precautions to place the fort in +the best state, and his appearance was so formidable, that the French +Commander-in-Chief, after having in vain summoned him to surrender, thought +proper, after levying a contribution upon the inhabitants of Roseau, which +town had been set on fire, in the moment of attack, and had suffered +severely by the conflagration, on the 27th, to reimbark his whole force; +and after hovering a day or two in the bay, and about the port of Prince +Ruperts, made easy sail towards Guadaloupe. Throughout the whole of this +transaction, the highest praise is due to the Governor, and the British +troops under his command. At one period 200 of the latter were opposed to +more than 2,000 of the enemy, and under the command of the gallant Major +Nunn, who unfortunately received a mortal wound in the action, and +subsequently under Captain O'Connell, succeeded in withstanding them for +more than two hours, and then effected their retreat, after having made +much slaughter of the invaders. Nor should the militia of the island be +without their due share of praise, for their exemplary bravery and +steadiness. Upon the whole it may be stated, with perfect propriety, in the +words of General Myers, that in this affair, had not the town of Roseau +been accidentally destroyed by fire, we should have little to regret, and +much in which to exult."--_Annual Register_ for 1805, p. 220. + + +No. X. + +_Public Despatches and Letters relative to the Attack of the French upon +Dominica, in 1805, p. 9._ + + +_From Lieut.-Gen. Sir William Myers to Earl Camden._ + + "_Barbadoes, March 9th._ + +"MY LORD, + +"I have the honour to enclose to your Lordship, a copy of a despatch from +Brigadier-General Prevost, dated Dominica, 1st March. The details contained +therein, are so highly reputable to the Brigadier-General, and the small +portion of troops employed against so numerous an enemy, that I have great +satisfaction in recommending that their gallant exertions may be laid +before his Majesty: the zeal and talents manifested by the +Brigadier-General, upon this occasion, it is my duty to present to his +royal consideration, and, at the same time, I beg to be permitted to +express the high sense I entertain of the distinguished bravery of His +Majesty's troops, and the militia of the colony, employed upon that +service. The vigorous resistance which the enemy have experienced, and the +loss which they have sustained in this attack, must evince to them, that +however inferior our numbers were on this occasion, British troops are not +to be hostilely approached with impunity; and had not the town of Roseau +been accidentally destroyed by fire, we should have little to regret, and +much to exult in. Your Lordship will perceive by the returns, that our loss +in men, compared to that of the enemy, is but trifling; but I have +sincerely to lament that of Major Nunn, of the 1st West India regiment, +whose wound is reported to be of a dangerous kind; he is an excellent man, +and a meritorious officer. + + "I am, &c. + + (Signed) "W. MYERS." + + * * * * * + + _"Head-quarters, Prince Ruperts, + Dominica, March 1st._ + +"Sir, + +"About an hour before the dawn of day, on the 22nd ult. an alarm was fired +at Scotshead, and soon after a cluster of ships was discovered off Roseau. +As our light increased, I made out five large ships, three frigates, two +brigs, and small craft, under British colours, a ship of three decks, +carrying a flag at the mizen. The frigates ranged too close to Fort Young; +I ordered them to be fired on, and soon after 19 large barges, full of +troops, appeared coming from under the lee of the other ships, attended and +protected by an armed schooner full of men, and seven other boats, carrying +carronades. The English flag was lowered, and that of France hoisted. A +landing was immediately attempted on my left flank, between the town of +Roseau and the post of Cachecrow. The light infantry of the 1st West India +regiment, were the first on the march to support Captain Serrant's company +of militia, which, throughout the day, behaved with great gallantry. It was +immediately supported by the grenadiers of the 46th regiment. The first +boats were beat off, but the schooner and one of the brigs coming close in +shore, to cover the landing, compelled our troops to occupy a better +position, a defile leading to the town. At this moment I brought up the +grenadiers of the St. George's regiment of militia, and soon after the +remainder of the 46th, and gave over to Major Nunn these brave troops, with +orders not to yield the enemy one inch of ground. Two field-pieces were +brought into action for their support, under the command of Serjeant Creed, +of the 46th regiment, manned by additional gunners and sailors. These guns, +and a 24-pounder from Melville's battery, shook the French advancing +column, by the execution they did. I sent two companies of the St. George's +militia, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Constable, and a company of the +46th, to prevent the enemy from getting into the rear of the position +occupied by Major Nunn. On my return, we found the Majestueux, of 120 guns, +lying opposite to Fort Young, pouring into the town and batteries her +broadsides, followed by the other 74's and frigates, doing the same. Some +artillery, several captains of merchantmen, with their sailors, and the +artillery-militia, manned five 24-pounders, and three 18's at the fort, and +five 24's at Melville's battery, and returned an uninterrupted fire. From +the first post red-hot shot were thrown. At about ten o'clock, a. m. Major +Nunn, most unfortunately for His Majesty's service, whilst faithfully +executing the orders I had given, was wounded, I fear mortally. This did +not discourage the brave fellows. Captain O'Connell, of the 1st West India +regiment, received the command and a wound almost at the same time; +however, the last circumstance could not induce him to give up the honour +of the first, and he continued in the field, animating his men, and +resisting the repeated charges of the enemy, until about one o'clock, when +he obliged the French to retire from their advanced position with great +slaughter. + +"It is impossible for me to do justice to the merit of that officer. You +will, I doubt not, favourably report his conduct to His Majesty, and, at +the same time, that of Captain James, who commanded the 46th, and Captain +Archibald Campbell, who commanded the grenadiers of the 46th. Foiled and +beat off on the left, the right flank was attempted, and a considerable +force was landed near Morne Daniel. The regulars not exceeding 200, +employed on the left in opposing the advance of their columns, consisting +of 2,000 men, could afford me no reinforcement; I had only the right wing +of the St. George's regiment of militia to oppose them, of about 100 men. +They attacked with spirit, but, unfortunately, the frigates stood in so +close to the shore, to protect their disembarkation, that after receiving a +destructive fire, they fled back and occupied the heights of Woodbridge +Estate. Then it was that a column of the enemy marched up Morne Daniel, and +stormed the redoubt, defended by a small detachment, which, after an +obstinate resistance, they carried. On my left Captain O'Connell was +gaining ground, notwithstanding a fresh supply of troops, and several +field-pieces, which had been brought on shore by the enemy. I now observed +a large column climbing the mountain to get in his rear. The town, which +had been for some time in flames, was only protected by a light howitzer, +and a six-pounder to the right, supported by part of the light company of +St. George's regiment. The enemy's large ships in Woodbridge-bay out of the +reach of my guns, my right flank gained, and my retreat to Prince Ruperts +almost cut off, I determined on one attempt to keep the sovereignty of the +island, which the excellent troops I had, warranted. I ordered the militia +to remain at their posts, except such as were inclined to encounter more +hardships and severe service; and Captain O'Connell, with the 46th under +the command of Captain James, and the light company of the 1st West India +regiment, were directed to make a forced march to Prince Ruperts. I then +allowed the President to enter into terms for the town of Roseau; and +demanded from the French general, that private property should be +respected, and that no wanton or disgraceful pillage should be +allowed. This done, only attended by Brigade-Major Prevost, and +Deputy-Quarter-Master-General Hopley, of the militia forces, I crossed the +island, and in 24 hours, with the aid of the inhabitants, and the exertions +of the Caribs, I got to this garrison on the 23rd. After four days +continued march, through the most difficult country, I might almost say, +existing, Captain O'Connell joined me at Prince Ruperts, wounded himself, +and bringing in his wounded, with a few of the royal artillery, and the +precious remains of the 46th regiment, and the 1st West India light +company. I had no sooner got into the fort, than I ordered cattle to be +drove in, and took measures for getting a store of water from the river in +the bay. I found my signals to Lieutenant-Colonel Broughton, from Roseau, +made soon after the enemy had landed, had been received; and that in +consequence, he had made the most judicious arrangements his garrison +would allow of, for the defence of this important post. On the 25th, I +received the letter of summons I have now the honour to transmit, from +General of Division La Grange, and without delay, sent the reply you will +find accompanying it. On the 27th the enemy's cruizers hovered about the +head; however, the Centaur's tender (Vigilante) came in, and was saved by +our guns. I landed Mr. Henderson, her commander, and his crew, to assist in +the defence we were prepared to make. As far as can be collected, the enemy +had about 4,000 men on board, and the whole of their force was compelled to +disembark before they gained an inch of ground. I trust this despatch by +Capt O'Connell, to whom I beg to refer you; his services entitle him to +consideration. I am much indebted to the zeal and discernment of +Foot-Adjutant Geraly, who was very accessary to the execution of my orders. +I cannot pass unnoticed the very soldier-like conduct of Lieut. Wallis, of +the 46th regiment, to whom I had entrusted the post of Cachearn or +Scotshead; perceiving our retreat, he spiked his guns, destroyed his +ammunition, and immediately commenced his march to join me at Prince +Ruperts, with his detachment; nor that of Lieutenant Shaw of the same +regiment, who acted as an officer of artillery, and behaved with uncommon +coolness and judgment, whilst on the battery, and great presence of mind in +securing the retreat of the additional gunners belonging to the 46th +regiment. + +"On the 27th, after levying a contribution on Roseau, the enemy reimbarked, +and hovered that day and the next about this port. This morning the French +fleet is seen off the south end of Guadaloupe, under easy sail. Our loss +you will perceive by the returns I have the honor to transmit, was +inconsiderable, when compared with that acknowledged by the enemy, which +included several officers of rank, and about 300 others. + + "GEO. PREVOST." + +"P.S. As I find I cannot spare Captain O'Connell from the duty of this +garrison, I must refer you to the Master of a Montreal vessel, who has +engaged to deliver this despatch." + + * * * * * + + "_Au Quartier-Général au Roseau, + le 5th Ventose, An 13._ + +"Le Général de Division Lagrange, Grand Officier de la Légion de l'Honneur, +&c. &c. + +"Monsieur le Général, + +"Avant de commencer les operations militaires contre le fort où tous +paraissez tous être rétiré, je viens remplir une préalable autorisé et +pratiqué, entre les nations civilisées. + +"Vous connoissez aussi bien, M. le Général, votre position, et peut-être +même, l'inutilité d'une nouvelle éffusion de sang; vous avez dû gémir en +voyant le malheureux sort de la ville de Roseau; mon premier soin en y +entrant a été de donner des ordres pour arrêter l'incendie: mais par +malheur le mal était dejà trop grand. Le besoin en subsistence produit +toujours des effete cruels, et le résultat peut en être calculé plus +positivement que celui de toute autre chose. Ne fût-ce que cette +consideration, elle est plus que suffisante sous la circonstance où vous +vous trouvez pour accepter les conditions honorables que je suis disposé à +vous accorder, et soustraire ainsi par un arrangement les habitans +intéressants de cette colonie à des nouveaux malheurs presque toujours +inséparable des événemens de la guerre. Veuillez, M. le Général, me faire +connoître bientôt votre réponse; en attendant, recevez l'assurance de la +haute consideration que j'ai pour vous. + + "J'ai l'honneur de vous saluer, + + (Signed) "LAGRANGE." + + * * * * * + + "_Head-Quarters, Prince Ruperts, + Feb. 25th, 1805._ + +"Sir, + +"I have had the honour to receive your letter. My duty to my King and +country is so superior to every other consideration, that I have only to +thank you for the observations you have been pleased to make on the often +inevitable consequences of war. Give me leave, individually, to express the +greatest gratitude for your humanity and kind treatment of my wife and +children; at the same time to request a continuance thereof, not only to +her and them, but towards every other object you may meet with. + + "I have the honor to be, &c. &c. + + (Signed) "G. PREVOST." + + * * * * * + +Copy of a Letter from Lord Camden. + + _Downing Street, 18th May, 1805._ + +"Sir, + +"Your letter to me of the 1st of March, containing your reports to +Lieut.-General Sir William Myers, of the attack made by a French squadron +with a considerable body of troops on the Island of Dominica, of the +gallantry with which they were opposed, and of their retreat from that +Island on the 27th February has been laid before the King. I have it in +command from His Majesty to express his entire satisfaction in the +judicious and brave exertions which you displayed in this emergency; and +you will signify to the officers and men of the Regular and Militia forces +under your command, His Majesty's entire approbation of their spirited and +meritorious services. + + "I have honor to be, &c. &c. + + (Signed) "CAMDEN." + + +No. XI. + +_Letter from His Royal Highness the Duke of York to the Earl of Camden, p_. +9. + + "_Horse Guards, Nov. 26th, 1805_. + +"MY DEAR LORD, + +"I have to acknowledge your lordship's letter of yesterday, recommending +Major-General Prevost to my peculiar protection, from the military spirit +and knowledge which he displayed in the late affair with the enemy at +Dominica, and I request your lordship will be persuaded of the high sense I +entertain of the services and exertions of Major-General Prevost, and that +I shall be happy in availing myself of any opportunity to recommend him for +a mark of His Majesty's favor. + + "I remain, my dear Lord, + + "Yours sincerely, + + "FREDERICK." + +"_To the Earl of Camden, K. G. +&c. &c. &c._" + + +No. XII. + +_Letter from the Speaker of the House of Assembly of Dominica to General +Prevost, p. 10._ + + "_Dominica, 17th May, 1805_. + +"SIR, + +"I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency, by desire of the +House of Assembly, a copy of their Resolutions of the 2d instant, +expressive of their thanks of your late gallant defence of the colony +against a French force so very superior, and appropriating the sum of 1,000 +guineas for the purchase of a Sword, and a service of Plate to be presented +to you in testimony of their gratitude and approbation. + +It affords me a peculiar gratification to be the organ of the House on the +present occasion, because I am thus furnished with an opportunity of +expressing the high esteem I entertain for your Excellency's character, not +only as a brave, judicious, and experienced officer, in which capacity your +merit has long stood conspicuous, but as a man of strict probity, and as a +Governor whose public measures have uniformly been directed by views of +general utility. When I say that it is with the deepest regret I +contemplate the departure of your Excellency from this colony, I speak the +language of every respectable member of the community--but you go to reap +in the approbation of your Sovereign, and the applauses of your country, +the well-earned reward of your unremitting vigilance and indefatigable +exertions, and I am persuaded that you carry with you from hence the +earnest wishes of all good men for the happiness and prosperity of yourself +and your family. + + "I have the honor to be, + + "With the highest respect, &c. &c. + + (Signed) "J. LUCAS, + + "Speaker." + + * * * * * + +_The Governor's Reply._ + + "_Prince Ruperts, 3d June._ + +"Sir, + +"You have conveyed to me, in terms most flattering, the thanks of the House +of Assembly for my endeavours to save this colony from the misery of a +foreign and oppressive yoke. As the organ of that body you have expressed +its partial sentiments with a friendly zeal, that has made on my mind an +impression not to be effaced. + +Allow me, Sir, through you, to offer to the House of Assembly my unfeigned +thanks for the token I have received of its partial consideration of my +services. That unanimity which has been our strength, uninterrupted, may +render Dominica, even in the present perilous moment,[104] almost +invulnerable. Whilst danger exists, I will never abandon my post; nor shall +I ever cease to entertain a grateful recollection of the sentiments the +occasion has called forth. + +So much of the resolutions of the House as we not personal to myself, I +have caused to be given out in General Orders, to the Regular and Militia +Forces. + + "I have the honor to be, &c. + + (Signed) "G. PREVOST." + + +No. XIII. + + _His Honor the President and Council, and the Speaker + and Gentlemen of the Assembly, to His Excellency the + Governor in Chief, p. 10._ + +The Board and House having come to the following Resolution of voting the +sum of 1,000_l._ sterling, for the purpose of purchasing a Sword and +Service of Plate to be presented to his Excellency Governor Prevost, in the +name of the Colony, as a token of its gratitude for the gallant defence +thereof by his Excellency on the memorable 22d February last, + +Also a sum not exceeding 300_l._ sterling, for defraying the expense of a +Monument to the memory of the late Major Nunn who gallantly fell on the +same memorable occasion, + +Also the sum of 100 guineas for the purchase of a Sword to be presented to +Major O'Connell, And 300_l._ sterling to be presented to Captain James, +commanding the 46th regiment, to be laid out in the purchase of a Service +of Plate for the use of the officers' Mess of that regiment--request your +Excellency's' assent thereto, and that you will issue your warrants to the +Treasurer accordingly. + + T. METCALF, President. + J. LUCAS, Speaker. + +_Council Chamber, 12th May, 1805. +House of Assembly, 15th May, 1805._ + + +No. XIV. + +_Resolutions of the Patriotic Club, and Letter of the Chairman to General +Prevost, p. 10._ + + _Patriotic Fund, Lloyd's, May 14, 1805._ + +At a Special General Meeting of the Committee held this day, + +JOSEPH MARRYAT, Esq. in the Chair, Read, from the London Gazette of the +7th of May, a letter from Lieut.-General Sir William Myers, Bart. +commanding His Majesty's troops in the Windward and Leeward Islands, to +Earl Camden, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, inclosing +a letter from Brigadier-General Prevost, Governor of Dominica, relating to +the vigorous and gallant resistance made by the troops and militia under +his command, against the very superior force with which the French landed +at Roseau, on the 22d of February last; his retreat to the fort at Prince +Ruperts; and the resolution he expressed, in answer to the summons of +General Lagrange, of defending it to the last extremity; in consequence of +which the enemy abandoned the enterprise, and evacuated the Island. + +Resolved, + +That a Sword of the value of 100_l._, and a Piece of Plate, of the value of +200_l._, with appropriate inscriptions, be presented to Brigadier-General +Prevost, for the distinguished gallantry and military talents he displayed +on that occasion, by which the sovereignty of the Island was preserved to +His Majesty's arms. + +That a Sword of Fifty Pounds value, and a Piece of Plate, of the value of +100_l._, with appropriate inscriptions, or that sum in money, at his +option, be presented to Major Nunn, wounded while faithfully executing the +orders of General Prevost, "Not to yield to the enemy one inch of ground." + +That a Sword of 50_l._ value, and a Piece of Plate, of the value of +100_l._, with appropriate inscriptions, or that sum in money, at his +option, be presented to Captain O'Connell, whose wound did not induce him +to forego the honour of the command to which he succeeded on Major Nunn +being disabled; and in which he resisted the repeated charges of the enemy, +notwithstanding their great superiority in numbers, till he obliged them to +retire with great slaughter. + +That the sum of 100_l._ be presented to Captain Colin Campbell, wounded. + +That the sum of 40_l._ each be given to the men whose wounds have been +attended with disability or loss of limb. + +That the sum of 20_l._ each be given to the other men severely wounded. + +And the sum of 10_l._ each, to the men slightly wounded, including the +Militia of the Island. + +That Brigadier-General Prevost be requested to advise the Committee of the +mode in which the Resolutions respecting himself, Major Nunn, and Captain +O'Connell, can be most acceptably carried into effect--to distribute the +sums voted to the men wounded, and draw for the amount--furnishing the +Committee with the names of the parties, and the sums respectively paid +them--and to forward to the Committee the best information he can procure +respecting the families of the men killed, including the Militia of the +Island, that relief may be afforded to such widows, orphans, and aged +parents, as depended upon them for support. + + JOSEPH MARRYAT, Chairman. + + * * * * * + +(Copy.) + + _London, May 15, 1805._ + +"Sir, + +"I have the honor to inclose you the resolutions of the Committee of the +Patriotic Fund, on their taking into consideration the official account of +the gallant and successful defence, made by you, and the brave men under +your command, against the very superior force with which the enemy invested +Dominica, on the 22d February last. That the sovereignty of the Island was +preserved to the British Crown, must be in a great degree ascribed, under +Divine Providence, to the talents with which you conducted the military +operations; to the confidence which those who served under you had in those +talents; and the animation with which they were inspired by your example. + +"The primary object of this Fund being the relief of the wounded, and the +families of those killed in the service of their country, the Committee, on +every occasion, restrict their votes of honorary marks of distinction for +gallant conduct, to the commanding officers. This, they trust, will +satisfactorily explain to those brave officers, to whose merit you bear +such honorable testimony, the reason of their not being noticed in these +resolutions. + +"The Committee, cannot but remark the very distinguished manner in which +the inhabitants of Dominica have displayed those gallant exertions against +the enemy, to which they so readily came forward to animate others, by +contributing to this fund. The Committee trust, that in attending to the +other objects of the inclosed resolutions, you will be particularly careful +to recommend to their consideration, the distressed relatives which any of +the Militia of the Colony may have left unprovided for. Your bills, at +three days sight, on Sir Francis Baring, Bart., Chairman of the Patriotic +Fund, at Lloyds, for the amount of the sums voted to the wounded men, will +be immediately honored. As those who are disabled, will be invalided and +sent home, the Committee submit it to your discretion, whether the +gratuities to them had not better be paid them on their arrival here, under +your certificate of their claims. + +"You will be pleased to accompany your draft, with a letter, giving the +names of the parties wounded, and the sums respectively paid to each; which +the Committee leave to your judgment, according to the nature and extent of +the injuries they have received, instead of waiting for further information +to act upon themselves. + + "I have the honor to be, Sir, + + "Your most obedient humble servant, + + "JOSEPH MARRYAT, + Chairman." + +"_Brigadier-General Prevost._" + + +No. XV. + + _At a General Meeting of West India Planters and + Merchants, held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate + Street, May 22, 1805, p. 10._ + +Resolved unanimously, + +That the thanks of this Meeting be given to his Excellency +Brigadier-General Prevost, Governor of the Island of Dominica, for the +distinguished gallantry and high military talents he displayed on the 22d +of February, 1805, in the defence and effectual protection of that Colony +against a numerous, powerful, and unexpected force from France. + +And that this resolution be communicated to General Prevost, in a letter +from the Right Honorable Lord Penrhyn, the Chairman of this Meeting. + + * * * * * + +Resolved unanimously, + +That this Meeting, impressed with the highest sense of the important +service rendered to all the West India Colonies, by the able resistance +made by General Prevost to the landing of the enemy on the 22d of February, +1805, do request that he will accept from the general body of West India +Planters and Merchants, a Piece of Plate, of the value of 300 guineas, with +an inscription expressive of the sense of this resolution. + + * * * * * + +Resolved unanimously, + +That the thanks of this Meeting be given to the Field-Officers, Captains, +and other Commissioned Officers of the Royal Artillery, the 46th regiment, +the 1st West India regiment, and also to the officers of the Colonial +Militia, for the gallant conduct they respectively exemplified, and the +zealous co-operation they afforded on the same occasion, and that his +Excellency the Governor be requested to communicate the same. + + * * * * * + +Resolved unanimously, + +That his Excellency General Prevost be requested, in a letter from the +Chairman, to signify to the Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates of his +Majesty's Regular and Militia forces at Dominica, the high sense this +Meeting entertains of their services in resisting the French force on the +22d of February, 1805. + + +No. XVI. + +_Extract from the Dominica Journal, of Saturday, July 6th, 1805, p. 10._ + + _Roseau, July 6th, 1805._ + +Yesterday afternoon, embarked from Roseau, in the Garrison-boat, (under a +salute from Fort Young and Scot's Head) for Prince Ruperts, to join his +amiable family, who left town the day preceding, his Excellency +Major-General George Prevost, our worthy and highly respected Governor, a +gentleman who retires from his government with the pleasing gratification +of the consciousness of having faithfully discharged his duty to his +Sovereign, at the same time that he has, as conscientiously, studied the +interests of the people, over whom he has for nearly three years most +uprightly and honorably presided. + +We presume not to arrogate to ourselves talents capable of becoming the +panegyrists of a Prevost--we shall confine ourselves to observing that his +remembrance will be ever held dear in the breast of every worthy inhabitant +of this Colony; and by declaring that it is our sincere prayer that his +merit may meet its due reward from our most Gracious Sovereign, and that +himself and family may pass their future days in the enjoyment of every +earthly felicity. + + +No. XVII. + +_Dispatches from Sir George Beckwith, and Letter from Lord Castlereagh, p. +11._ + +_Downing-street, March 27._ + + The following despatches have this day been received + from Lieut.-General Beckwith, Commander of His + Majesty's Forces in the Leeward Islands, addressed to + Lord Viscount Castlereagh. + + "_Martinique, Feb. 1._ + +"My Lord, + +"In my last, No. 42, I had the honour to report to your Lordship the +sailing of the army from Carlisle Bay upon the 28th ult. I have now the +satisfaction to acquaint your Lordship that we landed in two divisions upon +the 30th; the first division, under the orders of Lieutenant-General Sir G. +Prevost, consisting of between 6 and 7,000 men, at Bay Robert, on the +windward coast, in the course of the afternoon, without opposition; and, +notwithstanding the difficulties of the country, we occupied a position on +the banks of the Grand Lezard River before day-break of the 31st, with a +corps of nearly 4,000 men, after a night march of seven miles through a +difficult country. These services were greatly facilitated by the judicious +and manly conduct of Captain Beaver, of His Majesty's ship Acasta, who led +into the Bay in a bold and officer-like manner, preceded by His Majesty's +brig Forester, Captain Richards. The exertions and success of this measure +were completely effective, two transports only striking in the narrow +passage at the entrance of the Bay. Hitherto we have experienced no +resistance from the militia of the country; and they manifest a disposition +every where to return to their homes, in conformity to a joint proclamation +by the Admiral and myself, which is obtaining a very extensive circulation. +The second division of the army, consisting of upwards of 3,000 men, under +the command of Major-General Maitland, landed near St. Luce and Point +Solomon on the morning of the 30th; but, as our communication with that +corps is not yet established, I cannot enter into any details. +Lieutenant-General Sir G. Prevost, with the advance in my front, will take +possession of the heights of Bruno in the course of this day; and I am led +to expect will there, for the first time, feel the pulse of the regular +troops of the enemy. The port of Trinite, which lies beyond the line of our +operations, will, by order of Captain Beaver, of the navy, be taken +possession of this day, by a detachment of seamen and marines from the +squadron to windward, under the command of Captain Dick, of the Penelope. +The Admiral, with the body of the fleet and store-ships, is in the vicinity +of Pigeon Island, at the entrance of Fort Royal Bay. Our operations to +windward have been vigorous and effectual in point of time; and the +privations of the troops have been considerable, and borne in a manner +worthy of the character of British soldiers. From what has passed, I am of +opinion the inhabitants of the country manifest a friendly disposition; and +after the heights of Surirey shall be carried, which I expect will be +strongly contested, the campaign will be reduced to the operations of a +siege, and the defence of the fortress.--The services rendered by the +captains and officers of the navy to windward have been great and +essential, and the exertions of Captain Withers of the navy, principal +agent for transports, peculiarly meritorious. + + "GEO. BECKWITH, + Com. Forces." + + * * * * * + + "_Martinique, Heights of Surirey, Feb. 3._ + +"My Lord, + +"In my letter of the 1st inst. I had the honour to report, for His +Majesty's information, the progress then made in our operations against the +enemy. My expectation that Lieutenant-General Sir G. Prevost would meet +them upon Morne Bruno, and that the heights of Surirey would be warmly +contested, was realized in the course of the same day; and both were +carried under the direction of the Lieutenant-General, with that decision +and judgment which belong to this respectable officer, and much to the +honour of Brigadier-General Hoghton, the officers and men of the Fusileer +brigade and light battalion, engaged on that service. On the 2nd, it +appeared to me to be desirable to extend to the right of our position; +which was effected in a spirited manner by the King's infantry. An exertion +was then made to carry the advanced redoubt; but, having soon reason to +believe that it would have been acquired with a loss beyond the value of +the acquisition, the troops were withdrawn; and the enemy abandoned it +during the night, with another redoubt contiguous to it, with evident marks +of disorder: both will be occupied and included in our position this night. +Pigeon Island surrendered at discretion yesterday, which enables the +shipping to enter Fort Royal Bay; all the batteries on the Case Naviere +side have been destroyed and abandoned, a frigate and some other +merchant-vessels burned, the lower fort abandoned, and all their troops +withdrawn from Fort Royal to the principal fortress. I consider the +investiture to be nearly completed, and we must now look for the operations +of a siege. Time does not admit of details; but your Lordship will perceive +that these operations have been effected in eight days from our quitting +Barbadoes, notwithstanding heavy rains and most unfavourable weather, in +which the troops have borne every species of privation in a manner worthy +their character as British soldiers. + + "GEO. BECKWITH, + Com. Forces." + + * * * * * + + "_Camp, Heights of Surirey, + Martinique, Feb. 10._ + +"My Lord, + +"Having, in my communications of the 1st and 5th instant, submitted to your +Lordship's consideration general reports of the operations of the army I +have the honour to command, I now beg leave to inclose the special reports +of the General Officers commanding divisions, and of Brigadier-General +Hoghton, whose brigade was in action upon the 1st; with separate returns of +our loss upon the 1st and 2nd, which, I am inclined to believe, will +terminate our operations in the field.--The lower fort, formerly Fort +Edward, was taken possession of before day-break in the morning of the 8th, +by Major Henderson, commanding the Royal York Rangers, with that regiment, +without resistance, and we now occupy that work. St. Pierre surrendered to +Lieutenant-Colonel Barnes, of the 46th, the day before yesterday; and I +have not yet received the details. In the course of all these services, +where the co-operation of the navy was practicable, the greatest exertions +have been made by the Rear-admiral; and the important advantages rendered +on shore by that excellent officer, Commodore Cockburn, in the reduction of +Pigeon Island, and the landing cannon, mortars, and ammunition at Point +Negroe, and conveying them to the several batteries on that side, have been +of the highest importance to the King's service. + + "GEO. BECKWITH, + Com. Forces." + + * * * * * + + "_Martinique, Heights of Surirey, Feb. 2._ + +"Sir, + +"In conformity with your orders, I disembarked on the 30th ult. with the +Fuzileer brigade of the 1st division of the army, at Malgre Tout, in the +Bay Robert, at four o'clock, p. m. and proceeded from thence to De +Manceau's estate, where I arrived late, in consequence of the difficulties +of the country, and the unfavourable state of the roads for the movement of +cannon. Before the dawn of the next day, I reached Papin's, and proceeded +from thence with the advance, composed of the Royal Fusileer regiment, and +the grenadier company of the 1st West India regiment. The enemy retiring +before me, I reached the heights of De Bork's estate towards evening, where +I was joined at day-light on the 1st inst. by Brigadier-General Hoghton, +with the 23rd regiment and the light infantry battalion, under the command +of Major Campbell, of the Royal West India Rangers. I lost no time after +this junction, and pushed forwards the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Pakenham, +with the Royal Fusileers, to possess himself of Morne Bruno; this movement +I supported by the light infantry battalion, under Brigadier-General +Hoghton, who was ordered, after uniting the two corps, to proceed to force +the heights of Desfourneaux, whilst I held the Royal Welsh Fusileers in +reserve, to strengthen such points of attack as might require it. On my +coming on the heights of Surirey, I had innumerable proofs of the valour +and judgment of the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Pakenham, of the excellence of +the Fusileer brigade, and of the spirited and judicious exertions of +Lieutenant-Colonel Ellis, and Majors Pearson and Ostley, of the 23rd or +Royal Welsh Fusileers; also of the bravery of Major Campbell and the light +infantry battalion; all of which have enabled me to retain this valuable +position without artillery, within 300 yards of the enemy's intrenched +camp, covered with guns. The officers belonging to my staff distinguished +themselves by their zeal and activity during the heat of the action. I have +to lament the loss of Captain Taylor, Acting Deputy-Quarter-Master-General, +who was severely wounded whilst rendering effectual services to his +country.--I cannot omit acknowledging, that to Lieutenant Hobbs, of the +Royal Engineers, I am indebted for the rapidity of our movements, and +ultimate success, from his acquaintance with this country, which enabled +him to guide and direct our movements. + + "GEO. PREVOST, + Lieut.-Gen." + + * * * * * + +(Private.) + + "_Downing-street, May 25th, 1809._ + +"Dear Sir, + +"I beg to congratulate you on the successful termination of the operations +in Martinique, in which you bore so distinguished a part. I hope that this +will find you safely returned to Nova Scotia, without having suffered in +your health from your West India campaign. + + "I remain, dear Sir, + + "Your faithful and obedient servant, + + "CASTLEREAGH." + +"_Lieut.-Gen. Sir G. Prevost, +&c. &c. &c._" + + +No. XVIII. + + _Addresses presented to Sir George Prevost, on his + Arrival at the Islands of Dominica and St. Christopher, + p. 11._ + +_To His Excellency Lieut.-Gen. Sir George Prevost, Bart. &c. &c. &c._ + +"May it please your Excellency, + +"We, His Majesty's loyal subjects, the Members of the House of Assembly of +the Island of Dominica, avail ourselves of the occasion of your +Excellency's visit to your late government, to repeat to you the assurances +of the high esteem which we have ever entertained for the character of your +Excellency, and to express our most grateful sense of the unabated zeal +which your Excellency has evinced, on every occasion, to promote the +welfare and prosperity of this colony, as well as to add glory to the arms +of your country. + +"With every anniversary of the 22nd February, will the services rendered by +your Excellency recur to our memory, not only from the gallantry displayed +by your Excellency upon that occasion, when opposed to so superior a force, +but for your subsequent exertions in favour of the unfortunate sufferers by +the fire, to which may be chiefly attributed the relief afforded them by +the mother country. + +"We beg leave to congratulate your Excellency upon the brilliant result of +the operations against the enemy's most important colonial possession, and +by which, an opportunity has been afforded you, of acquiring fresh laurels, +in addition to those which already grace your Excellency. + +"We most heartily and sincerely wish your Excellency a prosperous and +pleasant passage to your government, and we anticipate that reward which +awaits you (ever most pleasing to a soldier)--the approbation of your +sovereign. + + "JNO. HY. HOBSON, + Speaker." + +"_House of Assembly, +15th March, 1809._" + + * * * * * + +_Reply of Sir George Prevost._ + +"Mr. Speaker, and + +"Gentlemen of the House of Assembly, + +"I feel flattered by your expressions of personal consideration, and highly +gratified that my exertions in favour of the sufferers on the memorable 22d +of February, 1805, were attended by some success. + +"I thank you for your congratulations on the favourable termination of a +short, but brilliant campaign. + + "GEORGE PREVOST." + +"_Government-House, 15th +March, 1809._" + + * * * * * + +_To His Excellency Lieut.-Gen. Sir George Prevost, Bart. &c. &c. &c._ + +"May it please your Excellency, + +"We the merchants and inhabitants of this His Majesty's Island of Saint +Christopher, beg leave to approach your Excellency with the warmest +congratulations on your arrival in this colony; and to assure your +Excellency that could any circumstance enhance the satisfaction we receive +upon this occasion, it must proceed from the happy contemplation of the +recent success which has crowned the exertions to which you have so +pre-eminently contributed in the reduction of the Island of Martinique to +His Majesty's arms: a conquest which has at once given additional splendour +to the British name, and added another signal example of your merit, +perseverance, and intrepidity. + +"Although pre-eminent as your Excellency is viewed, by every class of your +heroic brothers in arms, we cannot, however, but assure your Excellency, +that the high and general estimation which every inhabitant of the sister +colony (hitherto entrusted to your command), feels toward you, (and which +colony you so gallantly defended against a superior force), contributes +most powerfully to endear you to every individual of this island, in the +united character of a brave soldier and a good citizen. + +"We trust your Excellency's stay amongst us will be protracted for a time +equal to the wishes of this community, who anxiously express the most +ardent desire of offering to your Excellency every testimony of the high +consideration they entertain of you, and the brave soldiers under your +command. + +"A great and good King, who can appreciate merit and bestow reward, will +add stability to our expressions, and pronounce to the world, by his +commendations, that we have not presumed to announce your merits, but from +the truest heralds of your fame--men who have shared your dangers and +received your smiles--the British soldiery." + + "_Basseterre, March 21st, 1809._" + + * * * * * + +_Reply of Sir George Prevost._ + +_To the Merchants and Inhabitants of the Island of St. Christopher._ + +"Gentlemen, + +"Highly flattered as I feel by the address of the merchants and inhabitants +of His Majesty's Island of St. Christopher; the gratification I derive from +this testimony of their consideration, increases my very sincere regret +that the interest of the public service deprives me of the opportunity of +indulging my private feelings in making a longer stay than my duty will in +the present instance permit;--I shall ever most eagerly and joyfully avail +myself of every occasion of testifying to this island, my sincerest and +best wishes for its welfare and prosperity. + + (Signed) "GEORGE PREVOST." + + "_Basseterre, March 21st, 1809._" + + +No. XIX. + +_Address from the Inhabitants of Halifax, p. 12._ + +_To His Excellency Sir George Prevost, Bart. &c. &c. &c._ + +"Sir, + +"Your Excellency intending shortly to leave this Province, the inhabitants +of Halifax cannot omit expressing to you their unfeigned regret on the +occasion, and, at the same time, testifying their gratitude for the many +real benefits which the province has derived from your short administration +of the government. + +"We have often been induced to come forward to manifest our esteem for many +valuable and respectable characters, who have filled high stations in this +country, for it has been our good fortune to have had many men of tried +worth at the head of the civil, naval, and military departments here; but +believe us, Sir, we use not the language of flattery, when we say, that we +have never felt more sincere regret, than for your departure from us. + +"Equity has been the ruling principle of your administration, and the most +unremitting attention to public business its invariable practice: your +indefatigable zeal carried you into the most remote parts of the province, +and you became early acquainted with our situation and our wants. The +confidence with which you inspired the legislative body, induced them to +provide ample supplies for the different branches of the public service. +The wisdom with which they have been appropriated, equals the liberality +with which they were granted, and must produce extensive and permanent +benefits to the country at large. + +"Your ears have been open to the petitioners of every class, and your ready +attention to their wants and their claims, has left no cause for complaint. +With the sentiments of affectionate and respectful regard which you have +excited in our breasts--while we deplore our loss, we cannot but derive +consolation from the justly merited honours that cause your removal. + +"We consider your appointment to the supreme command of British North +America, as an earnest of the blessing which His Majesty's subjects, on the +western side of the Atlantic, are to enjoy under the government of the +august personage, the anniversary of whose birth we this day assemble to +commemorate. At this critical period, when the prejudices and misguided +councils of a neighbouring nation render it not improbable that we may be +called upon to defend the invaluable privileges of Englishmen, it must be a +source of satisfaction to every loyal subject, that His Royal Highness, in +the name of our venerable sovereign, has entrusted the defence of these +colonies to an officer, who has so frequently proved himself worthy of +commanding British colonies. May he ever, Sir, be thus influenced in his +nominations to offices of great trust and high responsibility, by the merit +of those on whom they are to be conferred. We thank you for your +condescension in permitting your portrait to be taken and left with us. It +will be a perpetual memorial of a personage, whose public conduct and +private virtues have been so beneficial and endearing to His Majesty's +subjects in this province. + +"You go, Sir, to a more exalted station; but you cannot go where you will +be more beloved or respected. In taking our leave of you, permit us to +assure you of our warmest wishes, that every blessing may be yours, and +every happiness attend your amiable and exemplary lady, and each individual +of your excellent family. + + "_Halifax, 12th August, 1811._" + + +No. XX. + + _Addresses from the Clergy of Nova Scotia, &c. &c. to + Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart. &c. &c. + &c. p. 12._ + +"Sir, + +"Although the clergy of the established church of Nova Scotia most +cordially join in the general tribute of respect, which is now offered to +your Excellency; and very largely share in the sincere regret, so +universally excited by your intended departure from this province; the +important benefits which you have rendered to the sacred objects of our +profession, by your Excellency's exertions in their behalf, impel us to a +more particular expression of our gratitude, and our grief. + +"Your Excellency has a claim upon the best acknowledgments we can offer, +for every mark of respect to our office, and every condescending attention +to ourselves, that we could receive at your hands; accompanied by +continual endeavours to promote the cause of literature and religion in +this colony. + +"Through your Excellency's attentive kindness, and your representations to +the throne, the most benevolent assistance has been extended to our +churches, and in every part of the province they are now receiving +improvement and enlargement. While our dutiful and affectionate gratitude +is directed towards the royal source of these great benefits, we cannot be +wanting in warm and grateful respect, for the channel through which they +have been obtained. + +"Nor are we under less obligation, for the uniform and exemplary attention +of your Excellency, and your family, to the public and private duties of +religion. You will permit us, Sir, though duly sensible of your other +numerous and distinguished merits, to consider this among the brightest +ornaments of your character. It supplies us with most gratifying evidence, +to an important truth, that the ablest and best servants to their King and +country, must be sought among those who are most faithful to their God. + +"Feeling as we do the extensive and peculiar benefits of your Excellency's +residence among us, it is impossible that we should not have the deepest +regret for your departure. But it will be our duty to seek for alleviation +for our sorrow, in grateful recollection of the benefits we have already +received, and in humble hope that the influence of your example will +remain, when we can no longer enjoy the advantages of your presence. We +have unfeigned satisfaction also, in the increased honours, and more +extensive command, to which you are called, by the discerning favour of +your Prince; and we shall have much comfort in reflecting, that although +your Excellency will be advanced from the particular charge of this +province, we shall still have the happiness of being under your general +government. + +"Permit us to assure you, Sir, that our sincerely affectionate respect and +esteem will ever follow you; and that our fervent prayers are now offered, +and will be long continued, for every blessing to yourself and family; for +every honour you can now enjoy; and for unfading glory when all the honours +of the world shall have passed away." + + "_Halifax, Aug. 15th, 1811._" + + * * * * * + +_His Excellency's Reply._ + +"I received with sentiments of peculiar satisfaction, the address of the +Right Reverend the Bishop and the clergy of Nova Scotia. + +"My fervency in that important cause they especially promote, renders their +favourable consideration of my government, an act at once gratifying for +the past, and encouraging for the future, under whatever situation my +sovereign's commands may place me. I am well aware, that if our revered and +pious King could investigate the course of my administration in this +province, there is no part of it which would ensure me his royal favour, +equal to the testimony with which I am honoured in this address. + + "GEORGE PREVOST." + +"_Government House, +15th August._" + + * * * * * + + _Halifax, August 19._ + +The following addresses were presented to his Excellency Sir George +Prevost, Bart. last week. + +_The Address of the Council to his Excellency Sir George Prevost, Bart. +Lieut.-Governor of Nova-Scotia, &c. &c. &c._ + +"Sir, + +"His Majesty's Council cannot take leave of your Excellency at this Board, +without an expression of those sentiments which they cordially feel upon +the painful eve of your departure. + +"The general regret of the province upon this occasion, pervading every +class, and flowing from the purest of sources, must afford you, Sir, the +most satisfactory evidence, that you have lived here in the hearts of His +Majesty's subjects;--and that you have well merited the affection they +manifest: to us who have had the honour of a closer communication with your +Excellency, and have, thus, become intimately acquainted with your talents +and your virtues, you have been more perfectly known;--by us, you will of +course be doubly regretted. + +"We early discovered your vigilance, and energetic zeal for the good of the +province,--your acute discernment of its best interests,--your perseverance +in the pursuit of every object that could lead to its welfare,--and your +unwearied attention to its minutest concerns;--we soon discovered that +excellent understanding, which has so well fitted you to govern, and that +integrity and independence, which have rendered your government so beloved, +and so respectable. + +"It is, however, to these talents and virtues, that we are to impute our +present loss;--the discerning mind of our excellent Prince has called you +to a higher appointment, and our fellow subjects of a sister colony will +have the satisfaction of receiving that boon, with which we are now +parting;--we have a consolation, however, in reflecting, that we are still +to remain within the influence of your valued abilities, and that we may +feel the effects of their spirited exertions, in a contiguous, and more +extensive quarter of the British empire;--wherever your duties, civil or +military, may call you, to the cabinet as a statesman, or to the field as a +soldier, we are confident you will deserve well of your country, and +justify, to the fullest extent, the very high opinion upon which your +preferment has been founded. + +"As your council,--with whom you have ever advised, upon terms of the most +unreserved candour and harmony,--as your friends,--with whom you have ever +associated, upon terms of the most affectionate condescension; we, Sir, +with feelings of the purest regret,--and with the sincerest wishes for the +welfare of yourself and your family,--earnestly bid you farewell." + + * * * * * + +_Answer._ + +"Gentlemen, + +"The expressions of general esteem and approbation, with which I have been +honoured, concurring with the sentiments of His Majesty's Council, is a +circumstance peculiarly gratifying to me. You, gentlemen, are intimately +acquainted with the principles upon which my conduct has been founded, +others can only judge from the effects produced by the measures pursued +during my administration. + +"If my endeavours in the public service have been successful, I may ascribe +much of that success to the able assistance I have received from you. + +"Your advice, ever springing from a perfect knowledge of the true interests +of the province, a due regard to the just rights of the people, and a +zealous attachment to His Majesty's person and government, has enabled me +to accomplish objects of much promise to the future prosperity of this +province. + +"Having expressed the obligations I feel on public ground, I am not the +less sensible of those of a personal nature. + +"I shall ever reflect with satisfaction on the happy state of our +intercourse during the period of my administration.--It is, therefore, with +feelings of the sincerest regard, I repeat your farewell. + + "GEORGE PREVOST." + +"_Government House, +16th Aug. 1811._" + + * * * * * + + _To his Excellency Sir George Prevost, Bart. + Lieut.-Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His + Majesty's Province of Nova Scotia, &c. &c. &c._ + +"We the undersigned representatives for the county and townships within the +county of Hants, as well for ourselves as our constituents: the clergy and +magistrates in the same county, beg leave to address your Excellency upon +your departure from this government. + +"We have recently heard with mingled joy and concern, that His Majesty has +raised you to the distinguished, but well-merited favour of being appointed +Governor-General of the British Provinces in North America, and that your +Excellency will immediately proceed to your government. Upon this occasion +we cannot forbear expressing our grateful sense of your wise and mild +administration. + +"The ardour manifested by your Excellency, in promoting the true interests +of this province, has made a deep impression upon the minds of the people +of this happy and highly-favoured colony. + +"Under your government, Sir, though a short one, the agriculture, commerce, +and fisheries of the province have rapidly increased; religion has been +cherished, schools established, extensive roads of communication with the +capital opened and improved, the militia organized and disciplined, and +under the most salutary regulations rendered efficient. + +"The inhabitants of the county of Hants, deeply impressed with a sense of +the benefits they have received, will ever retain a grateful recollection +of them, and while they lament the departure of your Excellency from this +government, are made happy by the consideration that your Excellency has +experienced an additional mark of the Royal favour. + +"We earnestly pray that your Excellency, Lady Prevost and family, may have +a pleasant voyage, and arrive in safety at the seat of your government, and +be attended throughout life with the choicest blessings of Providence. + + [Signed by the Representatives, Magistrates, + Clergy, and other principal Inhabitants.] + +"_Windsor, 13th August, 1811._" + + * * * * * + +_Reply._ + +"Gentlemen, + +"With feelings of satisfaction and gratitude, I return you my best thanks +for the warm assurance of your regard, so kindly manifested in your address +upon my departure. + +"Your high approbation of my measures I shall ever retain as an additional +pledge of the general esteem of this province, which it has been my +ambition to acquire; and, believe me, that among those of His Majesty's +subjects, who have favoured me with their good opinion and good wishes, I +feel much pleasure in receiving the affectionate address of the flourishing +county of Hants. + + "GEORGE PREVOST. + +"_Government House, +16th Aug. 1811._" + + * * * * * + + _To His Excellency Lieut.-General Sir George Prevost, + Bart. Lieut.-Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and + over His Majesty's Province of Nova Scotia, and its + Dependencies, &c. &c. &c._ + +"May it please your Excellency, + +"The magistrates and militia officers of King's County, humbly intreat, +that they may be allowed to offer their assurance of high respect and +unfeigned esteem to your Excellency, on your departure from Nova Scotia. +Your Excellency's unwearied attention to the welfare and best interest of +this province, have engaged admiration, and given you a strong claim to our +gratitude; while the wisdom, mildness, and firmness of your administration +have commanded general confidence; and such are your military talents, +that, though storms have been hovering around us, and threatened to burst +over our heads, with dependence on Divine protection, we have felt secure, +while our armed force was under your direction. + +"The virtues of your character have endeared you to the inhabitants of +Nova Scotia, and we cannot but feel regret at your departure: but a higher +and more important station requires your talents and abilities; and we beg +leave to congratulate you on the flattering testimony you have received of +royal favour and approbation. + +"Permit us to say, that we shall ever feel a lively interest in every thing +that regards your Excellency, and that the name of Sir George Prevost will +ever be dear and honoured among us. + +"To Lady Prevost we beg leave to tender our best respects, and sincere +wishes, for her future happiness. + +"May a pleasant passage await you, and may you continue to receive, from +our gracious Sovereign, those rewards which your services so justly entitle +you to. + + [Signed by the Magistrates, Clergy, + Militia Officers, and other principal + Inhabitants.] + +"_August 15th, 1811._" + + * * * * * + +_Reply._ + +"Gentlemen, + +"Feeling a sincere regard for every class of people within this happy +colony, I need not say that your kind address cannot but add to my +gratification. + +"I have made it my study to become acquainted with every part of the +Province, with its views, its resources, and its advantages; but of your +county I have had the satisfaction to obtain a more particular knowledge. + +"The high state of its cultivation, and the agricultural benefits attending +it, should make you proud of the land on which you live. + +"Permit me, in return for your cordial address, to express my sincere +wishes that your prosperity may continue, and that you may long live a free +and happy people, under the best of governments. + + "GEORGE PREVOST." + +"_Government House, +16th Aug. 1811._" + + +No. XXI.[105] + +_Address from the House of Assembly of Upper Canada to Sir George Prevost, +March 1813, p. 75._ + +"May it please your Excellency, + +"We, his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of Upper +Canada in Provincial Parliament assembled, beg leave to congratulate your +Excellency on your arrival in this Province, and to express the unfeigned +satisfaction it affords us in as much as it is an additional proof of the +high interest your Excellency takes in the general welfare of this colony. + +"We should be wanting to the sovereign, under whose paternal care we have +so long lived, to our country and to ourselves, were we to neglect to offer +to your Excellency at this time, the sentiments of gratitude with which we +feel inspired for the marks of your attention manifested in providing +clothing for a considerable portion of the loyal and brave militia of this +Province, as well as for the active and vigorous exertions which have been +made, and are now making for strengthening our marine force upon the Lakes, +which will enable us to secure and preserve that superiority upon that +favourite element to which Great Britain is indebted for her prosperity and +glory; and on which our safety so materially depends. + +"Emerging from a state of infancy, the inhabitants of this province have +been enabled, by the aid afforded them by your Excellency in his Majesty's +regular forces, to defeat the designs of the enemy; although his numbers +have been in every instance so superior. + +"To suppose your Excellency will not continue to extend every assistance to +us in this emergency, would be the height of incredulity, after the +testimony we have already witnessed of your vigilance and affectionate +solicitude for our preservation. It would be superfluous, therefore, to +suggest how much we stand in need of the fostering hand of our mother +country--to be directed by the wisdom of your Excellency, in order that we +may maintain the laws and constitution so dear to us, and which it is our +sincere hope we may transmit unimpaired to our posterity. + +"We hesitate not to say, that the energy your Excellency may exercise +towards the attainment of this great end, will be zealously seconded by the +people of this Province, and that their efforts under the influence of an +omnipotent power, and the devotion of your Excellency's military skill, +will be eventually successful. + + "ALLAN M'LEAN, + Speaker." + + * * * * * + +_Address from the Inhabitants of York to Sir George Prevost._ + +"May it please your Excellency, + +"We the Magistrates and other inhabitants of the town of York, are happy in +having an opportunity of paying that respect, which we owe to your +Excellency, and of offering our most sincere thanks and acknowledgments for +the attention you have been pleased to shew to this province. + +"The pride and pleasure which we feel from the behaviour of our gallant +militia, is greatly heightened when we consider that their conduct is +honoured with your approbation, and that you are pleased to testify your +sense of their services in ordering clothing for a considerable proportion +of their number; an act of benevolence and humanity which will make a deep +and lasting impression on their minds; and stimulate them to preserve that +high character which they have already acquired. + +"But we should, indeed, be much wanting to your Excellency, as well as to +ourselves, if we did not on this occasion, with gratitude acknowledge the +obligation which this province lies under to the valour and discipline of +his Majesty's regular forces, whose courage and conduct, on the most trying +emergencies, have done honour to the name and to the character of a British +soldier. + +"We are particularly gratified, and offer our most sincere thanks and +acknowledgments for the vigorous exertions which have been made, and are +still carrying on towards the strengthening our provincial marine, by order +of your Excellency, fully convinced that to maintain a superiority upon the +Lakes is an object of the first importance to this Province. + +"Thankful for that success which has hitherto crowned his Majesty's arms +under your command, we earnestly beg for its continuance, entertaining the +pleasing hope, that by our own conduct, and the exertions of our brave +defenders, we, in this Colony, by the blessing of God, may long remain +under the protection of our parent State, a free, brave, and loyal people. + + "THOMAS SCOTT, + Chairman." + + * * * * * + +_Address from the Inhabitants of Kingston to Sir George Prevost._ + +"May it please your Excellency, + +"We, his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Magistrates, +Officers of the Militia, and other inhabitants of the town of Kingston, and +other parts of the Midland District, beg leave respectfully to express the +high sense we entertain of your Excellency's watchful care for the safety +of this Province, which has led you at this inclement season to undertake a +toilsome journey of many hundred miles for the purpose of visiting and +inspecting its extensive frontiers. Your presence, Sir, cannot but diffuse +fresh energy in all classes of his Majesty's subjects, and encourage them +to continue their zealous co-operation in the common cause; and we trust +that under the judicious arrangement which has been made by your +Excellency's orders, Divine Providence will continue to crown our exertions +in defence of the Province against his Majesty's enemies with the same +success by which they have been hitherto happily distinguished. + +"_Kingston, March 7, 1813._" + + * * * * * + +_Address from the Inhabitants of the Eastern District of Upper Canada to +Sir George Prevost._ + + "To his Excellency Sir George Prevost, Knight and + Baronet, Captain General, &c. &c. &c. The loyal address + of the Inhabitants of the Eastern District. + +"We, his Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, inhabitants of the Eastern +District of Upper Canada, beg leave to present to your Excellency our +unfeigned, and heartfelt congratulations on your safe return from your long +and fatiguing journey to the upper parts of this Province, which your +ardent zeal for the service of your king and country, and paternal +solicitude for the security of this portion of his Majesty's dominions only +could induce you to undertake. + +"We thank heaven for having preserved your Excellency's person from all the +dangers to which you have been exposed, not only from the enemy in the long +line of frontiers through which you had to pass, but from the contagious +diseases, which rage through many parts of these Provinces, and other +dangers incidental to a journey of upwards of a thousand miles in a country +like this, still destitute of inns, and proper accommodations for +travellers, and at the most inclement season of the year. + +"So illustrious an example of despising danger and sacrificing personal +ease and comfort, exhibited by the representative of our beloved sovereign, +both chears and animates us to bear with resignation our individual +privations in the glorious cause in which we have to struggle. We now +experience the truth which we have so often heard with wonder from others, +that your Excellency's prudence carries with it an irresistible attraction +and confidence among all classes of people, wherever you go. We should +consider it criminal to complain of the hardships to which the present +state of warfare has subjected us, in common with all our fellow-subjects +in this Province; perfectly convinced, as we are, of your Excellency's +earnest wish and readiness to alleviate our sufferings as much as lies in +your power. + +"The auspicious event which, in the late brilliant success of His Majesty's +arms at Ogdensburg, so closely followed the arrival of your Excellency in +Upper Canada, flatters us with the hope that this will be but one of the +happy consequences of your visit. We cannot express to your Excellency in +terms sufficiently strong, our satisfaction in thus having an opportunity +of teaching the enemy that their repeated insults, and wanton attacks upon +our shores, are not to be borne with impunity. + +"To your Excellency's active and fertile mind we look up with much +confidence for the vigorous and energetic measures, to prosecute a war, +into which the insidious policy of a faithless and inveterate enemy has +involved our country and ourselves, and in which are feared every thing +which can render life desirable at stake. + +"We are determined to stand or fall by the parent country, and to defend +the crown and dignity of our revered sovereign, our families and our +properties, with the last drop of our blood. We know that justice is on our +side, and we trust that the God of battles will continue to favour our +cause as he has hitherto done. Indeed we do not allow ourselves to +entertain the smallest doubt of a glorious termination of the contest +under your Excellency's government and Heaven's protection. + +"_Glengary, March 8, 1813._" + + +No. XXII. + +_Official Report of Col. Baynes, p. 81._ + + Extract of a Letter from Lieut.-General Sir George + Prevost to Earl Bathurst, dated Head-Quarters, + Kingston, June 1, 1813. + +"Although as your Lordship will perceive by the report of Colonel Baynes, +which I have the honour herewith to transmit, the expedition has not been +attended with the complete success which was expected from it, I have great +satisfaction in informing your Lordship that the courage and patience of +the small band of troops employed on this occasion, under circumstances of +peculiar hardship and privation, have been exceeded only by their intrepid +conduct in the field, forcing a passage at the point of the bayonet through +a thickly wooded country, affording constant shelter and strong positions +to the enemy; but not a single spot of cleared ground favourable to the +operations of disciplined soldiers." + + * * * * * + + "_Kingston, May 30, 1813._ + +"Sir, + +"I have the honour to report to your Excellency, that in conformity to an +arranged plan of operations with Commodore Sir James Yeo, the fleet of +boats assembled astern of his ship, at 10 o'clock in the night of the 28th +inst., with the troops placed under my command, and led by a gun-boat under +the direction of Captain Mulcaster, Royal Navy, proceeded towards Sackett's +Harbour in the order prescribed to the troops, in case the detachment was +obliged to march in column, viz. the Grenadier Company, 100th, with one +section of the Royal Scots, two Companies of the 8th, or King's, four of +the 104th, two of the Canadian Voltigeurs. Two six-pounders, with their +gunners, and a Company of Glengary Light Infantry, were embarked on board a +light schooner, which was proposed to be towed under the direction of +Officers of the Navy, so as to insure the guns being landed in time to +support the advance of the troops. Although the night was dark with rain, +the boats assembled in the vicinity of Sackett's Harbour, by one o'clock, +in compact and regular order; and in this position it was intended to +remain until the day broke, in the hope of effecting a landing before the +enemy could be prepared to line the woods with troops which surround the +coast; but unfortunately, a strong current drifted the boats considerably, +while the darkness of the night and ignorance of the coast, prevented them +from recovering the proper station until the day dawned, when the whole +pulled for the point of debarkation. It was my intention to have landed in +the cove formed by Horse Island, but on approaching it, we discovered that +the enemy were fully prepared by a very heavy fire of musketry, from the +surrounding woods which were filled with Infantry, supported with a +field-piece. I directed the boats to pull round to the other side of the +Island, where a landing was effected in good order and with little loss, +although executed in the face of a corps formed with a field-piece in the +wood, and under the enfilade of a heavy gun of the enemy's principal +battery. The advance was led by the Grenadiers of the 100th regiment, with +undaunted gallantry which no obstacle could arrest; a narrow causeway, in +many places under water, not more than four feet wide, and about four +hundred paces in length, which connected the Island with the mainland, was +occupied by the enemy in great force with a six-pounder. It was forced and +carried in the most spirited manner, and the gun taken before a second +discharge could be made from it: a tumbril, with a few rounds of +ammunition was found; but, unfortunately, the artillerymen were still +behind, the schooner not having been able to get up in time: and the troops +were exposed to so heavy and galling a fire, from a numerous but almost +invisible foe, as to render it impossible to halt for the artillery to come +up. At this spot two paths led in opposite directions round the hill. I +directed Colonel Young, of the King's regiment, with half of the detachment +to penetrate by the left, and Major Drummond, of the 104th, to force the +path by the right, which proved to be more open and was less occupied by +the enemy. On the left the wood was very thick, and was most obstinately +maintained by the enemy. The gun-boat which had covered our landing, +afforded material aid by firing into the woods; but the American soldier, +secure behind a tree, was only to be dislodged by the bayonet. The spirited +advance of a section produced the flight of hundreds; from this observation +all firing was directed to cease, and the detachment being formed in as +regular order as the nature of the ground would admit, pushed forward +through the wood upon the enemy, who although greatly superior in numbers, +and supported by field-pieces, and a heavy fire from their fort, fled with +precipitation to their block-house and fort, abandoning one of their guns. +The division under Colonel Young was joined in the charge by that under +Major Drummond, which was executed with such spirit and promptness, that +many of the enemy fell in their inclosed barracks, which were set on fire +by our troops. At this point the further energies of the troops became +unavailing. Their block-house and stockaded battery could not be carried by +assault, nor reduced by field-pieces, had we been provided with them--the +fire of the gun-boats proved inefficient to attain that end--light and +adverse winds continued, and our large vessels were still far off. The +enemy turned the heavy ordnance of the battery to the interior defence of +his post. He had set fire to the store-house in the vicinity of the fort. +Seeing no object within our reach to attain that could compensate for the +loss we were momentarily sustaining, from the heavy fire of the enemy's +cannon, I directed the troops to take up the position on the crest of the +hill we had charged from. From this position we were ordered to reimbark, +which was performed at our leisure, and in perfect order, the enemy not +presuming to show a single soldier without the limit of his fortress. Your +Excellency having been a witness of the zeal and ardent courage of every +soldier in the field, it is unnecessary in me to assure your Excellency +that but one sentiment animated every breast--that of discharging to the +utmost of their power their duty to their King and country; but one +sentiment of regret and mortification prevailed, in being obliged to quit a +beaten enemy, whom a small band of British soldiers had driven before them +for three hours, through a country abounding in strong positions of +defence, but not offering a single spot of cleared ground favourable for +the operation of disciplined troops, without having fully accomplished the +duty we were ordered to perform. The two divisions of the detachment were +ably commanded by Colonel Young, of the King's, and Major Drummond of the +104th. The detachment of the King's and Major Evans nobly sustained the +high and established character of that distinguished corps; and Captain +Burke availed himself of the ample field afforded him in leading the +advance to display the intrepidity of British Grenadiers. The detachment of +the 104th, under Major Moodie, Captain M'Pherson's company of Glengary +Light Infantry, and two companies of Canadian Voltigeurs, under Major +Herriot, all of them levies of the British Provinces of North America, +evinced most striking proofs of their loyalty, steadiness, and courage. The +detachment of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment behaved with great gallantry. +Your Excellency will lament the loss of that active and intelligent +officer, Captain Gray, acting Deputy-Quarter-Master-General, who fell close +to the enemy's work while reconnoitring it, in the hope to discover some +opening to favour an assault. Commodore Sir James Yeo conducted the fleet +of boats in the attack, and accompanying the advance of the troops directed +the co-operation of the gun-boats. I feel most grateful for your +Excellency's kind consideration in allowing your Aids-de-Camp, Majors Coore +and Fulton, to accompany me in the field; and to these officers for the +able assistance they afforded me. + + "I have the honour to be, &c. &c. + + (Signed) "EDWARD BAYNES. + + "Colonel Glengary Light Infantry + Commanding." + +"_To His Excellency Lieut.-General +Sir George Prevost, Bart., &c._" + + * * * * * + +_Return of killed, wounded, and missing, in an attack on Sackett's Harbour, +on the 29th of May._ + +Total.--1 General Staff, 3 Serjeants, 44 Rank and File killed. 3 Majors, 3 +Captains, 5 Lieutenants, 1 Ensign, 7 Serjeants, 2 Drummers, 172 Rank and +File, 2 Gunners wounded. 2 Captains, 1 Ensign, 13 Rank and File wounded and +missing. + + +No. XXIII. + +_Extracts of Letters from Sir George Prevost to Brigadier-General Procter, +p. 92._ + +(Private.) + + "_Castle of St. Lewis, Quebec, + 9th February, 1813_. + +"Sir, + +"I have received your despatch of the 26th ult. addressed to Major-General +Sheaffe, reporting the glorious result of an attack, you had very +judiciously deemed it expedient to make on the 22d, on a division of +General Harrison's army advancing from the river Raisin, upon Sandwich, +commanded by Brigadier-General Winchester. + +"In congratulating you upon so honourable an event, and in expressing my +entire approbation of the zeal and spirit which you have evinced on the +arduous command committed to you, I cannot fail to notice the intrepidity +manifested by Colonel St. George, and the other officers and men, regulars +and militia, serving under your immediate command. + +"Your singular judgment and decisive conduct in the affair of French Town, +shall be pourtrayed for the gracious consideration of His Royal Highness +the Prince Regent, and I will not fail in repeating your warm +recommendation of Lieutenant M'Lean, who is acting as your Brigade-Major. + +"I earnestly recommend upon all occasions a strict adherence to the control +and restraint of our allies the Indians, that we may be enabled to repel +the charges which have not unfrequently, though always falsely, been +brought against our Government for resorting to the employment of them. + + "I have the honour to be, &c. + + (Signed) "GEORGE PREVOST." + +"_To Brigadier-General Procter, Detroit._" + + * * * * * + +"_Kingston, 14th June, 1813._ + +"Sir, + +"I have had the honour of your different letters, of the 14th of May, by +Lieut.-Colonel Boucherville, containing the report of your successful +resistance to the attack of the enemy, on the 5th of that month, and must +heartily congratulate you upon the skill and bravery so invariably +displayed by yourself and the troops under your command, and which have led +to so fortunate a result; I have also to acknowledge the receipt of your +letter, of the 10th inst. and beg leave to assure you that I have not been +unmindful of your situation and wants. Brigadier-General Vincent has +received directions, and I have reason to think he has already adopted +measures for supplying them as far as lies in his power. And whenever the +Indian goods, which are now on their way from Quebec, shall have reached +this post, they shall be forwarded to you without delay. As you have not +acknowledged the receipt of my instructions, transmitted to you by desire, +by Major-General Sheaffe, to avail yourself of any favourable opportunity +of retaliating upon the enemy for the attack upon York, by endeavouring to +annoy their settlements upon Lake Erie, I fear his letter has not reached +you. The arrival of Captain Barclay, who, I trust, with a small +reinforcement of seamen, is with you long before this, will, I hope, enable +you to place your Marine on such a footing as to check any attempts of the +enemy, to gain a superiority on Lake Erie. I am very solicitous to receive +from you a correct statement of the whole of your Marine establishment, and +what is wanted to render it complete. + + "I have, &c. + + (Signed) "GEORGE PREVOST." + +"_To Brigadier-General Procter, Detroit._" + + +No. XXIV. + +_Sentence of the Court-martial on Captain Barclay, p. 112._ + +That the capture of His Majesty's late squadron was caused by the very +defective means Captain Barclay possessed to equip them on Lake Erie; the +want of a sufficient number of able seamen, whom he had repeatedly and +earnestly requested of Sir James Yeo to be sent to him; the very great +superiority of the enemy to the British squadron; and the unfortunate early +fall of the superior officers in the action. That it appeared that the +greatest exertions had been made by Captain Barclay, in equipping and +getting into order the vessels under his command; that he was fully +justified, under the existing circumstances, in bringing the enemy to +action; that the judgment and gallantry of Captain Barclay in taking his +squadron into action, and during the contest, were highly conspicuous, and +entitled him to the highest praise; and that the whole of the other +officers and men of His Majesty's late squadron conducted themselves in the +most gallant manner; and did adjudge the said Captain Robert Heriot +Barclay, his surviving officers and men, to be most fully and honourably +acquitted.--Rear-Admiral Foote, President. + + +No. XXV.[106] + +_Court-martial on General Procter, p. 113._ + + _Horse Guards, 9th September, 1815._ + +At a General Court-martial, held at _Montreal_, in Upper Canada, on the +21st December, 1814, and continued by adjournments to the 28th January, +1815, _Major-General Henry Procter_, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 41st +Regiment, was arraigned upon the undermentioned charges, viz. + +_1st, "That the said_ Major-General Procter, _being entrusted with the +Command of the Right Division of the Army serving in the Canadas, and the +retreat of the said Division from the Western Parts of Upper Canada having +become unavoidable from the loss of the Fleet on Lake Erie, on the 10th +September, 1813, did not, immediately after the loss of the Fleet was known +by him, make the Military arrangements best calculated for promptly +effecting such retreat, and unnecessarily delayed to commence the same +until the Evening of the 27th of the said Month, on which Day the Enemy had +landed in considerable force within a short distance of Sandwich, the +Head-Quarters of the said Division, such Conduct on the part of the said_ +Major-General Procter, _endangering the safety of the Troops under his +Command, by exposing them to be attacked by a force far superior to them, +being contrary to his Duty as an Officer, prejudicial to good Order and +Military Discipline, and contrary to the Articles of War_." + +_2d. "That the said_ Major-General Procter, _after commencing the retreat +of the said Division on the said 27th September, although he had reason to +believe that the Enemy would immediately follow it with very superior +numbers, and endeavour to harass and impede its March, did not use due +expedition, or take the proper measures for conducting the said Retreat, +having encumbered the said Division with large quantities of useless +Baggage, having unnecessarily halted the Troops for several whole Days, and +having omitted to destroy the Bridges over which the Enemy would be obliged +to pass, thereby affording them the opportunity to come up with the said +Division, such conduct betraying great professional incapacity on the part +of the said_ Major-General Procter, _being contrary to his Duty as an +Officer, prejudicial to good Order and Military Discipline, and contrary to +the Articles of War_." + +_3d. "That the said_ Major-General Procter _did not take the necessary +measures for affording security to the Boats, Waggons, and Carts, laden +with the Ammunition, Stores, and Provisions, required for the Troops on +their retreat, and allowed the said Boats, Waggons, and Carts, on the 4th +and 5th October, 1813, to remain in the rear of the said Division, whereby +the whole, or the greater part of the said Ammunition, Stores, and +Provisions, either fell into the Enemy's hands, or were destroyed to +prevent their capture, and the Troops were without Provisions for a whole +day previous to their being attacked on the said 5th of October; such +conduct on the part of the said_ Major-General Procter _being contrary to +his duty as an Officer, prejudicial to good Order and Military Discipline, +and contrary to the Articles of War_." + +_4th. "That the said_ Major-General Procter _having assured the Indian +Chiefs in Council at Amherstburgh, as an inducement to them and their +Warriors to accompany the said Division on its retreat, that on their +arrival at Chatham, they should find the Forks of the Thames fortified, did +nevertheless neglect fortify the same; that he also neglected to occupy +the Heights above the Moravian Village, although he had previously removed +his Ordnance, with the exception of one six-pounder, to that position, +where, by throwing up works he might have awaited the attack of the Enemy +and engaged them to great advantage; and that after the intelligence had +reached him of the approach of the Enemy on the Morning of the said 5th of +October, he halted the said Division, notwithstanding it was within two +miles of the said Village, and formed it in a situation highly unfavourable +for receiving the Attack which afterwards took place, such conduct +manifesting great professional incapacity on the part of the said_ +Major-General Procter, _being contrary to his Duty as an Officer, +prejudicial to Good Order and Military Discipline, and contrary to the +Articles of War_." + +_5th. "That the said_ Major-General Procter _did not on the said 5th day of +October, either prior to, or subsequent to, the Attack by the Enemy on the +said Division on that day make the Military dispositions best adapted to +meet or to resist the said Attack, and that during the Action, and after +the Troops had given way, he did not make any effectual attempt in his own +person, or otherwise, to rally or encourage them, or to co-operate with and +support the Indians who were engaged with the enemy on the right, the said_ +Major-General Procter _having quitted the Field soon after the Action +commenced, such Conduct on the part of_ Major-General Procter _betraying +great professional incapacity, tending to the defeat and dishonour of His +Majesty's Arms, to the sacrifice of the Division of the Army committed to +his charge, being in violation of his Duty, and unbecoming and disgraceful +to his Character as an Officer, prejudicial to good Order and Military +Discipline, and contrary to the Articles of War_." + +Upon which Charges the Court came to the following decision:-- + +"The Court having duly weighed and considered the evidence adduced, as well +in support of the Charges, as in support of the Defence, is of Opinion." + +"That the Prisoner, _Major-General Henry Procter_, Lieutenant-Colonel of +the 41st Regiment, is _not Guilty_ of any part of the _First_ Charge; and +the Court doth therefore _wholly acquit_ him, the said _Major-General +Procter_, of the same." + +"On the _Second_ Charge, the Court is of opinion, that the said +_Major-General Procter_ is _Guilty_ of the following part thereof, _that he +did not take the proper measures for conducting the Retreat_; but the Court +is of Opinion, that the said _Major-General Procter_ is _Not Guilty_ of any +other part of the said Charge, and doth therefore _acquit_ him of the +same." + +"On the _Third_ Charge the Court is of opinion, that the said +_Major-General Procter_ is _Guilty_ of that part thereof in which it is +charged, _that the said Major General Procter did not take the necessary +measures for affording security to the Boats, Waggons, and Carts, laden +with the Ammunition, Stores, and Provisions, required for the Troops on +their retreat_; but the Court is of opinion, that the said _Major-General +Procter_ is _Not Guilty_ of any part of the remainder of the said Charge, +and doth therefore _acquit_ him of the remainder thereof." + +"On the _Fourth_ Charge the Court is of opinion, that the said +_Major-General Procter_ is _Guilty_ of that part thereof, in which it is +charged _that he neglected to occupy the heights above the Moravian +Village, although he had previously removed his Ordnance, with the +exception of one Six Pounder, to that position, where, by throwing up Works +he might have awaited the attack of the Enemy, and engaged them to great +advantage;--and that after the intelligence had reached him of the approach +of the Enemy on the Morning of the said 5th October, he halted the said +Division, notwithstanding it was within two miles of the said Village, and +formed it in a situation highly unfavourable for receiving the attack, +which afterwards took place_;--but the Court is of opinion, that the said +_Major-General Procter_ is _Not Guilty_ of any part of the remainder of the +said charge, and doth therefore _acquit_ him of the remainder thereof." + +"On the _Fifth_ Charge the Court is of opinion, that the said +_Major-General Procter_ is _Guilty_ of that part thereof, in which it is +charged _that he did not on the said 5th day of October, either prior to or +subsequent to, the attack by the Enemy on the said Division on that day, +make the Military dispositions best adapted to meet or to resist the said +attack_; but the Court is of opinion, that that part thereof, in which it +is charged _that during the Action, and after the Troops had given way, he +did not make any effectual attempt in his own person or otherwise, to rally +or encourage them, or to co-operate with and support the Indians who were +engaged with the Enemy on the right_, has not been proved, and the Court +doth therefore _acquit_ him, the said _Major-General Procter_ of the +same;--and the Court is of opinion, that the said _Major-General Procter_ +is _Not Guilty_ of any part of the remainder of the said Charge, and doth +therefore _fully_ and _honourably acquit_ him of the same." + +"Upon the whole, the Court is of opinion, that the prisoner, _Major-General +Procter_, has in many instances during the retreat, and in the disposition +of the Force under his Command, been erroneous in judgment, and in some, +deficient in those energetic and active exertions, which the extraordinary +difficulties of his situation so particularly required." + +"The Court doth therefore adjudge him, the said _Major-General Procter, to +be publicly reprimanded, and to be suspended from Rank and Pay, for the +period of Six Calendar Months_." + +"But as to any defect or reproach, with regard to the personal conduct of +_Major-General Procter_, during the action on the 5th of October, the Court +_most fully_ and _honourably acquits_ the said _Major-General Procter_." + +His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has been pleased, in the name and on +the behalf of His Majesty, to confirm the Finding of the Court, on the 1st, +3d, 4th, and 5th Charges. + +With respect to the _Second Charge_ it appeared to His Royal Highness to be +a matter of surprise that the Court should find the prisoner _Guilty_ of +the offence alleged against him, while they at the same time _Acquit_ him +of all the facts upon which that Charge is founded;--and yet, that in the +summing up of their Finding upon the whole of the Charges, they should +ascribe the offences of which the prisoner has been found Guilty, to Error +in Judgment, and pass a Sentence totally inapplicable to their own finding +of Guilt, which can alone be ascribed to the Court having been induced, by +a reference to the general good character and conduct of _Major-General +Procter_, to forget, through a humane, but mistaken lenity, what was due +from them to the Service. + +Under all the circumstances of the case, however, and particularly those +which render it impossible to have recourse to the otherwise expedient +measure of re-assembling the Court, for the revival of their proceedings, +the Prince Regent has been pleased to acquiesce in, and confirm so much of +the Sentence as adjudges the prisoner to be _publicly reprimanded_, and in +carrying the same into execution, His Royal Highness has directed the +General Officer commanding in Canada, to convey to _Major-General Procter_, +His Royal Highness's high disapprobation of his conduct, together with the +expression of His Royal Highness's regret, that any officer of the length +of service, and of the exalted rank which he has attained, should be so +extremely wanting in professional knowledge, and so deficient in those +active and energetic qualities, which must be required of every officer, +but especially of one in the responsible situation in which the +_Major-General_ was placed. + +His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief directs that the foregoing +Charges preferred against _Major-General Procter_, together with the +Finding and Sentence of the Court, and the Prince Regent's pleasure +thereon, shall be entered in the General Order Book, and read at the Head +of every Regiment in His Majesty's Service. + + By Command of His Royal Highness, + + The Commander-in-chief, + + HARRY CALVERT, + + Adjutant-General. + + +No. XXVI. + +_p. 122._ + + _Adjutant-General's Office, + Head Quarters, Quebec, 26th March, 1814._ + +General Orders, + +His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief and Commander of the Forces feels the +highest gratification in obeying the Commands of His Royal Highness the +Prince Regent, transmitted in a letter from the Right Hon. the Earl +Bathurst, one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, of which the +following is a Copy, and which His Excellency directs to be published in +General Orders, and read at the Head of all Corps in this Command: + +"His Royal Highness has observed with the greatest satisfaction the skill +and gallantry so conspicuously displayed by the officers and men who +composed the detachment of troops opposed to General Hampton's army. By the +resistance which they successfully made to an enemy so vastly +disproportionate, the confidence of the enemy has been lowered, their plans +disconcerted, and the safety of that part of the Canadian frontier ensured. +It gives His Royal Highness peculiar pleasure to find, that His Majesty's +Canadian subjects have at length had the opportunity (which His Royal +Highness has been long anxious should be afforded them) of refuting, by +their own brilliant exertions in defence of their country, that calumnious +charge of disaffection and disloyalty with which the enemy prefaced his +first invasion of the Province. + +"To Lieut.-Colonel De Salaberry, in particular, and to all the officers and +men under his command in general, you will not fail to express His Royal +Highness's Most Gracious Approbation of their meritorious and distinguished +services. His Royal Highness has commanded me to forward to you by the +first safe opportunity, the Colours which you have solicited for the +embodied Battalions of the Militia, feeling that they have evinced an +ability and disposition to secure them from insult, which gives them the +best title to such a mark of distinction. + + "By His Excellency's Command, + EDWARD BAYNES, + Adjutant-General, N. A." + + +No. XXVII. + +_Extract from Sir George Prevost's Despatch to Earl Bathurst, dated 18th +May, 1814, p. 135._ + +"The principal objects in the attack upon Oswego, being to cripple the +resources of the enemy, in fitting out their squadron, and particularly +their new ship at Sackett's Harbour, their guns and stores of every +description being drawn from the former post, and thus to delay, if not +altogether to prevent, the sailing of the fleet, I determined to pursue the +same policy on Lake Champlain, and therefore directed Captain Pring to +proceed with his squadron, on board of which I had placed a strong +detachment of the 1st battalion of the marines, towards Vergennes, for the +purpose, if practicable, of destroying the new vessels lately launched +there, and of intercepting and capturing the stores and supplies for their +armament and equipment. Captain Pring accordingly sailed on the 9th, and +with the force mentioned in the margin, having been prevented by contrary +winds from reaching his destination until the 14th instant, he found, on +arriving off Otter Creek, the enemy so fully prepared to receive him, their +vessels so strongly defended by batteries, and a considerable body of +troops, that after a cannonading with some effect from his gun-boats, he +judged it most advisable to abandon his intended plan of attacking them, +and return to Isle aux Noix. + +"The appearance of our squadron on the Lake has been productive of great +confusion and alarm at Burlington, and other places, along its shores, and +the whole of the population appeared to be turned out for their defence." + + +No. XXVIII. + + _Extract of a Letter from Major-General Sir James Kempt + to Sir George Prevost, respecting the intended Attack + upon Sackett's Harbour, dated_ + + "_Kingston, 18th Sept. 1814._ + +"Sir, + +"With all due deference to your Excellency's superior judgment, it appears +to me, that an operation of this magnitude, and _probable duration_, should +not be undertaken without the most ample means, and at the very best season +of the year; that not less than 8,000 infantry, with a strong efficient +corps of artillery and engineers, should be employed on this service; that +Watertown and Brownville should be occupied in force by strong corps of +observation, capable of covering the operations; that there should be an +intermediate rendezvous for the assembly of the troops and stores, between +this and the place of debarkation; and, that above all, we should have the +_decided superiority_ on the Lake, before the service is undertaken. + + "I have the honour to be, with great respect, + + "Your Excellency's most obedient + + "And most humble servant, + + "JAMES KEMPT. + Lieut.-Gen." + + +No. XXIX. + +_Extract of a Letter from Sir J. L. Yeo to Sir George Prevost, dated 29th +Aug. 1814, p. 141._ + +"I have this day received a correct statement of all the officers and men +belonging to the establishment on Lake Champlain. + +"I enclose your Excellency a scale of the complement of each vessel, +agreeable to the Admiralty order, by which you will perceive that, after +each complement is complete, there will remain 97 seamen over and above. +Your Excellency must be aware, that when this squadron proceeds up the +Lake, I shall be under the necessity of taking the seamen out of the +gun-boats; neither will the number of seamen we have in this country, +afford a sufficient number of men to man the gun-boats on Lake Champlain, +independent of the ships." + + +No. XXX. + +_Correspondence between Sir George Prevost and Capt. Downie, p. 145._ + + "_Head-Quarters, Plattsburg, + Wednesday, 7 a. m. 7th Sept. 1814._ + +"Sir, + +"The enemy's force in the Bay consists of a ship, inferior to the +Confiance, a brig, a large schooner, a sloop, and seven or eight gun-boats. +When the gun-boats are manned, the remaining craft appear to have but few +men left on board. If you feel that the vessels under your command are +equal to a contest with those I have described, you will find the present +moment offers many advantages which may not again occur. + +"As my ulterior movements depend on your decision, you will have the +goodness to favour me with it, with all possible promptitude. + +"In the event of your coming forward immediately, you will furnish +conveyance for the two 8-inch mortars, ordered from Isle aux Noix, with +their stores, provided you can do so, without delaying the sailing of your +squadron. + + "I have the honour to be, &c. + + (Signed) "G. PREVOST." + +"_To Captain Downie, &c._" + + * * * * * + + "_H. M. S. Confiance, off La Cole, + 7th Sept. 4 p. m. 1814._ + +"Sir, + +"I have the honour of your Excellency's letter of this morning. + +"I am aware of the comparative force of the two squadrons, and am thus far +on my way to find the enemy, conceiving that the moment I can put this ship +into a state for action, I shall be able to meet them. + +"The Confiance at this moment is in such a state, as to require at least a +day[107] or two to make her efficient before the enemy; but with all the +exertion I can use, it will probably be that time at least, before it will +be possible to get her up to Chazy, where I shall be happy to receive any +further communication from your Excellency. + + "I have the honour to be, Sir, + + "Your most obedient servant, + + "GEO. DOWNIE." + +"_His Excellency Lieut.-Gen. +Sir G. Prevost, Bart. &c. &c._" + + * * * * * + + "_Head-Quarters, Plattsburg, + Thursday Morning, 8th Sept. 1814._ + +"Sir, + +"I have just received your reply to my communication of yesterday. + +"As it is of the highest importance the ship, vessels, and gun-boats, under +your command, should commence a co-operation with the division of the army, +now occupying Plattsburg, I have sent my Aid-de-Camp, Major Coore, with +this letter, in order that you may obtain from him correct information of +the disposition made by the enemy of his naval force in this bay. + +"I only wait for your arrival to proceed against General Macomb's last +position, on the south bank of the Saranac. Your share in the operation, in +the first instance, will be to destroy or capture the enemy's squadron, if +it should wait for a contest, and afterwards co-operate with this division +of the army; but if it should run away, or get out of your reach, we must +meet here to consult on ulterior movements. + + "I have the honour to be, &c. + + (Signed) "G. PREVOST." + + * * * * * + + "_H. M. S. Confiance, off Point au Fer, + 8th Sept. 1814._ + +"Sir, + +"I have the honour of your Excellency's letter of this day; and have to +state, that I am advancing with the squadron to Chazy as fast as the wind +and weather will allow. + +"In the letter I did myself the honour to address to you yesterday, I +stated to your Excellency, that this ship was not ready--she is not ready +now; and until she is ready, it is my duty not to hazard the squadron +before an enemy, who will even then be considerably superior in force. + +"I purpose remaining at Chazy until I find myself enabled to move, which I +trust will be very shortly, it depending on my guns being ready. + + "I have the honour to be, Sir, + + "Your most obedient servant, + + "GEO. DOWNIE." + +"_His Excellency Sir Geo. Prevost, +Bart. &c. &c. &c._" + + * * * * * + + "_Head-Quarters, Plattsburg, + Friday, 9th Sept. 1814._ + +"Sir, + +"In consequence of your communication of yesterday's date, I have postponed +moving on the enemy's position, on the south bank of the Saranac, until +your squadron is in a sufficient state of preparation to co-operate with +this division of the army. + +"I need not dwell, with you, on the evils resulting to both services from +delay, as I am well convinced you have done every thing that was in your +power to accelerate the armament and equipment of your squadron, and I am +also satisfied nothing will prevent its coming off Plattsburg the moment it +is ready. + +"I am happy to inform you, that I find from deserters, who have come over +from the enemy, that the American fleet is inefficiently manned, and that a +few days ago, after the arrival of the new brig, they sent on shore for the +prisoners of all descriptions, in charge of the Prevost, to make up a crew +for that vessel. + + "I have the honor to be, &c. + + (Signed) "G. PREVOST." + +"P.S. Captain Watson, of the Provincial Cavalry, is desired to remain at +Little Chazy until you are preparing to get under weigh, when he is +instantly to return to this place with the intelligence." + + * * * * * + + "_H.M.S. Confiance, off Chazy, + 9th Sept. 1814_. + +"Sir, + +"I have the honour to communicate to your Excellency, that it is my +intention to weigh and proceed with the squadron, from this anchorage, +about midnight, in the expectation of rounding into the bay of Plattsburg +about dawn of day, and commencing an immediate attack on the enemy's +squadron, if they shall be found anchored in a position that will afford +any chance of success. + +"I rely on any assistance it may be in your power to give. + +"In manning the flotilla and ships, we are many short. I have made +application to the officer commanding at Chazy, for a company of the 39th +regiment to make up. + + "I have the honour to be, Sir, + + "Your most obedient servant, + + "GEO. DOWNIE." + +"_His Excellency Sir Geo. Prevost, +Bart. &c. &c. &c._" + +"P. S. I have just this moment received your letter of this day, to which +the preceding is, I think, a sufficient answer. + + "G. D." + + * * * * * + + "_Head-Quarters, Plattsburg, + Saturday Morning, 10th Sept. 1814._ + +"Sir, + +"I received, at twelve last night, your letter, acquainting me with your +determination to get under weigh, about that time, in the expectation of +rounding Cumberland Head at dawn of day; in consequence, the troops have +been held in readiness, since six o'clock this morning, to storm the +enemy's works at nearly the same moment as the naval action should commence +in the bay. I ascribe the disappointment I have experienced to the +unfortunate change of wind, and I shall rejoice to learn from you, that my +expectations have been frustrated by no other cause. + + "I have the honour to be, &c. + + (Signed) "G. PREVOST." + +"_To Capt. Downie, &c. &c. &c._" + + +No. XXXI. + +_Extract from Vermont Paper, dated Burlington, Sept. 1814, p. 168._ + +"The articles in your paper of last week, republished from the Montreal +papers, are interesting, as they evince the spirit of our Canada +neighbours, and the high hopes they had entertained from their late +expedition. + +"That the result is not such as they could have wished we believe, but that +its failure should be ascribed entirely to the misconduct of Gov. Prevost +is wholly unaccountable. It is not our business or desire to shield Gov. +Prevost from the censure of his subjects, but after the decision of the +contest between the hostile fleets, we can perceive no object of national +importance which could have justified the further operations of the army. + +"It is possible that an army of 12,000 men might have carried the works at +Plattsburg, but the positive assertions on this subject betray great +ignorance of our resources, and the spirit of our people. Grant, that after +much hard fighting, and the loss of many valuable lives, they had succeeded +in taking the forts, do they suppose they could have retained them against +all the forces we can bring against them? If they do, we can only say, that +they are grossly mistaken. + +"Do they suppose that an army of 12,000 men can march through a country, +every county of which contains more than that number of souls; or do they +suppose their progress would not be obstructed? + +"A large proportion of our citizens are opposed to the present war, and +from principles the most noble and virtuous. They will not, under existing +circumstances, consent to aid in offensive operations against their +neighbours. But let no one suppose their love of peace will destroy their +love of country, and that they can make war upon us without danger. We will +not willingly molest them, but they must not disturb us. He is unworthy any +country who would not protect his own from invasion; and we are happy to +know that this country is inhabited by men who need no additional +inducement to protect their rights and privileges at every hazard. + + "PEOPLE." + +"_Messrs. Hinckley and Fish._" + + +No. XXXII. + + _An Extract from the Address of the House of Assembly, + at the opening of the Session, 30th Jan. 1815, to His + Excellency Sir George Prevost, p. 176._ + +"The operations contemplated on the shores of Lake Champlain, we are led to +believe, by our confidence in your Excellency's judgment, were planned in +consequence of wise combinations, and our proximity to the scene of action +has enabled us to acquire a perfect conviction, that they were frustrated +by causes beyond your Excellency's control. We are equally convinced that +the failure of our naval means rendered necessary at the very onset, an +immediate abandonment of the enterprize. + +"The protecting hand of His Majesty's government has been agreeably felt in +the reinforcements received by your Excellency, for the diminution of the +pressure of the war on the inhabitants of this province. The testimony +which your Excellency is pleased to bear to the zeal and alacrity with +which their services have been rendered, cannot but be more flattering to +their feelings and demands through their representatives, their warmest +acknowledgments. It is under your Excellency's wise and just administration +that their character and conduct have been justly appreciated; and whatever +merit their services may be entitled to, a large portion of it is +unquestionably due to your Excellency, whose well founded confidence in +them, has enabled them, by those services, to testify their faithful, +loyal, and patriotic adherence to His Majesty: of which, under your +Excellency's administration, they hope many opportunities, during a long +time to come, will be afforded them to give additional proofs." + + * * * * * + +_Extract from an Address from the House of Assembly of Lower Canada, to Sir +Geo. Prevost, 20th March, 1815._ + +"We take this opportunity of repeating the expression of our sentiments of +gratitude to your Excellency, for having, by your prudence, by the wisdom +of your measures, and by your ability, preserved to the empire these +important provinces, and for the paternal solicitude with which your +Excellency has watched over the welfare of His Majesty's subjects, and to +pray your Excellency to rest assured, that those benefits will ever remain +deeply engraven on the hearts of the Canadians." + + * * * * * + +_Extract from the Resolutions of the House of Assembly of Lower Canada, +21st March, 1815._ + +"According to order, the resolutions of the Committee of the whole House, +to consider whether it would be expedient to give to his Excellency the +Governor-in-Chief, some mark of gratitude for his distinguished services in +this province, were reported to the House, agreed to, and ordered to be +engrossed. + +"The said resolutions are as follows: + +"Resolved, + +"That this House entertains the highest veneration and respect, for the +character of his Excellency Sir George Prevost, Governor-in-Chief, whose +administration, under circumstances of peculiar novelty and difficulty, +stands highly distinguished for energy, wisdom, and ability. + + * * * * * + +"Resolved, + +"That this House, representing the people of this province, anxiously +desirous of expressing their gratitude to his Excellency, for having, under +Providence, rescued us from the danger of subjugation to our late foe, +have, and do hereby, give and grant a service of plate not exceeding five +thousand pounds, sterling, to his Excellency, as a testimonial of the high +sense this House entertains of his Excellency's distinguished talents, +wisdom, and abilities. + + * * * * * + +"Resolved, + +"That for the better carrying into execution the object this House has in +view, for the purchase of the service of plate for his Excellency, the +Speaker of this House be authorized to give directions to such persons, in +England, as may be best able to execute the same, and that when so +completed, the said service be presented to his Excellency the +Governor-in-Chief, in the name and on the behalf of the Commons of His +Majesty's province of Lower Canada. + + * * * * * + +"Resolved, + +"That an humble address be presented to his Excellency the +Governor-in-Chief, to communicate the above resolutions, humbly praying +that his Excellency will be graciously pleased to advance a sum not +exceeding five thousand pounds sterling, to the order of the Speaker of +this House, for the object stated in the above resolutions; and that this +House doth engage, and hereby pledges itself to make good the said advance +the next ensuing session of this provincial parliament." + + * * * * * + + _Extract from the Speech of the Speaker of the House of + Assembly, on presenting the Money Bills to the + Governor-in-Chief, 23rd March, 1815._ + +"Superior to prejudices which had but too generally prevailed, your +Excellency has derived from the devotion of that brave and loyal, yet +unjustly calumniated people, resources sufficient for disconcerting the +plans of conquest, devised by a foe at once numerous and elate with +confidence. Reinforcements were subsequently received; and the blood of the +sons of Canada has flowed mingled with that of the brave soldiers sent to +its defence. Multiplied proofs of the efficacious and powerful protection +of the mother country, and of the inviolable loyalty of the people of this +province, strengthen their claim to the preservation and free exercise of +all the benefits which are secured to them by their existing constitution +and laws." + + * * * * * + +_Addresses to Sir Geo. Prevost, from the Inhabitants of Quebec and +Montreal, 31st March._ + + _To His Excellency Sir George Prevost, Bart. + Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief, in and over the + Provinces of Lower Canada, &c. &c. &c._ + +"May it please your Excellency, + +"We the inhabitants of the city of Quebec, most respectfully approach your +Excellency, at the moment of your departure for England, to express the +sentiments which we entertain, of a most profound regard for your +Excellency's person and character, and a lively gratitude for the benefits, +which, in common with our fellow subjects throughout the province, we have +derived from your Excellency's administration. + +"At the period of your Excellency's arrival in this country, on the eve of +a war with America, you found the majority of its inhabitants irritated by +the unfortunate effects of misunderstandings of a long duration. Your +Excellency, consulting only the general welfare by a strict adherence to +justice and a well-timed confidence, soon allayed every discontent, and +rallied the whole population for the common defence. Under the happy +influence of harmony thus restored, the militia was assembled and trained, +and an exhausted treasury replenished. The additional means which you +thereby derived from the colony committed to your particular care, enabled +your Excellency to extend the handful of British troops at your disposal, +to the most distant parts of the Upper Province, where the long meditated +attacks of the enemy were met at the onset, and his forces repeatedly +overthrown with disgrace--the happy precursor of the fate which awaited all +his attempts on this province. + +"If the smallness of the regular army with which your Excellency was left +to withstand the whole efforts of the United States for two years, and the +insufficiency of the naval force on the Lakes, have exposed His Majesty's +arms to some reverses, it is nevertheless, true, that under the auspices of +your Excellency, the British arms have acquired new laurels, amidst +circumstances of extraordinary difficulty, unprecedented in European +warfare; the name of the people of this country has been rendered +illustrious, and a vast extent of territory protected from the ravages of +war and preserved to the empire. + +"Your Excellency's name and services will ever be held in veneration and +grateful remembrance by the inhabitants of Quebec. The whole province has +assured you of its gratitude; and the imperishable evidences of your +Excellency's merits, though they could not appease, will easily overcome +your enemies. + +"May your Excellency's voyage be prosperous, and its results correspond +with your wishes. The citizens of Quebec will hail the day of your +Excellency's return to your government, rewarded with the full approbation +of a gracious Prince, as one of the happiest in the annals of Canada. + + [Signed by 1420 persons.] + +"_Quebec, 31st March, 1815._" + +To which his Excellency was pleased to return the following Answer: + +_To the Inhabitants of the City of Quebec._ + +"Gentlemen, + +"I thank you for those sentiments of kindness which now, as at all times, I +have had the gratification to receive from the inhabitants of the city of +Quebec. It is at the moment of separation that such expressions appeal most +forcibly to the heart. + +"If under the authority which His Majesty has deemed proper to place in my +hands, you have been prosperous and happy, the objects of all my exertions, +and my most earnest solicitude has been attained. + +"The time I have spent in your society has taught me at once to appreciate +its worth, and to regret the loss of it; and, be assured, the testimony of +regard you have now given me, will be treasured up among recollections the +most grateful to my feelings." + + * * * * * + +On Monday last, at twelve o'clock, the Address of the Citizens of Montreal +was presented to his Excellency Sir George Prevost, by their Deputies, J. +M. Mondelêt and John M'Donald, Esquires, which Address is as follows: + + _To his Excellency Sir George Prevost, Bart. + Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief, in and over the + Province of Lower Canada, Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, + New Brunswick and their Dependencies, Vice-Admiral of + the same, Lieutenant-General and Commander of all His + Majesty's Forces in the said Provinces, and in the + Islands of Newfoundland, Prince Edward, Cape Breton, + and Bermuda, &c. &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + +"May it please your Excellency, + +"We His Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, inhabitants of the city of +Montreal and the neighbouring Parishes, have learnt with extreme regret +that your Excellency is unexpectedly about to leave this province. + +"We hasten, before your Excellency separates yourself from us, to convey to +your Excellency the expression of our sorrow for your departure, of our +gratitude for the benefits conferred on us, in common with our fellow +subjects, by your Excellency's administration, and our ardent wish that +your Excellency's absence from this province may be of short duration. + +"These sentiments are naturally produced in our minds by the recollection +of the public and private virtues which have been displayed by your +Excellency in your exalted station, and by the advantages we have +experienced from your Excellency's wisdom and justice in peace, and your +protecting care in war. + +"In your Excellency's civil administration, we have seen conspicuously +evinced an anxious desire to dispense equal justice to His Majesty's +subjects, to obliterate unjust and impolitic distinctions between the +inhabitants of this province, of different origin, and to unite them as +members of one community with the same rights and interests, for the +promotion of their common welfare. Influenced by this wise and just policy, +your Excellency has been enabled to form a correct estimate of the +character and disposition of the population of Canada: and, by reposing in +the loyalty and bravery of His Majesty's Canadian subjects that confidence +which they fully merited, your Excellency has afforded practical evidence +of their devoted attachment to His Majesty's government, and their capacity +to yield it effectual support. + +"While exposed to the pressure of the late unjust and unprovoked war waged +by the United States of America against His Majesty, we experienced the +security derived from your Excellency's indefatigable exertions for the +defence of this Province, and have reason to ascribe its preservation, as +well as that of the Upper Province, to the judicious distribution and +arrangement of the Public Force made by your Excellency, by which the +attempts of the enemy were frustrated, and the honourable character, with +the rights and advantages of British subjects has been secured to the +Inhabitants of the Canadas. + +"Having the greatest confidence in the skill and judgment of your +Excellency, and being fully convinced of the ability and prudence with +which your Excellency has discharged the military as well as civil duties +of your high office, we anticipate, from the investigation for which your +Excellency is preparing, a result honourable to your Excellency's +character, by which your well-earned reputation will be confirmed, the +voice of calumny and detraction silenced, and your Excellency's merits +conclusively established. We persuade ourselves also that the important +services rendered in this country by your Excellency to His Majesty's +Government will be duly appreciated by His Royal Highness the Prince +Regent, of whose discernment and justice we have had so many proofs, and +will procure for your Excellency deserved approbation, and the high rewards +reserved for distinguished merit. + +"We shall not cease to take the warmest interest in the fortunes of your +Excellency; and in expressing our ardent wishes for your prosperity and +that of your family, we join in the general sentiment of the country, whose +affection and unalterable attachment your Excellency will carry with you, +and whose greatest felicity would be experienced in the speedy return of +your Excellency to resume the reins of Government." + + (Signed by 1510 persons.) + + * * * * * + +His Excellency was pleased to make the following answer: + +_To the Inhabitants of the City of Montreal, and the neighbouring +Parishes._ + +"Gentlemen, + +"The alacrity with which you have hastened to prevent the distance of your +residence from being an obstacle to the expression of your kind wishes on +my sudden and unexpected departure, gives to them all the additional value +of eager sincerity. + +"Your good will is to me a most acceptable offering: and as I am now +content if your good opinion of my services during my Administration is +proportioned to my desire to promote your welfare, so shall I ever be +ambitious that your estimate of my exertions may be found as correct as the +favourable judgment which I early formed of His Majesty's subjects in +Canada, which experience has now fully justified." + + * * * * * + +_Letter from M. de Salaberry to Sir George Prevost._ + +A son Excellence Sir George Prevost, &c. &c. + +Qu'il plaise à votre Excellence, + +Me permettre d'écrire, puisque je ne peux sortir. J'en suis empêché par une +maladie opîniâtre et apparemment dangereuse, puisqu'encore hier j'ai tombé +sans connaissance sur le plancher. Je suis bien peiné d'être privé par les +accidens d'aller vous rendre mes respects, avant que vous vous laissiez. + +Sir George, vous portez pour vous justifier--Quoi! une justification de +vous! Qui pouvait s'y attendre? Mais s'il en faut une, la voici d'un mot: +LE CANADA EST ENCORE A L'ANGLETERRE. Cela repond à tout. Le résultat est +tout, il est frappant, il est grand. Voilà _un fait_, celui-là: on ne peut +le nier. Devant lui doivent disparaitre les vaines paroles, les accusations +sophistiques; sous lui doivent succomber les efforts de la malveillance, +l'envie, les passions haineuses; mais le mérite et la vertu sont sujets à +la persécution. Vous en triompherez glorieusement: j'ôse vous le prédire +avec assûrance, et je la souhaite du profond de mon coeur, comme je +souhaite aussi tous les bonheurs pour vous, Sir George, et pour ce qui vous +est chér. Avec ces vrais sentimens, et ceux du plus grand respect, j'ai +l'honneur de me souscrire, + + Mon Général, + De votre Excellence, + Le trés-humble, très-obéissant + Et très devoué serviteur, + L. de SALABERRY, Col. M. Quebec. + +_A Beauport, 28 Mars, 1815._ + +P. S. Oui, les Canadas sont encore à l'Angleterre, mais n'y serraient plus +sans un effort perséverant de prudence, d'activité, de patience courageuse, +et d'habilité consommée, dans un commandement et un genre de guerre aussi +difficiles, dont la conduite éxige un art tant particulier. Voilà ce +qu'avoueront tous ceux qui ont de vraies connaissances de la nature de ces +pays de situations si extraordinaires, à des prodigieuses distances, à +travers des forêts immenses. + +Ce ne sont pas des guerres _d'Europe_, où sous un beau ciel et dans des +riches plaines cultivées, toutes les parties d'armées se touchent, où sont +toujours à-portée, de se donner la main, dans des localités rapprochées et +dont les communications sont si faciles. Daignez, mon Général, traiter mes +reflexions avec indulgence, puis qu'elles viennent d'un vieux et loyal +soldat, qui a commencé à faire la guerre il y a précisement quarante ans +cette année. + + +No. XXXIII. + + _Extract from Christie's Memoirs of the Administration + of the Colonial Government of Lower Canada, by Sir + James Henry Craig, and Sir George Prevost._ + +"The administration of the Civil Government of Lower Canada under Sir +George Prevost, was mild, equitable, and unquestionably popular among the +entire mass of the Canadian population, in whose loyalty from the +commencement, he placed the most implicit confidence. To their fidelity, +and to the prudent and conciliating policy of this Governor, Great Britain +is indebted for the preservation of the Canadas, unavoidably left destitute +of money and troops at the outset of hostilities with America, by reason of +the urgent demands of the war in Spain. The Provincial Legislature, by +giving a currency to Army Bills and guaranteeing their redemption, +effectually removed all apprehensions of a deficiency in the financial +resources of the Colonial Government. The organization of a respectable +force of embodied Militia, and the power delegated to the Governor, of +turning out the whole of the effective male population of the Province, in +cases of emergency, enabled him to withstand the efforts of the United +States, during two successive campaigns, with scarcely any other resources +than those derived from the Colony. They who had been partial to the +preceding Administration, and who probably may have been instrumental in +the arbitrary measures with which it is reproached, were, as might be +expected, adverse to the policy of the present Governor, and spared no +pains to represent in England the affairs of the Colony in the falsest +colours. The disappointments experienced at Sackett's Harbour and +Plattsburg, gave occasion to his enemies to discredit his military +character: but whatever may have been his capacity as a general, (which we +leave to the judgment of military men) it must be admitted, that as a civil +governor, at the head of a people irritated by arbitrary measures under the +preceding Administration, he judiciously explored his way through a period +of unprecedented embarrassments and danger, without a recurrence to Martial +Law, or the least exertion of arbitrary power. His manners are represented +by those who were familiarly acquainted with him as unassuming and social. +His public speeches or addresses partook of even classical elegance. His +smooth and easy temper placed him beyond the ordinary passions of men in +power, and though aware of the intrigues of unprincipled and implacable +enemies labouring at his destruction, and loaded with the obloquy of the +press, he is known to have harboured no resentment against the former, and +to have reasoned with that coolness and unconcern with respect to the +latter, which can only spring from a virtuous and ingenuous mind." + + * * * * * + +_Extract from Bouchette's Topographical Account of Lower Canada, p. 121._ + +"At a time when the military resources of the Province were so greatly +curtailed by the most arduous continental warfare that ever Great Britain +was engaged in, it is a matter of surprise that so much could have been +effected with such slender means. An enemy, emboldened by possessing an +ample force, and inspired by the prospect of obtaining a fertile country, +long the object of inordinate desire, could only be successfully opposed by +a union of the greatest energy with the most active measures; that such was +presented to him is incontrovertible, and the credit of having brought them +into action by unceasing perseverance, will attach to the judicious +dispositions of the Governor-General, Sir George Prevost, and for his +strenuous efforts in turning the enthusiasm of the people into a bulwark +stronger, and more impenetrable than entrenchments or fortresses against an +invader." + + * * * * * + + _The following Extract from James's Naval Memoirs, p. + 411, shewing the opinion of the American Naval + Commander, as to the result of the action on Lake + Champlain, was intended to form a note to page 175._ + +"Commodore Macdonough, taking Lieutenant Robertson, when presenting his +sword, for the British Commanding Officer, spoke to him as follows:--'You +owe it, Sir, to the shameful conduct of your gun-boats and cutters, that +you are performing this office to me; for, had they done their duty, you +must have perceived, from the situation of the Saratoga, that I could hold +out no longer: and indeed, nothing induced me to keep up her colours, but +seeing, from the united fire of all the rest of my squadron on the +Confiance, and her unsupported situation, that she must ultimately +surrender.'--Here is an acknowledgment, candid and honourable in the +extreme." + + +No. XXXIV. + +_Inscription on the Monument erected to the Memory of Sir George Prevost in +Winchester Cathedral, p. 177._ + + Sacred to the Memory + Of Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Baronet, + of Belmont, in this County, + Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of the British + Forces in North America; + In which command, by his wise and energetic measures, + And with a very inferior force, + He preserved the Canadas to the British Crown, + From the repeated invasions of a powerful Enemy. + His Constitution at length sunk + Under incessant bodily and mental exertions, + In discharging the duties of that arduous station, + And having returned to England, + He died shortly afterwards in London, on the 5th Jan. 1816, + Aged forty-eight years; + Thirty-four of which had been devoted + To the service of his Country. + He was interred near the remains of his Father, + Major-General Augustin Prevost, + At East Barnet, in Middlesex. + His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, + To evince in an especial manner the sense he entertained + Of his distinguished conduct and services, + During a long period of constant active employment, + In situations of great trust, both military and civil, + Was pleased to ordain, + As a lasting memorial of His Majesty's Royal favour, + That the names of the Countries, + Where his courage and abilities had been most signally displayed, + The West Indies and Canada, + Should be inscribed on the banners of the supporters, + Granted to be borne by his Family and his descendants. + In Testimony of his private worth, + His piety, integrity, and benevolence, + And all those tender, domestic virtues + Which endeared him + To his Family, his Children, his Friends and Dependants, + As well as to prove her unfeigned love, gratitude and respect, + Catharine Ann Prevost, + His afflicted Widow, + caused this Monument to be erected, + Anno Domini, 1818. + + +No. XXXV. + +_Private Despatch from Sir George Prevost to Earl Bathurst, p. 179._ + +(Private.) + + "_Montreal, 21st Sept. 1814._ + +"My Lord, + +"In my despatch from Plattsburg, of the 11th inst. I reported to your +Lordship the unfortunate event which induced me to withdraw the troops with +which I had advanced into the enemy's territory. My reasons for that +measure I can more fully explain to your Lordship in a private +communication than it might be proper to do in a public letter. + +"Your Lordship must have been aware from my previous despatches, that no +offensive operations could be carried on, within the enemy's territory, for +the destruction of his Naval Establishments, without naval support. Having +ascertained that our flotilla was in every respect equal to the enemy's, +and having received from Captain Downie the assurance, not only of his +readiness, but of his ability to co-operate with the army, I did not +hesitate in advancing to Plattsburg, and confidently relying upon the +successful exertions of the squadron, I made my arrangements for the +assault of the enemy's works the moment it should appear. + +"The disastrous and unlooked for result of the naval contest, by depriving +me of the only means by which I could avail myself of any advantage I might +gain, rendered a perseverance in the attack of the enemy's position highly +imprudent, as well as hazardous. From the state of the roads, each day's +delay at Plattsburg rendered my retreat more difficult. The enemy's Militia +was raising _en masse_ around me, desertion increasing, and our supply of +provisions scanty. + +"Excluded from the use of water communication, and that by roads passing +through woods and over swamps, becoming, from the state of the weather, as +well as from the obstructions made by the enemy, nearly impassable--under +these circumstances, I had to determine whether I should consider my own +fame, by gratifying the order of the troops in persevering in the attack, +or consult the more substantial interests of my country, by withdrawing the +army which was yet uncrippled, for the security of these provinces; in +adopting the latter measure, I feel that I have accorded with the views of +His Majesty's Government, and that a contrary conduct would have been +attended with immediate and imminent danger to this Province. + +"The most ample success on shore, after the loss of the fleet, could not +have justified the sacrifice I must have made to obtain it. Had I failed, +and such an event was possible, after the American army had been cheared by +the sight of a naval victory, the destruction of a great part of our troops +must have been the consequence, and with the remainder I should have had to +make a precipitate and embarrassed retreat, one very different from that +which I have made. + +"These are considerations which, without doubt, will have their due weight +with your Lordship, and induce you, I trust, to view the measures I have +adopted as those best calculated to promote, as well the honour of His +Majesty's arms, as the safety of this part of his dominions. + +"I herewith transmit a comparative state of the force of the two squadrons, +in order that your Lordship may be satisfied with my reasons for not +discouraging a Naval Engagement, in which, if all had done their duty, I +should have had a very different report to make. + + "I have the honour to be," &c. + + "_The Right Hon. Earl Bathurst_." + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[99] Captain Watson of the Tweed; Tate of the Nancy; and Higgins of the +Betsey. + +[100] Compte O'Duin's own expression. + +[101] Gordon, Author of the History of the American Revolution, vol. iii. +p. 328, &c. + +[102] "On the 9th January, 1808, died General Naguês, first Aid-de-Camp, +&c. &c. His loss was strongly felt. This General had conciliated the esteem +of the public by his inclination to do good, his attention to his duty, and +his strict probity. Before he entered into the service of Holland, he had +been Governor of St. Lucie, which he had defended as a brave soldier, and +where he acquired the affection of the Planters."--_Historical Documents +and Reflections on the Government of Holland, by Louis Bonaparte_, vol. ii. +p. 214. + +[103] From Toulon and Rochefort. + +[104] A French Squadron was in the West Indies. + +[105] These addresses are extracted from a work, entitled, "the Canadian +Inspector," published at Montreal, in 1815, for the express purpose of +noticing and confuting the assertions made by the author of the letters +under the signature of Veritas, respecting the measures of Sir George +Prevost, in the prosecution of the war. Upon the authority of these letters +the Quarterly Reviewer has mainly relied, and has had the boldness to +declare, that "_no reply was ever attempted to be made to the statements +contained in them, or doubt ever expressed in the Provinces of their +correctness_."--Review, p. 408. + +[106] Since this work went to press, a positive contradiction to the +Reviewer's assertion, _that Sir George Prevost attempted to affix a stigma +upon the personal character of General Procter, which he was afterwards +obliged to abandon, with a declaration of regret that it was ever made_, +has been received from the Judge-Advocate who officiated at the above +trial, and who is now resident in Canada. From this information it appears, +that so far from the fifth charge being abandoned, the Judge-Advocate in +his reply, although he adverted to the partial failure of the proof in +support of that charge, still asserted that there came out in evidence +strong grounds for making it. In answer to the Reviewer's +misrepresentations as to the delay in assembling the Court-martial, it +appears from the same information that such delay was unavoidable. General +Procter's letter, in explanation of the retreat of the right division, was +not received until late in November, 1813. It was, of course, transmitted +to England, that His Majesty's Government might judge of the necessity of +an investigation. When General Procter applied for this investigation, he +was told that this was the case; and also, what he must have known, that at +all events, no such investigation could then take place, as the principal +witnesses, both for and against him, were then prisoners in the state of +Kentucky. The first orders of the Government for the assembling of the +Court-martial were not received in Canada until the 28th of May, 1814. They +were immediately notified to General Procter. The officers of the 41st were +still prisoners, though they were shortly to be exchanged, but the +exigencies of the war gave such employment to all the officers of proper +rank to form such a Court-martial, as well as to many material witnesses, +that it was impossible, without sacrificing the interests of the service to +comply with General Procter's applications for the assembling of the Court. + +[107] The action was fought on the 11th. + + +J. M'Creery, Printer, +Tooks Court, Chancery Lane. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Some Account of the Public Life of the +Late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart., by E. B. 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B. Brenton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Some Account of the Public Life of the Late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart. + Particularly of his Services in the Canadas, including a + reply to the strictures on his Military Character, Contained + in an Article in The Quareterly Review + +Author: E. B. Brenton + +Release Date: October 9, 2011 [EBook #37674] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOME ACCOUNT OF THE PUBLIC *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Josephine Paolucci and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. +(This book was produced from scanned images of public +domain material from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<h1>SOME ACCOUNT OF THE PUBLIC LIFE OF THE LATE LIEUTENANT-GENERAL<br /> + +SIR GEORGE PREVOST, BART.</h1> + +<h3>PARTICULARLY OF HIS SERVICES</h3> + +<h4>IN</h4> + +<h3>THE CANADAS;</h3> + +<h4>INCLUDING</h4> + +<h3>A REPLY TO THE STRICTURES ON HIS MILITARY CHARACTER,</h3> + +<h4>CONTAINED</h4> + +<h3>IN AN ARTICLE IN THE QUARTERLY REVIEW FOR OCTOBER, 1822.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Either this is envy in you, folly, or mistaking; the +very stream of his life, and the business he hath +helmed, must upon a warranted need give him a better +proclamation. Let him be but testimonied in his own +bringings forth, and he shall appear a statesman and a +soldier. Therefore you speak unskilfully; or if your +knowledge be more, it is much darkened in your malice."</p> + +<p class="right">MEASURE FOR MEASURE.</p></div> + +<p class="center"> +LONDON:<br /> +<br /> +PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, STRAND;<br /> +<br /> +AND<br /> +<br /> +T. EGERTON, WHITEHALL.<br /> +<br /> +1823.<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +J. M'Creery, Printer,<br /> +Tooks Court, Chancery Lane.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> +<h2>SOME ACCOUNT<br /> +OF<br /> +THE PUBLIC LIFE OF THE LATE LIEUT.-GENERAL<br /> +<span class="smcap">Sir GEORGE PREVOST, Bart.</span><br /> +<i>&c. &c.</i></h2> + + +<p>The character and conduct of individuals in high and responsible +situations, will naturally and necessarily be the subject of free and open +discussion. The conduct of a soldier is more particularly exposed to this +scrutiny. His success or his failure is a matter of such powerful interest +to his country, that he generally receives even more than his full measure +of approbation or of blame. Notwithstanding all the difficulties of forming +a correct judgment on the merits of military operations, there is perhaps +no subject upon which public opinion expresses itself so quickly and so +decidedly. Disappointed in the sanguine hopes which they had entertained, +and mortified by the consciousness of defeat, the public too frequently +imagine cause for censure, and without a competent knowledge of the facts +necessary to enable them to form a sound and satisfactory judgment, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span>unhesitatingly condemn those who have perhaps passed in their service a +long life of anxiety and labour. But while, in the moment of irritation, +they are thus disposed to impugn the conduct of their military servants, +they are no less ready, on more deliberate inquiry, and a fuller +understanding of the facts, to grant them a candid and generous acquittal. +These observations are peculiarly applicable to the case of the late +Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, who, after having devoted to his +country thirty-five of the best years of his life; after having +distinguished himself in many gallant actions; and after having preserved +to the crown of Great Britain some of its most valuable foreign +possessions, was called upon, at the close of his honourable career, to +answer charges which vitally affected his reputation, and which he was +prevented by death from fully and clearly refuting.</p> + +<p>Painful as it was to the friends of Sir George Prevost to allow a single +stain to rest upon the memory of so brave and distinguished a soldier, more +especially when they possessed the means of removing every doubt as to his +conduct, they yet considered an appeal to the candour and justice of his +country as unnecessary. The violent prejudices which at one period existed +against the late Commander of the Forces in the Canadas were gradually +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span>wearing away; his memory had been honored by a just tribute of his +Sovereign's regret and approbation; and the scenes in which he had been so +conspicuous an actor, had ceased to be a matter of general interest. Under +these circumstances, the relatives of Sir George Prevost would confidently +have entrusted his reputation to the unprejudiced judgment of posterity, +had they not seen, with equal regret and indignation, a late attempt to +revive the almost exploded calumnies and misrepresentations of which he had +been the victim. That the Quarterly Review<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> should have lent its pages to +an attack like this, will, upon the perusal of the present volume, excite +the surprise of every candid person; and it is chiefly for the purpose of +correcting the mis-statements into which the Reviewer has been led, that +the following pages are presented to the public.</p> + +<p>Before entering more particularly upon the subject of Sir George Prevost's +conduct, so wantonly attacked in the article above alluded to, it may not +be thought improper briefly to advert to his father's services and to his +own early history. From his military career, previous to his appointment to +the chief command in British North America, it will clearly appear that he +was not without reason selected by his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> Majesty's Government for the +discharge of that important trust.</p> + +<p>Major-General Augustin Prevost, the father of the late Sir George Prevost, +was by birth a citizen of Geneva: he entered the British service as a +Cornet in the Earl of Albemarle's regiment of Horse Guards, and was present +at the battle of Fontenoy, where he was wounded.</p> + +<p>Having attained the rank of Major in the 60th regiment in 1759, he had the +honor of serving under General Wolfe, and received a severe wound in the +head, whilst gallantly forcing a landing, twenty miles above Quebec, under +the immediate command of General Carleton, afterwards Lord Dorchester. Upon +the reduction of Canada, Major Prevost was promoted to the rank of +Lieutenant-Colonel, and served with reputation at the capture of Martinique +and the Havannah. In 1775, he was appointed to the command in East Florida, +and, in 1778, he eminently distinguished himself by his defence of +Savannah, against the attack of a very superior force of French and +Americans, under the Comte d'Estaing and General Lincoln. The garrison +consisted of only 2,300 men, while the force of the besiegers amounted to +8,000, supported by a fleet of twenty-two sail of the line. Such, however, +was the determined energy of Major-General Prevost, and of the British +soldiers and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> sailors under his command, that the enemy were compelled to +abandon the enterprize, after thirty-three days' close siege.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p>In 1780, Major-General Prevost, after having served twenty-two years in +North America and the West Indies, returned to England, to enjoy the +pleasing consciousness of having always discharged his duty with zeal and +effect. His health was much impaired by a long residence in climates +unfavorable to an European constitution, and, on the 6th May, 1786, he +died, at Greenhill Grove, near Barnet, in the sixty-third year of his age.</p> + +<p>In 1765, Major-General Prevost married, at Lausanne, a daughter of M. +Grand, of that place;<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> and, on her husband's departure to America, Mrs. +Prevost accompanied him thither. George, their eldest son, was born while +General Prevost was stationed in the province of New Jersey, on the 19th +May, 1767. Being designed by his father for the military profession, he +was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> placed with that view at Lochée's academy, at Chelsea, and his +education was finished at Colmar, on the continent. He obtained his first +commission in the 60th regiment, and being removed upon promotion to the +28th foot, he joined that corps at Gibraltar in 1784. He obtained his +majority in 1790, and early in 1791, he took the command of the 3d +battalion of the 60th regiment at Antigua. In March, 1794, he was promoted +to a Lieutenant-Colonelcy in the 60th, and, in 1795, he proceeded to +Demerara, and from thence to St. Vincent's, at that time attacked by the +French. He was there actively employed in suppressing the Carib +insurrection, and in resisting the French invasion, and at the storming of +the Vigie he commanded a column. In October, 1795, he was ordered to +Dominica, to relieve Lieutenant-Colonel Madden in the command of the troops +in that island; but in January, 1796, he resumed the command of the 3d +battalion of the 60th regiment at St. Vincent's, where he was twice +severely wounded in successfully resisting the enemy's progress towards the +capital of the colony, after the defeat of Major-General Stewart at +Colonary. In consequence of his wounds, Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost obtained +leave to return to England. The sense which the inhabitants of St. +Vincent's entertained of his services was warmly expressed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> in an address +from the Council and House of Representatives in that island.<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> + +<p>On his arrival in England, Lieutenant-Colonel Provost was appointed +Inspecting Field Officer. In January, 1798, he obtained the rank of +Colonel, and proceeded in the same year to the West Indies as +Brigadier-General. In 1798, he was removed from the command of the troops +at Barbadoes to St. Lucie, as Commandant, where he was afterwards appointed +Lieutenant-Governor, in compliance with a request from the inhabitants.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a></p> + +<p>Brigadier-General Prevost continued to perform the duties of Governor of +St. Lucie until the peace of 1802, when that colony was restored to the +French. The address which he received from the inhabitants of the island on +his departure, fully evinces the popularity which he had acquired;<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> while +the letters addressed to him, and to Colonel Brownrigg, Secretary to H.R.H. +the Commander in Chief, by Sir Thomas Trigge, at that time Commander of the +Forces in the West Indies, satisfactorily prove that he merited the +confidence reposed in him by Government.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p><p>In July, Brigadier-General Prevost arrived in England, when the government +of Dominica was immediately offered to him by Lord Hobart. Having accepted +the appointment, he embarked for that island in the following November, and +landed there on the 25th of December, 1802.</p> + +<p>In the following year, he volunteered his services on the expedition +against St. Lucie and Tobago, and served as second in command under +Lieutenant-General Grenfield, who in his general order, after the capture +of Morne Fortunée, thus mentions his conduct upon that occasion:—</p> + +<p>"To the cool and determined conduct of Brigadier-general Prevost and +Brigadier-General Brereton, who led the two columns of attack, may be +attributed the success of the action; but to Brigadier-General Prevost it +must be acknowledged, that to his counsel and arrangements the Commander of +the forces attributes the glory of the day."<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p> + +<p>The important services of Brigadier-General Prevost upon this expedition, +received numerous tributes of approbation from distinguished military +characters;<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> and even the French<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> Commander could not refrain from +expressing the esteem and admiration with which he regarded his generous +enemy.<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> Upon the successful termination of this affair, +Brigadier-General Prevost returned to his Government at Dominica, where +nothing worthy of notice occurred until the 22d February, 1805, when an +unexpected attack was made by a French squadron from Rochefort. The result +of that attack was highly creditable to the valour and military talents of +the Governor, who after having, with the few troops under his command, +disputed inch by inch the landing of the French force, amounting to 4,000 +men, and covered by an overwhelming fire from the ships, succeeded in +effecting a retreat to the fort of Prince Rupert. The French Commander in +Chief, after vainly summoning him to surrender, reimbarked the whole of his +troops, and sailed to Guadaloupe.<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a></p> + +<p>The terms in which H. R. H. the Commander in Chief was pleased to express +his sense of General Prevost's conduct upon this occasion, were highly +gratifying to his feelings.<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> In consequence of his gallant and +successful defence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> of the Colony, General Prevost received a communication +from the Speaker of the House of Assembly,<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> conveying to him the thanks +of that body, and informing him that a Thousand Guineas had been voted by +them for the purchase of a sword and a service of plate, to be presented to +him in testimony of their gratitude and approbation.<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> A similar +testimonial to the conduct of General Prevost upon this occasion was given +by the Patriotic Fund, who voted him a sword of the value of one hundred +pounds, and a piece of plate, of the value of two hundred pounds, "for the +distinguished gallantry and military talents which he had displayed."<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> +From the West India Planters and Merchants General Prevost likewise +received a piece of plate to the value of three hundred guineas.<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a></p> + +<p>In July, 1805, General Prevost returned to England.<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> Soon after his +arrival he was created a Baronet, and was subsequently appointed +Lieutenant-Governor of Portsmouth.</p> + +<p>In February, 1808, he was selected to command<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> a brigade destined to +reinforce Nova Scotia, where he succeeded Sir John Wentworth as Governor, +and in December, 1808, he left Halifax, in order to assist in the reduction +of Martinique. The expedition sailed from Barbadoes on the 28th of January, +1809, and on the 30th, the troops were landed on the island of Martinique. +Sir George Prevost was second in command under General Sir George Beckwith, +and to him the management of all the active operations was confided. The +result of this expedition was, that the French troops were driven into Fort +Bourbon, where they held out until the 24th of February, when the surrender +of that fort completed the conquest of the island.<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a></p> + +<p>Upon the conclusion of this short but brilliant campaign, Sir George +Prevost passed a few days at Dominica, where he was received with many +demonstrations of joy. Addresses were upon this occasion presented to him +by the House of Assembly of Dominica, and by the merchants and inhabitants +of St. Christophers.<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a></p> + +<p>In the month of April the army returned to Halifax, and from this period +until his appointment to the chief civil and military command in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> British +North America, in 1811, upon the resignation of Sir James Craig, Sir George +Prevost remained in Nova Scotia, esteemed and beloved by all ranks of the +inhabitants. On his departure for his new government, he received the most +gratifying addresses from the inhabitants of Halifax,<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> and from the +clergy of Nova Scotia, &c. &c.<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a></p> + +<p>Upon the arrival of Sir George Prevost at Quebec in 1811, he found much +dissatisfaction and discontent existing in the Lower Province. The +inhabitants were divided into two parties, termed the English and the +Canadian, and the feelings of hostility with which they viewed each other, +had unfortunately not been allayed by the policy which the late Governor in +Chief, Sir James Craig, had thought it necessary to adopt during his +administration. To such a degree had this party spirit been carried, and so +doubtful had he been of the disposition of the Canadians, that it had been +thought inexpedient to call out the militia, lest they should make an +improper use of the arms to be intrusted to them. Under these +circumstances, it was evidently the duty of Sir George Prevost to +conciliate, by every means in his power, the confidence and affection of +the Canadians, more particularly as in case<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> of hostilities with America, +it would have been impossible to preserve Lower Canada without the cordial +support of its inhabitants. Sir George Prevost therefore did not hesitate +to adopt a system which the true interest of the Province seemed so +imperiously to require. He anxiously endeavoured to unite the two adverse +parties, and to soothe the irritation which not only threatened the +tranquillity of his government, but even the safety of the colony itself. +In the distribution of the patronage which he enjoyed, he resolved to be +guided solely by a consideration of the public good, and when offices +became vacant, he bestowed them, with a due regard to the merits of the +individuals, indifferently upon the English and the Canadians.</p> + +<p>The beneficial effects of these measures became every day more apparent. +The Governor in Chief speedily acquired the confidence of all ranks of +people, who submitted with cheerfulness to the privations and sacrifices +which they were soon afterwards called upon to endure. In numerous +instances he received from the inhabitants, both collectively and +individually, the strongest proofs of their zeal; and he had the +satisfaction of seeing them united in their attachment to his government, +at a time when the preservation of the colony depended upon such feelings.</p> + +<p>Having thus given a brief sketch of the situation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> in which the Governor in +Chief found the Province of Lower Canada upon his arrival, and of the views +and objects which he entertained respecting it, we shall proceed to point +out the conduct which he pursued, when, from the aspect of affairs, it +became evident that hostilities with America could not be long delayed. No +sooner had Sir George Prevost assumed the chief command of the Canadas, +than he became sensible of the necessity of placing those provinces in the +most efficient state of defence; and he therefore applied himself with the +utmost vigour and vigilance to call forth all their resources. It is +difficult to believe that the unwearied exertions of Sir George Prevost, +with a view to this important object, should have been altogether unknown +to the writer in the Quarterly Review. But supposing him to have been +ignorant of them, yet without access to the private and confidential +correspondence which took place between Sir George Prevost and his +Majesty's Government, or to the communications which passed between him and +the officers under his command, it was impossible that the Reviewer could +form a correct opinion upon the subject. And yet he has not hesitated +boldly to assert, that, "in the winters of 1811 and 1812, although the +designs upon the Canadas were openly avowed in the American Congress, +except the embodying of the militia of the Lower<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> Province, Sir George +Prevost made <i>not the slightest preparation for defence</i>."<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> The +following statement will show the degree of credit to which this assertion +of the Reviewer is entitled.</p> + +<p>In the month of September, 1811, Sir George Prevost arrived in Canada, and +in the same month, proceeding from Quebec to the district of Montreal, he +inspected the different forts and military positions in that neighbourhood, +and on the American frontier. Soon after his return to Quebec in the +November following, he communicated confidentially with the +Adjutant-General of the forces in England, upon the apprehended hostilities +with America. In December he proposed to Lord Liverpool, then Secretary of +State for the Colonies, the raising a corps of Fencibles, from the +Glengarry settlement in Upper Canada; and in his correspondence with +Admiral Sawyer, who commanded on the Halifax station, he requested that a +ship of war might be sent, on the opening of the navigation, to the St. +Lawrence. In the month of February, 1812, another communication was made to +the Secretary of State's Office, in which Sir George Prevost expressed a +hope, that the proceedings in Washington would justify him, in making +preparations to repel the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> threatened attack. Those preparations had been +commenced as early as November, 1811, by forwarding arms and ammunition to +the Upper Province. During the winter of 1811 and 1812, and the spring of +the latter year, frequent communications passed between the Commander of +the forces and Major-General Brock, who commanded in Upper Canada, +respecting the preparations which would be necessary in the event of a war. +It was proposed to reinforce Amherstburgh, and Fort George; and supplies of +provisions, cavalry-arms, accoutrements and money, were directed to be +conveyed to Upper Canada. Accoutrements and clothing for the militia in the +Canadas, were requested from the British Government. Another schooner was +directed to be built, to increase our marine on Lake Erie. Captain Gray, +Deputy Assistant-Quarter-Master-General, was despatched to the Upper +Province, in order to assist in forwarding these defensive preparations; +and Captain Dixon, of the Royal Engineers, was directed to proceed to +Amherstburgh, to inspect the works of that fort, which the Commander of the +forces had ordered to be put in a tenable state. The propriety of +strengthening and fortifying York was submitted to Government; and the +commanding engineer was directed to make the repairs, which his report on +the different forts and posts in Upper Canada, had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> stated to be necessary. +In addition to these measures, a reinforcement from the 41st regiment, and +five companies of the Newfoundland Fencibles, left Quebec in the month of +May for the Upper Province.</p> + +<p>On the 31st March, Sir George Prevost addressed a private and confidential +letter to Major-General Brock, in which his sentiments respecting the +approaching war, and the policy to be adopted in meeting it, were clearly +detailed. One passage in this letter merits a more particular notice, since +it is highly important, not only as repelling the accusation of the +Reviewer respecting the want of preparation for the war, but also as +containing an answer to another charge, which will afterwards be noticed. +The paragraph in the letter is as follows: "You are nevertheless to +persevere in your preparations for defence, and in such arrangements as +may, upon a change in the state of affairs, enable you to employ any +disposeable part of your force <i>offensively</i> against the common enemy."</p> + +<p>Independently of all these various communications with the officer +commanding in Upper Canada, respecting the measures to be pursued in the +event of war, and of the supplies of men, arms, money, stores, and +provisions, which, with a view to that event, had been afforded to Upper +Canada; much correspondence had previously taken place, and many +difficulties had been removed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> with regard to the supply and transport of +the Indian presents to the Upper Province, upon the due furnishing of which +very materially depended the support which we might expect to receive from +the Indians, in case of a rupture with America.</p> + +<p>From this statement, drawn from the original correspondence, and from +official documents, it is evident, that even in contemplation of +hostilities, an event by no means certain, and which the British Government +were so far from thinking probable, that they discouraged any measure of +extraordinary expense to meet it, the Commander of the forces did, as far +as rested with him, during the winter of 1811 and 1812, and for months +prior to the declaration of war, make every preparation for defence, +consistent with the means which he possessed. All the requisitions of +Major-General Brock which the Commander of the forces had the power to +grant, were promptly complied with; nor was the slightest intimation ever +given by that invaluable officer, that any measure, either suggested by +himself or which ought to have occurred to the Commander of the forces, for +the preservation of the Upper Province, in the event of its being attacked, +had been overlooked or neglected. The same vigilant foresight will be found +to mark the conduct of Sir George Prevost in the Lower Province. One of the +first measures<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> of his government, in contemplation of war, was an +application to the legislature of Lower Canada, in February, 1812, for an +act to new model the militia laws, and which might enable him to call forth +a proportion of the population into active service. Averse as the Canadians +had hitherto been to grant any power of this description to former +Governors, and repugnant as many of the clauses which it was intended to +introduce into the bill, were to the habits and feelings of the people, +such was the deserved popularity acquired by Sir George Prevost, from the +conciliatory policy, which, as before stated, he had adopted towards the +Canadians, immediately upon his arrival amongst them, that he obtained from +the Legislature nearly all that he had required. Before the end of May, +1812, a sum exceeding 60,000<i>l.</i> was placed at his disposal for the militia +service; and he was authorized to embody 2,000 Bachelors, between the age +of eighteen and twenty-five years, for three months in the year; and in +case of invasion, or imminent danger of it, to retain them for a year. In +case of war, he was empowered to embody if necessary, the whole militia of +the Province. Under that law, a force of 2,000 men, from the finest and +most efficient class of the militia, was embodied on the 13th May, so to +remain for three months, unless the then state of affairs should render it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +expedient to retain them longer. A corps of Canadian voltigeurs, under the +command of Major De Salaberry, of the 60th regiment, consisting of between +300 and 400 men, had likewise, been raised and disciplined; and 400 +recruits for the Glengarry Fencibles, had, before the 1st June, been +assembled at Three Rivers, in Lower Canada. The advantages arising from +thus embodying the militia prior to the war, were incalculable, and it may +be confidently asserted, materially contributed to the preservation of the +Canadas.</p> + +<p>The American Government, deceived by the erroneous information which they +had received respecting the disaffection of the Canadian population to +Great Britain, had calculated upon meeting with considerable support from +the people in their invasion of the Province. They had been told, and they +believed, that the militia would not serve, or, if embodied, would be worse +than useless. The embodying, arming, and training of 2,000 of the most +active portion of the population, for several weeks before the war was +declared, was a severe disappointment to the American Government; and was +one of the causes of that determined resistance, which they afterwards +experienced in every attempt to penetrate into that Province. This militia +force also enabled the Commander of the forces to detach a larger portion +of the regular<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> troops, than he could otherwise have been justified in +parting with, to the Upper Province; while, at the same time, it afforded +him the means, on the breaking out of the war, of guarding the different +passes and roads into Lower Canada, with a description of men perfectly +well acquainted with the nature of the country, and with the mode of +warfare necessary for its defence. The line of frontier in the Lower +Province was thus most effectually guarded by Sir George Prevost's able +disposition of this new force, together with the assistance of the regular +troops; and every prudent precaution consistent with his means, and with +the instructions he was constantly receiving from England, to avoid all +unnecessary expense, was taken. The precautionary measures which were +pursued upon this occasion, by the Commander of the forces, met with the +full approbation of His Majesty's Government, expressed in a despatch from +Lord Bathurst, of the 6th November, 1812, in which his Lordship informed +Sir George Prevost, that "the preparations for defence which he had made +upon <i>the first intimation</i> of eventual hostility with America, and which +he had since so vigorously continued, had met with the Prince Regent's +entire approbation."</p> + +<p>After charging Sir George Prevost with negligence, in not preparing to meet +the threatened<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> hostilities, the Reviewer proceeds to hazard an opinion, +that the occupation and fortifying of Coteau du Lac, and Isle aux Noix, +which he terms the keys of Lower Canada, was a measure which Sir George +Prevost ought to have adopted, in preference to all others; but which he +entirely overlooked and neglected.<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> The fact is, that the occupation of +Coteau du Lac, as is well known to every military man acquainted with the +Canadas, could only be useful as against the enemy advancing from Lake +Ontario, or the shores of the St. Lawrence, above Montreal. No such force +could be expected to descend the river from the lake, so long as we had the +command of it, as we undoubtedly had, not only at the commencement of the +war, but for several months afterwards; and as little was it to be +apprehended as collecting on the shores of the river. The information which +the Commander of the forces was constantly receiving of the intended +movements of the enemy, and of the real and immediate object of their +attack, was too correct to leave him in any doubt as to their attempting +the Lower Province in that direction, or to induce him to diminish the +small means he possessed, for the defence of more important points, by the +occupation of posts which at that period could afford him no additional<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +security. Coteau du Lac, was not therefore occupied as a post, either +before the war or for several months afterwards, but its real importance +was neither overlooked nor disregarded, as the Reviewer has stated. It was +examined and reported upon by different officers, sent to inspect the line +of frontier extending from Lower Canada to Lake Ontario, immediately after +the declaration of war, and particularly by Colonel Lethbridge, who was +afterwards in command there. In possession of Kingston, and commanding the +waters of the lake, and with the knowledge possessed by Sir George Prevost, +of the force and designs of the enemy, no military man in the Canadas, +would have thought it necessary, in the then state of affairs, that Coteau +du Lac should be occupied. When subsequent events clearly shewed the +intentions of the enemy to invade Lower Canada from Lake Ontario, and when +the means of Sir George Prevost were better adapted for defending the whole +line of that frontier, Coteau du Lac was <i>occupied and fortified</i>; and had +it not been for the defeat which part of General Dearborn's army met with +from Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison's division in descending the St. Lawrence, +that post would have presented a formidable obstacle to the advance of the +enemy.</p> + +<p>The importance of Isle aux Noix, as a post,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> has been considerably +lessened<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> since the defence of the Canadas by the French, in consequence +of the facility with which Lower Canada may now be entered by the various +routes which the intercourse between that Province and the United States +has created. Isle aux Noix had long ceased to be either the only, or +principal barrier between the two countries. The occupation of this post +was not therefore deemed necessary as a precautionary measure before the +war; nor was it until some time afterwards that Sir George Prevost was +enabled to put it in a state of defence. As soon, however, as the +reinforcements and supplies from England gave him the means of more +effectually guarding all the avenues to the Lower Province, Isle aux Noix +became the object of his consideration. In consequence of the condition in +which it was then placed, and of the force stationed there, two armed +schooners of the enemy fell into our possession, and laid the foundation of +the marine which was afterwards formed for carrying forward the operations +on Lake Champlain. There cannot be a stronger proof of the little +importance which the enemy themselves attached to this post in the early +part of the contest, than their never making the slightest attempt to +obtain possession of it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> + +<p>Having thus stated what Sir George Prevost did <i>not</i> do, by way of +preparation for the defence of the Canadas before the war, the Reviewer +proceeds to point out what <i>was</i> done by him after the commencement of +hostilities. And here we find the same want of candour which distinguishes +the remarks to which we have already adverted.<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a></p> + +<p>In order to form a correct opinion of Sir George Prevost's conduct at this +period, it will be necessary to advert to the system which he adopted on +the commencement of the war, and to the motives which induced him to pursue +it.</p> + +<p>The declaration of war by the United States of America, it is well known, +was finally carried in Congress, after long debate, and a most violent +opposition, by a comparatively small majority. The northern and eastern +states, whose interests, it was acknowledged, were most affected by the +British orders in council, the ostensible and avowed cause of the war, were +constantly and strenuously opposed to hostile measures. It was apparent to +every person at all conversant with what was passing in the United States +at this time, that a contest undertaken in opposition to the sentiments and +wishes of so considerable a portion of the Union, and for an object which +Great Britain might, without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> any sacrifice of national honor, so easily +concede, as she was, in fact, about to do, at that very period, must +necessarily be of short duration. This was the opinion entertained by the +most sensible and well informed men in the northern and eastern states, as +well as in the Canadas, and in that opinion Sir George Prevost concurred. +It will likewise be seen, that the sentiments of His Majesty's Government +on this head were in unison with those of the Commander of the forces. +Under these circumstances, and with these impressions, it became the +obvious policy of Sir George Prevost, upon the breaking out of the war, to +avoid whatever might tend to widen the breach between the two countries, +and to pursue a line of conduct, which, while it should effectually tend to +defeat the object of the American Government in their attack upon the +Canadas, should also serve still further to increase the dislike and +opposition of the northern and eastern states, to those measures of +aggression against the British Provinces, which they had constantly +predicted would be attended with discomfiture and disgrace. In his +adherence to this defensive system, Sir George Prevost was encouraged and +supported, as it will speedily be shewn, not only by the approbation of the +British Government, but likewise by the concurrence of those who were best +qualified by their knowledge and situation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> to form a correct judgment on +the propriety of the measures which he was pursuing. This policy was also +the more necessary, in consequence of the inadequacy of the means possessed +by the Commander of the forces to repel the threatened attack of the +Americans at the commencement of the contest. The whole of the regular +force at that time in the Canadas did not amount to 5,000 men; the law for +embodying the militia had only been recently passed; and the population, +which had been previously considered as not well affected, had neither been +armed nor accustomed to discipline for many years. The military chest was +exhausted, and there was little prospect, that for some months at least, +considering the exertions which Great Britain was then called upon to make +in Europe, any supplies either of men or money could be afforded for the +defence of her Dominions in North America. These difficulties neither +depressed nor discouraged the ardent and active spirit of Sir George +Prevost. Although he fully coincided in opinion with that able and +judicious officer Sir James Craig, that in the event of a war with America, +Quebec should be the object of primary consideration; yet the defence of +the whole line of frontier between the Canadas and the United States, +occupied his early and serious consideration. That frontier comprehended a +distance of more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> than 900 miles, every part of which he determined to +dispute inch by inch, and to defend by every means in his power.</p> + +<p>It was in pursuance of the defensive line of policy which had been so +wisely determined upon, as well with reference to his own resources, and +the character of the enemy with whom he had to contend, as to the views and +instructions of the British Government, that the Commander of the forces +immediately after the commencement of the war, gave general instructions to +those in command under him, to abstain from any unnecessary and uncalled +for act of hostility upon the American territory. Notwithstanding these +general instructions, much was of course left to the discretion of those +who received them, in availing themselves of any fair opportunity of +retaliating upon the enemy the aggressive warfare they might attempt, by +attacking, wherever it might be done with any reasonable prospect of +success, the contiguous forts and possessions of the Americans.</p> + +<p>The private letter of 31st March, 1812, to Major-General Brock, from which +an extract has already been made, evidently shews, that Sir George Prevost +never meant to restrain the officers in command under him from acting upon +the offensive, whenever circumstances were such as would justify their +departure from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> defensive system. Of these circumstances they were the +best judges. That this was the light in which Sir George Prevost's +instructions were viewed by Major-General Brock, appears by the following +extract from a letter addressed by him to the Commander of the forces, on +the 3rd July, 1812, at which time he was fully aware of the defensive line +of policy which had been adopted:</p> + +<p>"The account received, first through a mercantile channel, and soon after +repeated from various quarters, of war having been declared by the United +States against Great Britain, would have justified, in my opinion, +offensive operations. But the reflexion, that at Detroit and St. Joseph's, +the weak state of the garrisons would prevent the Commanders from +attempting any essential service connected in any degree with their future +security, and that my only means of annoyance on this communication, was +limited to the reduction of Fort Niagara, which could be battered at any +future period, I relinquished my original intentions, and attended only to +defensive measures."</p> + +<p>That Captain Roberts, the commanding officer at Fort St. Joseph's, acted +from a sense of this discretion thus entrusted to him, there cannot be a +doubt, as in his official letter to the Adjutant-General, announcing the +capture of Michilimachinac, he does not allude in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> slightest degree to +his having acted contrary to his orders. The approval of his conduct in +general orders is likewise a convincing proof that Sir George Prevost +considered that he had acted up to the spirit of his instructions whatever +they might have been, and that he had used a sound discretion respecting +them.</p> + +<p>It however clearly appears by the above letter, that Captain Roberts acted +altogether from the orders he received from Major-General Brock, who was +fully aware, as it has been already shewn, of the sentiments of Sir George +Prevost, and who did not hesitate to give Captain Roberts the discretionary +order, which led to the attack and capture of the fort.</p> + +<p>It will be seen from the preceding pages, that the approaching hostilities +with America had been the subject of frequent communication between Sir +George Prevost and Major-General Brock, for several months <i>prior to the +commencement</i> of the war; and that, in more than one letter to which +reference has been made, the precautions necessary to be taken, and the +system and line of defence to be adopted in the event of war, had been +clearly and distinctly pointed out. Possessed then, as Sir George Prevost +knew General Brock to be, of his sentiments on this subject, and aware that +he would receive from the North West company, from whom he had himself +derived the information,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> the earliest intelligence of the actual +declaration of war, an immediate further communication of his sentiments +was unnecessary. On the day, however, on which the intelligence of that +event reached Quebec, the 25th June, 1812, a letter was despatched to +Major-General Brock from the Adjutant-General, communicating the +information; and as soon as the important arrangements respecting the Lower +Province, and particularly those for the defence of Quebec had been +completed, Sir George Prevost proceeded to Montreal. Upon his receiving at +that place a despatch from Mr. Foster, our late minister at Washington, +with an official notification of the war, he immediately afterwards, (on +7th July,) and within a fortnight after the first intelligence of it had +reached him at Quebec, sent off his first despatch to Major-General Brock. +This was followed by another on the 10th of the same month by Colonel +Lethbridge, who was sent to take the command at Kingston; and in both these +letters every instruction and information which Sir George Prevost's +situation afforded, or enabled him to give, were sent to the Major-General. +That these despatches did not reach General Brock until the 29th of the +month was owing to circumstances over which Sir George Prevost had no +control. It must be observed, however, that General Brock received the +despatches several days before he set<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> off to join the army opposed to +General Hull, although the Reviewer<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> gives his readers to understand +that it did not arrive until after General Hull's capture.</p> + +<p>The above statement will afford a full and satisfactory answer to the +misrepresentations of the Quarterly Reviewer,<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> and to the unwarrantable +insinuation by which they are accompanied, if indeed any answer were +wanting to assertions in which the writer has directly contradicted +himself. The Reviewer states, "that Sir George Prevost sent no instructions +whatever to General Brock for some weeks after he received intimation of +the war:"—and further, "that he, General Brock, was only restrained from +the measure of attacking Fort Niagara, <i>by the perplexity of his situation, +in being left without orders</i>." It is singular that the writer should have +forgotten, that only five pages before, he had stated<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> that "<i>on the +receipt</i> of the intelligence of the American declaration of war, +Major-General Brock, who commanded the troops in the Upper Province +<i>immediately</i> despatched <span class="smcap">discretionary</span> orders to the British officer in +charge of Fort St. Joseph's, to act either <i>offensively</i> or otherwise +against the enemy at Michilimachinac, as he should find advisable." If +General Brock was justified in giving<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> these discretionary orders to act +offensively as circumstances might require, it follows that he must have +considered a similar line of conduct open to himself; and yet, in the face +of this statement, the Reviewer gravely endeavours to persuade his readers, +that General Brock was in perplexity with regard to the measures which he +should pursue.</p> + +<p>The Reviewer's insinuation, that Sir G. Prevost sent no instructions to +General Brock for some weeks after he received intimation of the war, with +the intention of leaving that officer to act on his own responsibility, +cannot be passed over in silence. It has been already proved, by +incontrovertible facts, that the contemptible motives thus attributed to +the Commander of the forces, could not possibly have existed in his mind; +and the attempt to impute to him a conduct so dishonorable ought therefore +to be marked with the severest reprobation. No two persons could more +sincerely respect and esteem each other than these gallant and high-minded +individuals. Sir George Prevost had early evinced his opinion of General +Brock's merits and talents, in a private communication to him of the 22d +Jan. 1812, several months before the war; and the reply of General Brock to +that communication, was sufficient evidence of the sentiments he +entertained towards the Commander, under whom he expressed himself to be so +desirous of serving.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> Indeed, the utmost confidence and cordiality +prevailed between these officers, as is amply manifested in the +correspondence before referred to; and wherever a difference of opinion did +exist, General Brock never hesitated to yield to what he expressed and +considered the superior knowledge and experience of the Commander in Chief.</p> + +<p>The conduct of Sir George Prevost in his communications with General Brock, +after receiving intelligence of the war, was not attended with any of those +consequences which the Reviewer has asserted. Upon this head General +Brock's correspondence with the Commander of the forces is conclusive.</p> + +<p>The first letter from that officer, after the receipt of the intelligence +of the war, is dated the 3d July, at Fort George; the extract from which, +already given, is a convincing proof, that whatever might have been his +intention in moving from York to Fort George, he was not restrained from +the measure of attacking Fort Niagara by any deficiency of instructions +from the Commander of the Forces.</p> + +<p>The next letter from General Brock is from Fort George, dated 12th July, +and states that the enemy were constructing batteries at the different +points of the frontier; that he was making exertions to counteract their +views; and that the arrival, that morning, of the Royal<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> George and the +vessels under convoy, bringing various pieces of ordnance, would give him a +decided superiority. Not a single word is said in this despatch of any wish +or intention on the part of the Major-General to invade the American +territory. Major-General Brock's next letter of the 20th July states, that +the enemy had evidently diminished his force, and appeared to have no +intention of making an immediate attack. This letter also communicated the +intelligence of General Hull's invasion of the Province. It likewise +contained details of General Brock's means of defensive warfare, and +expressed some apprehension for the fate of the troops under his command, +should the communication be cut off between Kingston and Montreal; which +apprehension was entertained by him on the supposition, as he stated, that +"the <i>slender means possessed by Sir G. Prevost would not admit of +diminution, and consequently that he could not look for reinforcements</i>." +The same letter acknowledged the receipt of the Adjutant General's +communication from Quebec, of 25th June, of the declaration of war. In the +succeeding despatch from General Brock to Sir G. Prevost, dated 26th July, +from Fort George, that officer writes as follows: "I have not deemed it of +sufficient importance to commence active operations on this line by an +attack on Fort Niagara; it can be demolished,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> when found necessary, in +half an hour, and <i>there my means of annoyance would cease. To enable the +militia to acquire some degree of discipline, without interruption, is of +far greater consequence than such a conquest</i>."</p> + +<p>The next letter from the Major-General, dated from York, the 28th July, +principally relates to the approaching meeting of the legislature, and +mentions his intention of detaching a force for the relief of Amherstburg. +A letter from the same place, written on the following day, communicates +the surrender of Michilimachinac, and particularly acknowledges the receipt +of Sir George Prevost's despatches of the 7th and 10th July, written <i>after +the declaration of war</i>, and before alluded to. General Brock also states +his intention of embarking immediately in the Prince Regent, (the vessel +which had been built and equipped since the month of March preceding), for +Fort George, from whence he should speedily return to York. On the 4th +August, a short letter was addressed by General Brock to Sir G. Prevost, +from York, principally upon the proceeding of the legislature, regarding +the militia laws, and on the following day he set off for Amherstburg, from +whence he did not return until after the glorious termination of Hull's +invasion. It was, therefore, from a consideration of the nature of his +resources, and of the necessity of maturing and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> husbanding them, and from +a conviction that Niagara would easily fall whenever he should be inclined +to attack it, and not from any doubt arising from want of instructions, +that General Brock abandoned the attempt.</p> + +<p>It was in further pursuance of the line of policy adopted at the +commencement of the war, that Sir George Prevost, upon the receipt of +despatches from Mr. Foster, acquainting him with the proposed repeal of the +Orders in Council by the British Government, immediately opened a +communication with Major-General Dearborn, commanding the American forces +on the frontier of Lower Canada, for the purpose of concluding an +armistice, until the Congress should determine upon the proposals +transmitted to them by Mr. Foster. An armistice of about three weeks did +accordingly take place; and whatever might be the advantage arising from it +to the American commanders and their troops, from the time and opportunity +it afforded them of increasing their means of attacking the Canadas, it is +obvious that the cessation of hostilities was of far more importance to Sir +George Prevost, by enabling him to mature his preparations for defence. In +fact, at the very time the armistice was negotiating, a regiment had +arrived in the river from the West Indies; and after the conclusion, and +during the continuance of it, considerable reinforcements<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> of men and +supplies were forwarded to Upper Canada, where they armed before the +resuming of hostilities, and materially contributed towards defeating the +attempts which the enemy afterwards made to invade that province.</p> + +<p>Intelligence of the conclusion of the armistice was despatched to General +Brock on the 12th August, by Brigade-Major Sheckleton, and must have +reached him at Amherstburg before he left that place for Fort George, where +he arrived the 6th September; but, whatever may have been General Brock's +opinion of the policy of the measure, we do not find in his letter of the +7th September to Sir George Prevost, that the receipt of that intelligence +had at all interfered with any intention he had previously entertained of +"sweeping" (according to the Reviewer's assertion) "the Niagara line of the +American garrisons, which he knew were then unprepared for vigorous +resistance."<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> In fact, as that letter states, the armistice was to +terminate the <i>next day</i>; and so far was General Brock from being in a +situation to act offensively, that he states his expectation of an almost +immediate attack, and of his having sent to Amherstburg to Colonel Proctor, +as well as to Colonel Vincent at Kingston, for reinforcements, to enable +him to meet it; expressing at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> the same time his hope, that if he could +continue to maintain his position for six weeks longer, the campaign would +terminate in a manner little expected in the United States.</p> + +<p>Upon the expiration of the armistice, Sir George Prevost resolved to +continue, for a time at least, and until his resources would better enable +him to pursue a contrary line of conduct, the same defensive system which +he had previously determined upon; and which he had been originally induced +to adopt, in consequence of the peculiar circumstances in which he was +placed at the commencement of hostilities, and of the war having been +undertaken, on the part of the United States, so much in opposition to the +opinions and wishes of a considerable portion of its population. In a +private letter from Sir George Prevost to General Brock, of the 2d August, +1812, upon the subject of the proposed armistice, he particularly refers to +the opinion of Mr. Foster, respecting the policy of the defensive system. +"Mr. Foster," he says, "submits the propriety of our abstaining from an +invasion of the United States' territory, <i>as only in such event could the +American government be empowered to order the militia out of the States</i>." +As a further ground for this line of conduct, and a confirmation of the +propriety of his own opinion in adopting it, he quotes in a subsequent +communication to General<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> Brock, of 30th August, 1812, the opinion of his +Majesty's Government on the subject. "The King's Government having most +unequivocally expressed to me their desire to preserve peace with the +United States, that they might uninterruptedly pursue, with the whole +disposeable force of the country, the great interests committed to them in +Europe, I have endeavoured to be instrumental in the accomplishment of +those views; but I consider it most fortunate to have been enabled to do so +without interfering with your operations on the Detroit. I have sent you +<i>men, money, and stores of every kind</i>." It cannot be matter of surprise +that Sir George Prevost should persevere in his defensive system, even +after the termination of the armistice, and when from the manner in which +the Government of the United States had received the communication of the +repeal of the Orders in Council, it was evident that they meant to continue +the war for other objects; for it ought to be considered, that up to that +period, the only reinforcements of troops received by him were the 103d, +nearly a boy-regiment, and the first battalion of the Royals from the West +Indies, the latter incomplete, from the capture of part of their numbers, +on board of one of the transports, by an American frigate. In consequence, +however, of this addition to the force in the Lower Province, Sir<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> George +Prevost was enabled immediately to strengthen the army in Upper Canada, by +detachments from the 49th regiment, Royal Newfoundland Fencibles, and Royal +Veterans; but it must be evident that the total accession of strength in +both Provinces was not sufficient to warrant a departure from a system, +which had been adopted after the fullest deliberation, and upon a just +calculation of the means necessary to meet the American warfare. The +grounds of Sir George Prevost's opinion on this head had been stated to +General Brock, in his letters to him of the 7th and 10th July, before +referred to; and as a further confirmation of the necessity of adhering to +it, in his communication to General Brock, of the 17th September, Sir +George Prevost acquaints him, that in his last despatches from Lord +Bathurst, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated 4th July, 1812, he +is told by him, "That his Majesty's Government trusts he will be enabled to +suspend, with perfect safety, all extraordinary preparations for defence, +which he may have been induced to make, in consequence of the precarious +state of the relations between Great Britain and the United States."—As +this opinion of the British Government was evidently founded upon their +belief, that the revocation of the Orders in Council would either prevent +war, if not declared, or lead to an immediate peace, had hostilities<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +commenced, it was plain that no further reinforcements could be expected to +be even ordered from England, until accounts should arrive there of the +reception which the intelligence of the revocation of the Orders in Council +had met with from the Government of the United States. As this could not +well be before the end of September, there was not the slightest prospect +of any addition being afforded to the force in the Canadas before the +ensuing year; and it was therefore certain, that the Commander of the +forces would until that period be completely left to his own resources for +the defence of those Provinces.</p> + +<p>To husband those resources became, under these circumstances, his imperious +duty. The posture of affairs in Lower Canada, as he had stated to General +Brock, in his letter of the 17th September, particularly on the frontier of +Montreal, required every soldier in that Province, and no further +reinforcements could be sent by him to the other. Not aware of any +advantage which could arise from offensive operations against America, to +compensate for the loss they might occasion, and for the consequent +insecurity to the Provinces which he was defending, Sir George Prevost +continued to urge upon General Brock, and after his death, upon his +successor, General Sheaffe, the necessity of adhering to a defensive +system; nor does it appear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> from any part of the correspondence between +these officers and Sir George Prevost, that they had any particular object +in view, which that policy restrained them from pursuing. Previous to the +armistice, and to the capture of Hull's army at Detroit, General Brock had +in his letters of 3d and 26th July, 1812, before referred to, given his +reasons, which were evidently independent of the consideration of any +instructions from Sir George Prevost, why he did not meditate offensive +operations against the American frontier; and subsequent to the capture of +Detroit, and after his arrival at Fort George in September, it has been +clearly shewn, that his situation and means precluded him from such +measures, except at a great risk, and for the accomplishment of inadequate +objects.</p> + +<p>The correctness of this statement appears from a letter addressed by +General Brock, to Sir George Prevost, on the 13th September, 1812, from +Fort George; in which he says, "that although he had learnt from deserters, +(but which information he had reason afterwards to think, as he +acknowledged, was not altogether correct), that great dissatisfaction +prevailed amongst the American troops on the Niagara frontier, and that +therefore much might be effected against such a body at that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> moment; that +keeping in mind his excellency's instructions, and <i>aware of the policy of +permitting such a force to dwindle away by it's own inefficient means, he +did not</i> <span class="smcap">contemplate</span> <i>any</i> <span class="smcap">immediate attack</span>." Two strong inferences +naturally arise from this letter—the one, that General Brock must have +considered the instructions received from Sir George Prevost, as to +defensive measures not <i>positive</i>, as the Reviewer has thought fit to state +them to have been, but <i>discretionary</i>; the other, that General Brock +himself, was convinced of the policy of abstaining from offensive +operations against an enemy circumstanced as the Americans then were. That +this policy was a wise one, was manifest from the result. Had any attack +been made on Fort Niagara, or had that general sweeping of the American +garrisons on the frontier, (which the critic seems to think so easy an +achievement) been attempted, there cannot be a doubt but that this invasion +of the American territory, before the enemy had made an attack upon our own +frontier, would have united the whole population, not only of the states +bordering upon that line, but of every other part of the union, in the +prosecution of the war. The militia already assembled upon that frontier, +and who were known to be dissatisfied, and anxious to return to their +homes,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> would in the event of an attack upon their territory, not only have +cheerfully remained to repel the aggression, but would have been further +obliged to pass the frontier, for the invasion of Canada; which, without +such an attack on our part, they could not have been compelled to do. Aware +of this circumstance, it was the policy of the American Government, to hold +out lures to our officers, commanding on the frontiers, to induce them to +commence an offensive warfare. Sir George Prevost, however, saw through +their design, and fortunately disappointed it. The consequence was, that +finding their militia could no longer be kept together, and that the season +was fast approaching, when all offensive operations must cease, the +American commanders urged the troops on that line, to that ill-concerted +expedition, which ended in the battle of Queenstown, and which, though +attended with the irreparable loss to the British forces of their gallant +Commander, terminated in the disgrace and defeat of the American army; and +was thus the means of preserving, at least for that campaign, the Province +of Upper Canada. Brilliant as had been the success of our arms at the +battle of Queenstown, and complete as had been the overthrow of the enemy, +they still remained in sufficient force on the opposite territory, to make +an immediate attack upon their frontier, notwithstanding the dismay with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +which the critic seems to think the Americans were filled,<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> something +more than hazardous. Out of the small force of less than 900 regular troops +which we had on the field that day, nearly 100 of them were killed or +wounded, and many were necessarily engaged in guarding the prisoners, whose +numbers amounted to more than our own regular force. The enemy had received +reinforcements in their line during the day of the action, and others were +constantly arriving. Under these circumstances is it to be wondered at, +that Major-General Sheaffe should not have listened to the suggestions of +any of his officers, if such were made, and the fact is more than doubtful, +to cross over immediately after the action, when according to the +Reviewer's sagacious opinion, "Fort Niagara might have been taken, and the +whole of the Niagara line cleared of the American troops!"</p> + +<p>Such an attempt might indeed have averted the insinuation levelled by the +critic against General Sheaffe and Sir George Prevost as <i>lovers of +armistices</i>, but would have evinced great want of military judgment and +prudence in General Sheaffe, and have hazarded all the advantages gained by +the gallant and able conduct of his lamented predecessor, and strengthened +and confirmed at Queenstown by himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> General Sheaffe was, therefore, +wisely contented with having foiled a second attempt of a superior force to +invade the Province; and, anxious to secure its future preservation, he +willingly acceded to a proposal for an armistice, which he knew, under the +circumstances of his situation, would be of incalculably more benefit to +himself than to the enemy. It must be evident to every one at all +conversant with military subjects, that to those who are carrying on a +defensive warfare, which their inferiority of force and means of every +description has obliged them to adopt, a suspension of hostilities must be +infinitely more beneficial than to the opposite party. General Sheaffe was +fully aware of the importance of this measure to the safety of the +province, which on the death of General Brock was entrusted to him, since +he was in daily expectation of receiving supplies of clothing, and other +articles which were indispensable for the militia, who had become much +dissatisfied from the want of those articles. Reinforcements of troops were +also on their way to him; and, in fact, these supplies and reinforcements +did arrive during the continuance of the armistice, and materially +contributed to foil the further efforts of the enemy to invade the +Province. It may also be added, that the armistice was further expedient in +the first instance, when its duration was limited to three days, for the +purpose of affording<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> time for carrying into effect the proposed exchange +of prisoners, the removal of those that were wounded, and the passing over +to the enemy's side the militia paroles. Some portion of time was also +necessary for performing, without any hostile interruption, the last +tribute of respect to the memory of the gallant Commander who had then +lately fallen. The subsequent prolongation of the armistice to an +indefinite period, although it was in the power of either party to +terminate the same by thirty hours notice, perfectly coincided with +Major-General Sheaffe's system of defensive warfare, and permitted him to +leave Fort George for a short time, and proceed to York, where his presence +was indispensable for the purpose of being sworn in, and assuming the civil +government.</p> + +<p>It has been thought necessary to say thus much in vindication of this +measure, from a sense of justice to a gallant and meritorious officer, +although it was adopted without any reference to, and without the consent +or approbation of Sir George Prevost. The Reviewer has indeed thought fit +to characterize the armistice<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> as one for which no reason, civil or +military, was ever assigned; whereas it was notorious to the army employed +on the Niagara line that General Sheaffe was influenced in this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> step by +the motives and circumstances already stated, all of which were immediately +communicated by him to Sir George Prevost. If any thing further were +necessary to be adduced in vindication of the policy of the defensive +system, of which these armistices formed a part, and which the Reviewer has +thought fit so groundlessly to denominate short-sighted and ill-judged, +although attended with results so favourable to the safety of both +Provinces, it will be found in the complete approbation expressed by his +Majesty's Government. In Lord Bathurst's despatch to Sir George Prevost, of +the 4th July, 1812, written before the intelligence of the declaration of +war, by America, had reached England, his Lordship says, "The instructions +given by you to Major-General Brock and Sir John Sherbrooke, cautioning +them against any premature measures of hostility, or any deviation from a +line of conduct strictly defensive, meets with the full approbation of his +Royal Highness the Prince Regent."</p> + +<p>In a subsequent despatch of the 10th Aug., Lord Bathurst approves of the +general principles upon which Sir George Prevost intended to conduct the +operations of the war, by making the defence of Quebec paramount to every +other consideration, in the event of invasion. In a later despatch of the +date of the 1st October, 1812, his Lordship says, "I have it in command<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +from his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, to convey to you his most +unqualified approbation of the measures which you have adopted for +defending the Provinces under your charge, and of those to which you have +had recourse for deferring, if not altogether preventing, any resort to +actual hostility." On the subject of the armistice, he adds, "The desire +which you have unceasingly manifested to avoid hostilities, with the +subjects of the United States, is not more in conformity with your own +feelings, than with the wishes and intentions of his Majesty's Government, +and therefore your correspondence with General Dearborn cannot fail to +receive their cordial concurrence."</p> + +<p>In a further despatch from Lord Bathurst, dated the 10th October, 1812, +acknowledging the receipt of the letter from Sir George Prevost, which +announced the surrender of General Hull, with his army, to General Brock, +and communicating his Royal Highness the Prince Regent's approbation of the +conduct of General Brock, his officers and troops, on that occasion, his +Lordship adds—"I am further commanded by his Royal Highness to say, that +in giving every credit to Major-General Brock, and the army under his +command, he is fully sensible how much your exertions and arrangements have +contributed to the fortunate conclusion of the campaign in Upper Canada." +In Lord Bathurst's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> despatch of the 16th November following, he says, "The +measures which you have taken for obstructing the navigation of the +Richelieu, by the erection of works on the Isle Aux Noix, appear well +calculated to impede the advance of the enemy in that quarter."</p> + +<p>Testimonials like these, so highly honorable to the zeal and ability +displayed by Sir George Prevost, are sufficient of themselves to afford a +complete answer to the Reviewer's assertions. That writer's remark, with +regard to "the practical illustration of the tendency"<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> of Sir George +Prevost's defensive system, is directly in opposition to the facts, both as +respects the conduct of Colonel Procter, in consequence of his orders, and +the effect produced by that conduct upon the minds of the Indians. In proof +of this assertion, it is only necessary to advert to the two expeditions, +of Captain Muir to Fort Wayne, in September, 1812, and of Lieutenant Dewar +to the Fort of the Rapids of the Miami, in October following. The former of +these expeditions tended, for some time at least, to retard the +preparations which the enemy were making for their second advance to the +Detroit frontier, which terminated in the defeat and capture of General +Winchester and his army, while both expeditions afforded to the Indians<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> a +strong proof of our desire to co-operate with them, as far as was +consistent with the security of our own Provinces, and of the Michigan +territory. Neither of these expeditions would have been undertaken, had not +Colonel Procter's orders been <i>discretionary</i> instead of <i>positive</i>. It is +certainly true, that Sir George Prevost did wish to discourage the +employment of the regular troops under Colonel Procter, in offensive +operations jointly with the Indians; because such a course of proceeding +was neither consistent with the instructions he had received from his +Majesty's Government, nor compatible with the military resources of his +command. At the same time he merely recommended to Colonel Procter a +cautious line of conduct, chiefly directed to the preservation of the +district committed to his charge; and it is evident that Colonel Procter's +use of the discretion thus entrusted to him, had the effect of retaining +the willing services of the Indians during the whole period of our +remaining in possession of the Michigan territory, and up to the time of +the unfortunate retreat and consequent capture of Colonel Procter's +detachment at the Moravian village.</p> + +<p>Having thus briefly adverted to the principal occurrences of the first +campaign in Upper Canada, it becomes necessary to say a few words with +regard to those of the Lower Province,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> during the same period; and which, +being under the <i>immediate direction of Sir George Prevost</i>, the Reviewer +has thought proper to characterize as <i>utterly insignificant</i>.<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> Almost +immediately after intelligence of the war had arrived at Quebec, Sir George +Prevost repaired to Montreal, for the purpose of providing for the defence +of that frontier; and having established a cordon of troops in the +situations most exposed to attack, between the St. Lawrence and the +Richelieu rivers, consisting of all the flank companies of the 49th and +100th regiments, together with three battalions of embodied militia, and +one of Canadian voltigeurs, which last four corps had been raised and +disciplined previous to the war, he returned to Quebec, in order to meet +the Provincial Parliament. The legislature had been summoned, principally, +for the purpose of obtaining from them an act authorizing the circulation +of army bills, a measure to which from his deserved popularity with that +body, they did not hesitate to accede, and without which, from the want of +specie, it would scarcely have been possible to carry on the public +service. To many of the arrangements and measures of Sir George Prevost, +for reinforcing and strengthening Upper Canada, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> well as for guarding +the approaches to the Lower Province, reference has already been made. The +whole summer had been unceasingly employed in these important objects, and +the greatest exertions had been made to transport and convey to Kingston, +by the tedious route of the St. Lawrence, against the current, and along a +frontier much exposed to the enemy, the various supplies which the +exigencies of the Upper Province demanded; all of which, by the judicious +and able arrangements made by him for that purpose, arrived safe and +without loss, or with very inconsiderable molestation.</p> + +<p>In the month of August Sir George Prevost again repaired to Montreal, in +order that he might be ready to take the field, should the movements of +General Dearborn, who commanded the enemy's forces on that frontier, +indicate any intention of attacking our line of defence, which had been +entrusted to the charge of Major-General de Rottenburg. General Dearborn +having, on the 16th November, advanced from Plattsburg to Champlain town, +close upon our frontier line, thereby threatening the front of +Major-General de Rottenburg's position, Sir George Prevost, upon the +receipt of this intelligence, crossed the St. Lawrence with a considerable +proportion of the force then at Montreal, in order to strengthen the point +thus threatened, and established his head-quarters at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> Chambly, where he +remained for several weeks. Whether this movement on the part of General +Dearborn was made in the expectation of finding that no effectual +resistance would be offered by the Canadian population to his further +advance into the Province, or with the view of preventing the sending of +reinforcements from the Lower to the Upper Province, he was equally +disappointed in both these objects. The able measures adopted by Sir George +Prevost in the disposition of the regular troops, as well as of the +militia, who displayed the most ardent spirit of loyalty, and the most +resolute determination to repel every attempt of the enemy to invade the +Colony, induced the American Commander in Chief to abandon any further +intention of advancing. After pushing forward a few reconnoitring parties +which were invariably forced to retreat without effecting their object, he +was ultimately compelled, by the advanced season of the year, to close the +campaign, and to put the army into winter quarters.</p> + +<p>The result of the first campaign was highly honorable to the military +talents of the Commander of the forces. The enemy, notwithstanding their +superior resources, were foiled in every attempt which they made to invade +the Provinces, with the loss in one instance of the whole of their army, +together with the Commander; while, in the other, their troops suffered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> a +total defeat, attended with the capture of a General Officer, and upwards +of 700 men.</p> + +<p>But while thus engaged in his military duties, Sir George Prevost was not +unmindful of the importance of our naval superiority upon the Lakes, though +in this as in every other part of his conduct, he has fallen under the +indiscriminate censure of the Quarterly Reviewer,<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> who has accused him +of neglecting to preserve the naval ascendancy which we enjoyed on Lakes +Erie and Ontario, at the commencement of the contest.</p> + +<p>As early as the month of December, 1811, as appears from a letter addressed +by Sir George Prevost to General Brock, he had directed his attention +towards our marine on Lake Erie, and had given directions for the building +of a schooner at Amherstburg. Our force on the Lake, at that period, +consisted of the ship Queen Charlotte, and Hunter schooner, both of which +were armed and actually employed. The Americans possessed at the same +period a brig, the Detroit, and a sloop, the former a very fine vessel, and +in readiness for any service, although then laid up at Presque Isle. During +the whole of the campaign of 1812, our vessels navigated the Lake without +any attempt on the part of the enemy to interrupt them, and materially +contributed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> to the success of our arms in that quarter, by the countenance +and protection afforded by them to the garrison at Amherstburg, and by the +transportation from Fort Erie of such stores, provisions, and supplies as +were indispensable for the security of the former post. In direct variance +with the Reviewer's assertion,<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> that "<i>not one effort</i> was made by Sir +George Prevost to increase our marine at that period;" it is a remarkable +fact that the schooner, Lady Prevost, which he had ordered to be built in +<i>December</i>, 1811, was launched and fitted out, and was actually employed on +the Lake within a month after the declaration of war, and essentially +assisted in the transport of the arms, provisions, &c. before mentioned, +during nearly the whole of the first campaign. Of the force which the enemy +then possessed on this Lake, consisting of the Detroit and a schooner, the +former fell into our possession upon the surrender of General Hull with his +army; and, although she was recaptured in the October following, under +circumstances which, considering the superiority of the enemy, reflected no +discredit upon the officer commanding her, and the men under him, she made +no accession to their strength, as she was burnt the day afterwards by our +troops, and the Caledonia, a private vessel, captured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> with her, was +rendered a mere wreck by the fire from our fort and batteries. On Lake +Erie, therefore, during the whole of the campaign of 1812, our naval +ascendancy was decisive; to strengthen and preserve which, the efforts of +Sir George Prevost materially contributed. On Lake Ontario, our +superiority, as well at the commencement of hostilities, as long prior and +subsequent to that period, was still more apparent and efficient. In March, +1812, our force on that Lake consisted of the Royal George ship of 24 guns, +the brig Moira of 16 guns, and two schooners; whilst that of the enemy was +composed of a single brig laid up at Sackett's Harbour. But the importance +of maintaining this great superiority over the enemy was not lost sight of +by Sir George Prevost. As early as January, 1812, Captain Gray, an able +officer of the Quarter-Master-General's department, under which the marine +was placed, was despatched to York for the purpose, amongst other services, +of consulting with Major-General Brock, upon the best means of preserving +the ascendancy which we possessed upon Lake Ontario. In consequence of +Captain Gray's suggestion, the building of a very fine schooner, called the +Prince Regent, was commenced at York in the following March, which was +launched, equipped, and employed upon the Lake in conveying supplies of +great importance on the 3d<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> July, immediately after notice of the +declaration of war had been received in Upper Canada. This fact furnishes a +full contradiction to the assertion of the Reviewer,<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> that "after +slumbering away the summer and autumn without one effort to increase our +marine in amount or efficiency, Sir George Prevost suddenly awoke, in the +depth of winter, to a sense of the condition to which his supineness had +reduced the British cause, and the building of two frigates commenced with +convulsive activity." That Sir George Prevost, with so decided a naval +ascendancy on both lakes at the commencement of the war, should not have +thought himself justified in any extraordinary exertions to increase that +ascendancy, is not to be wondered, at when it is considered, that for every +purpose of the defensive system which he had adopted, the British force +upon the Lakes was amply sufficient, and that Government would not have +approved, in the then state of affairs, of the expense which such a measure +must unavoidably have occasioned. Aware, however, as Sir George Prevost was +of the important advantages which the dominion of the Lakes afforded for +the preservation of the Canadas, he had, both long before, and immediately +after the commencement of the war, called the attention of His Majesty's +Government to that subject. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> had also in his communication with General +Brock, and particularly by the Deputy Assistant Quarter-Master-General, +invited his consideration of the same matter. It certainly affords a strong +proof of the conviction of that gallant and able officer, that our force on +those waters needed no extraordinary exertion at that time to increase it +beyond what had been already made; that, excepting in his letter before +referred to, of 2d December, 1811, he never once mentioned the subject of +our marine in his various different communications with Sir George Prevost, +respecting the means of defending the Upper Province, until in his despatch +of the 11th October, 1812, he acquainted the Commander of the forces with +the recapture of the brig Detroit by the enemy. Previous, however, to this +period, and as soon as Sir George Prevost had reason to suppose from the +refusal of the American Government to accede to the Armistice, or to +consider the revocation of the Orders in Council a sufficient ground for +pacification, that the war would be continued, and that renewed efforts +would be made for the invasion of the Canadas, he had strongly represented +to His Majesty's Government the absolute necessity of experienced officers +and able seamen being sent to him, to enable him to preserve the ascendancy +which our marine then enjoyed. In a letter addressed to General Brock,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> on +the 19th October, 1812, he authorized that officer to take whatever +measures he might deem necessary for the accomplishment of the same object, +without further reference to himself. It was not ascertained, until towards +the end of October, that any extraordinary exertions were making by the +enemy to equip and fit out a squadron at Sackett's Harbour. The arrival of +Commodore Chauncey, with a number of shipwrights and seamen, making their +intentions evident, Captain Gray, of the Quarter-Master-General's +department, was sent to Kingston, to direct the laying down of the keels of +two frigates, the one at that place, and the other at York; and in the +month of December, more than 120 shipwrights, together with 30 seamen, +engaged at Quebec, arrived in the Upper Province, and the building of the +two frigates immediately commenced. In the same month, directions were +given for the building of a ship, of the dimensions and tonnage of the +Queen Charlotte, together with several gun-boats at Amherstburg, on Lake +Erie. During the whole of the summer after the declaration of war, the +superiority of our fleet on Lake Ontario, had enabled us uninterruptedly to +transport from Kingston to York and Fort George, all the supplies of +stores, provisions, and reinforcements of men, necessary for the defence of +Upper Canada; nor was it until the month of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> November, when those services +had been completed, and our vessels were on the point of being laid up for +the winter, that with all the great advantages which they derived from the +immediate vicinity of their resources, particularly of officers and men, +seconded by the strenuous exertions which they made, the Americans were +able to do more than to fit out the Oneida, a vessel perfectly ready for +any service at the commencement of the war, and six small schooners, +carrying one or two heavy guns each. With this force they ventured out for +the first time on the Lake in the beginning of November, under the command +of Commodore Chauncey; and availing themselves of the absence of the Moira +brig, and our three schooners, at the head of the Lake, to make on the 11th +an ineffectual attack upon the Royal George, under the batteries of +Kingston, they retired to Sackett's Harbour, without attempting to +interrupt our vessels on their return to Kingston; nor did they again shew +themselves upon the Lake until the following year. Up to the month of +November, therefore, which may be called the conclusion of the first +campaign, as far as respected our means of defending the Province, our +ascendancy on Lake Ontario had been preserved. To this object, the measures +adopted by Sir George Prevost, by the building of the Prince Regent, and +the supply of officers and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> men furnished to our marine after the +commencement of the war, essentially contributed. The superior advantages +enjoyed by the enemy, in being able to obtain shipwrights and seamen to an +unlimited amount, together with the proximity of all their means for the +building and equipment of vessels, had enabled them to launch a frigate at +Sackett's Harbour, before the end of the year 1812, and to fit out a +squadron, which at the commencement of 1813, gave them a temporary +ascendancy on Lake Ontario, before officers and seamen could be sent to +Canada from England. This ascendancy on their part was, however, of short +duration, for we shall find in pursuing this subject, that the measures +planned by Sir George Prevost during the summer of 1812, and carried into +effect during the autumn and winter, were such as in their consequence +secured to us a full equality, and occasionally the superiority on that +Lake, during the two remaining campaigns. Of the nature and extent of the +exertions thus made by Sir George Prevost to increase our marine on Lake +Ontario, the Reviewer has himself furnished the most abundant proof. +"Such," he says, "were the zeal and exertions of Sir James Yeo and his +followers on their arrival at Kingston, that before the end of May they +were prepared to take the Lake with the British fleet,<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> now composed of +two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> ships of 24 and 22 guns, a brig of 14, and two schooners of 12 and 10 +guns."</p> + +<p>Sir James Yeo did not arrive at Quebec with his seamen, until the 5th May, +and it was not until after the 16th that he reached Kingston; to which +place Sir George Prevost had accompanied him from Montreal. The state of +forwardness in which he then found the fleet was such, that he was enabled +to complete its equipment, and actually to set sail on the 27th of the same +month, within little more than a week after his arrival at Kingston. The +previous exertion requisite to accomplish the building of the Wolfe, a ship +carrying 24 guns, the altering and refitting the brig Moira, and the making +of the various repairs and alterations in the other vessels, while at the +same time a ship of a large class had been built at York, and was nearly +ready to be launched in April, and a ship and several gun-boats were in a +state of great forwardness at Amherstburg, may be easily conjectured; +particularly, when it is considered that the stores and supplies of almost +every description, necessary for the armament and equipment of these +vessels, had been transported to the Upper Province from Quebec and +Montreal, the greater part of them during the winter, and through roads +before deemed impassable for many of the heavy articles required. These +difficulties were, however, soon surmounted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> by the energetic measures of +Sir George Prevost; and he had the satisfaction to find on his arrival at +Kingston, that the important object of having a fleet ready to take the +Lake as early as it was probable that officers and seamen could be sent +from England to command and man it, had been accomplished. Upon Sir James +Yeo's arrival, as already mentioned, not more than ten days were requisite +to put the squadron into a complete state of equipment, and from the period +of its appearance on the Lake, the enemy ceased to enjoy the temporary +ascendancy which their superior resources of men and supplies had enabled +them, during the preceding month, to acquire. The Reviewer has confidently +asserted, that these exertions to increase our marine ought to have been +earlier made; and that had they been so made, our ascendancy on the Lake +would have been retained, and York, together with the ship which was there +building, might have been saved. The answer to this has already been partly +given. Any extraordinary exertions to increase a marine so decidedly +superior to that of the enemy, before the probable continuation of the war +was clearly ascertained, and before any steps were taken by the Americans +to rival us in that respect, would not have been justified, by the +circumstances in which Sir George Prevost was then placed. It was not until +the beginning of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> September, that the termination of the armistice +manifested the intention of the American Government to continue the war; +nor were any effectual steps taken by them for a material increase of their +naval forces at Sackett's Harbour, until the month of October following, +when Commodore Chauncey and his seamen arrived at that place. It is +evident, therefore, that except in the construction of new vessels, and the +forwarding of the supplies necessary for their equipment, nothing further +could have been done at that period, to enable us to keep pace with the +exertions of the enemy; and that without officers and men, who could not be +expected before the spring, any number or description of vessels must have +been useless.</p> + +<p>Sir George Prevost, soon after the declaration of war, had called the +attention of Government, as well as that of the Admiral on the Halifax +station, to this subject. He had, therefore, every reason to expect that +either from England or from Halifax, he should early in the year receive +officers and seamen sufficient to fit out and man a fleet equal at least, +if not superior, to any that the enemy might at that time be able to +prepare. In this expectation Sir George Prevost was not disappointed; and +although the Admiral on the Halifax station had only been able to afford to +his strong solicitations on this head, Lieutenants Barclay and Fennis, to +act<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> as captains, and four petty officers for lieutenants, who arrived over +land from New Brunswick at the end of April, this small supply of able and +spirited officers being immediately despatched to Kingston, materially +contributed, by their active services, to put the Fleet into the forward +condition in which it was found by Sir James Yeo on his arrival.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the active measures which were thus taken by Sir George +Prevost to maintain our ascendancy upon the Lakes, the Quarterly Reviewer +has thought proper to observe, that it is perfectly inconceivable how any +man, in Sir George Prevost's situation, could have been so infatuated, as +to disregard the importance of maintaining his superiority. The gross +injustice of this charge will be best proved by citing the words of Sir +George Prevost himself, in a letter of the 3rd February, 1813, addressed to +General Sheaffe. "The extreme anxiety I experienced respecting the naval +force to be employed on Lake Ontario, in the spring of this year, has +rendered the proceedings in the dock-yards at Kingston and York, subjects +highly interesting to me. You may therefore suppose I shall expect to find +the exertions at both these places to have fully corresponded with the +magnitude of the object and the difficulties surmounted in forwarding from +hence the numerous supplies required for that service."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> + +<p>Much has been said by the Reviewer upon the incompetency of the person +commanding, and of the other officers belonging to our Provincial marine on +Lake Ontario.<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> Whatever might have been the want of energy and +enterprise on the part of Earle, in the instance to which the critic has +alluded, and the circumstances of which he has greatly exaggerated, Sir +George Prevost did not think it incumbent upon him, on that account, to +deprive himself of the services of that officer, who was acknowledged to be +a tried and skilful navigator of the Lake, at a period when those services +were particularly required for the transport of the various supplies +destined for the upper parts of the Province. He was, therefore, retained +in the command, not only as being highly useful for the purposes for which +he was wanted, but because no person could then be found adequate to supply +his place. That the captain of the Tartarus sloop of war, then at Quebec, +needed but a hint from Sir George Prevost<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> to proceed with his crew to +Lake Ontario, and supersede Earle and his feeble followers, may well be +doubted, when we consider the state of the squadron to which he belonged, +and the services required from it at the commencement of the war. Whether +such a plan was beyond Sir<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> George's <i>capacity</i>,<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> may be left for the +reader to determine. Had he, however, adopted it, he would certainly have +evinced a great want of consistency and judgment. He was, at that period, +in the act of negociating with General Dearborn for the armistice, which +afterwards took place, with the reasonable expectation that the revocation +of the Orders in Council would lead to a return of peace between Great +Britain and America. Our force at that time on Lake Ontario was so +decidedly superior, not only to what the enemy possessed on those waters, +but to any which they could hope for several months to fit out, that an +addition, either to its amount or efficiency, seemed to be uncalled for and +unnecessary. Offensive operations of any description, on our part, were not +in contemplation; and to every purpose of defensive warfare our means on +the Lake were amply competent. To have deprived the Admiral, on the Halifax +station, of the services of the Tartarus, when every ship was required by +him for the protection of our trade from the numerous cruizers of the +enemy, without any adequate object in view, would have been altogether +unjustifiable on the part of Sir George Prevost. Whether, if the captain +and seamen of the Tartarus had been sent to Lake Ontario, the enemy's +flotilla, preparing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> at Sackett's Harbour,<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> could have been destroyed; +or whether, if ship-carpenters had, at the commencement of the war, been +sent to Kingston, we could have built as rapidly as the enemy, cannot be +proved, as neither course was attempted: nor is it material to the present +discussion that it should be proved; the only question being, whether Sir +George Prevost, in the then state of affairs, ought to have adopted either +measure. From the preceding statement, it appears that he would not have +been warranted in so doing. The observation of the Reviewer,<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> that the +common-place attempt to hire, at Quebec, sailors for the Lake at one-half +the wages which merchants were giving at the same moment, was the only +exertion used to strengthen our flotilla, would not merit notice, if it +were not for the purpose of exposing the writer's disingenuousness and want +of candour. He must have known, when he made the assertion, that the +merchants at Quebec hire their sailors for what is called the run-home (to +England), and that for this purpose double and triple the amount of the +common wages is frequently given; one-half, therefore, of that amount for a +permanency, and on the Lake establishment, which held out many advantages +to the men, was, as it proved, a sufficient inducement for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> them to enter +into that service, and as many of the description required as could be +found at Quebec, were procured by active and intelligent officers sent for +that purpose. To these were added some valuable and experienced seamen from +two transports then in the river St. Lawrence; and this supply of seamen, +together with an additional number of shipwrights and other workmen, was +during the winter forwarded to Kingston and York.</p> + +<p>The situation of York for the building of one of the frigates laid down in +December, as before stated, has been censured by the Reviewer,<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> as +holding out to the enemy an invitation to destroy it, from the defenceless +state of that fort. Long before the first certain intelligence had been +received by Sir George Prevost, of the building of a new ship at Sackett's +Harbour, or of the fitting out of their flotilla there, Captain Gray, as +already mentioned, one of the most intelligent officers of the +Quarter-Master-General's department, had been sent to the Upper Province, +to ascertain the fittest situation for the construction of new vessels, +whenever such a measure should become necessary. It was in consequence of +the communication which that officer had with Major-General Brock, who had +the highest confidence in his abilities, that it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> was decided that one ship +should be built at York and the other at Kingston. Both places were alike +exposed to attack from their unfortified state. York was certainly the +weakest, although General Brock had recommended that place as the fittest +and most secure, if strengthened, for a naval dock-yard on Lake Ontario. In +determining to build at both places, it was thought most prudent not to run +the hazard of losing both vessels from the possibility of a successful +attempt of the enemy to destroy them, should they both be constructed at +either of those places. The most effectual measures, on the part of Sir +George Prevost and of those acting under him in the Upper Province, were +taken to strengthen and fortify both York and Kingston, and it was expected +that the enemy would be repelled in any attack upon either. It was not +doubted, but that if York should be attacked and taken, the ship which was +building there, might be, as she in fact was, destroyed, and thus be +prevented from increasing the strength of the enemy, whilst Kingston might +in the mean time be made too strong to occasion any fear for the safety of +the fleet in that port. The result shewed the wisdom of this determination, +and the capture of York, which considering the overwhelming force of the +enemy, was not to be prevented, evidently preserved Kingston.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + +<p>The only advantage which the Americans derived in this attack, as respected +our marine, was the destruction of the new ship, and the capture of an +inconsiderable quantity of stores designed for her, together with the +Gloucester schooner, then lying a mere hulk, under repairs for a transport. +It may in this place be proper briefly to notice another assertion of the +Reviewer, respecting our marine—that the enemy commanded the waters of +Lake Champlain<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> with a flotilla, before the British Commander in Chief +had directed the construction of a single gun-boat to oppose them. That +this should have been the fact, will not appear at all remarkable, when it +is known that the waters of that Lake belong exclusively to the Americans, +who enjoyed the most abundant means and resources for fitting out a fleet, +from the number of vessels constantly navigating it for the purposes of +trade. It was only necessary to arm and equip some of the vessels of that +description, and their command of the water would be undisputed. At the +commencement of the war, and for some time afterwards, we neither did nor +could possess any force capable of meeting them; but that this subject was +not viewed with indifference by Sir George Prevost, notwithstanding the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +variety of other and more important concerns which commanded his attention, +may be inferred from the fact, that in June, 1813, in less than twelve +months after the commencement of the war, our force of gun-boats on the +Richelieu river, communicating with Lake Champlain, was such, that in +conjunction with our troops at Isle aux Noix, they were sufficient for the +capture of two fine schooners of the enemy, each carrying 11 guns, and 45 +men. To have attempted to create any other force, except gun-boats, for the +purpose of defending the Richelieu, would, when no offensive operations +were contemplated, have been an useless waste of those means which were +required and employed for the increase of our marine on the other Lakes.</p> + +<p>These observations upon Sir George Prevost's conduct with respect to our +marine on the Lakes, may be concluded by a reference to the opinion of the +public bodies in Upper Canada, with regard to the exertions of the +Commander of the forces, in preserving our naval ascendancy on those +waters.</p> + +<p>These documents afford a strong proof of the sentiments almost universally +entertained on this head, by persons most capable, from their knowledge of, +and interest in the subject, of appreciating the merits of Sir George +Prevost's exertions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the address of the House of Assembly of Upper Canada,<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> in answer to +the President's speech at the opening of the Provincial Parliament, 27th +February, 1813, they say, "We learn, with the highest satisfaction, that +the most vigorous measures have been adopted under the direction of the +Commander of the forces, and are now in operation, to strengthen the +Provincial Marine, and preserve the superiority of the Lakes so essential +to the prosperity of this Province." The same expressions occur in the +address of the Legislative Council, and in March following, on Sir George +Prevost's arrival in Upper Canada, the House of Assembly and town of York +addressed him in similar terms.</p> + +<p>The campaign of 1813 opened, on the part of the Americans, with the attack +and capture of York. The squadron under Commander Chauncey employed on this +expedition, after landing part of the force at the Niagara frontier, +returned to Sackett's Harbour, from whence it again sailed towards the end +of May, with another strong force collected from that place and its +neighbourhood, for the purpose of uniting with the troops on the Niagara +frontier, in an attack upon Fort George. In this attack, which took place +on the 27th May, the overwhelming numbers of the enemy prevailed, and the +small<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> but gallant band of about 1,500 men, under Brigadier-General +Vincent, which had, for more than two hours, opposed nearly 5,000 of the +Americans, after evacuating Fort George, spiking the guns, and destroying +the ammunition, retreated towards the head of the Lake, General Vincent +having first called in all the detachments from the different Posts on that +frontier.</p> + +<p>The enemy, pursuing his advantages, pushed forwards a force of between +3,000 and 4,000 infantry and cavalry, with nine pieces of artillery, to +attack the position which General Vincent occupied at Burlington. Previous, +however, to their reaching that point, a well-concerted, daring, and +spirited attack was made upon their camp in the night, by a party of +General Vincent's force, and under his command, which proved completely +successful as a surprise, and Generals Winder and Chandler, the two senior +officers, together with 100 prisoners, and four field-pieces being taken, +the enemy, after destroying their stores and provisions, &c. precipitately +retreated, until they joined the main body of their army. While these +operations were proceeding, the most active measures were taking at +Kingston to fit out and equip a fleet which might be able to dispute with +the enemy the temporary ascendancy which they had gained on the Lake; but +whatever efforts might be made to construct vessels and prepare<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> them for +service, it must be obvious that no advantage could be derived from any +number or description of vessels without officers and seamen. The only +reinforcement which up to this period, the end of April, Sir George Prevost +had been able to obtain from the Admiral commanding on the Halifax station, +consisted of the three lieutenants, and four petty officers, whose arrival +at Kingston has been already mentioned, and whose active services had very +much accelerated the equipment of our squadron before Sir James Yeo took +the command of it. Previous to the arrival of Sir George Prevost at that +place in May, his extreme anxiety respecting the naval force preparing on +both Lakes, had induced him, during the depth of winter, to proceed in the +month of February, from the Lower Province to Kingston, York, and Fort +George, where his presence must have essentially contributed to impart +increased activity to the preparations then making for the opening of the +next campaign. The zeal and energy thus displayed by him in his +indefatigable endeavours to promote the public service, although justly +appreciated by the inhabitants of both provinces, could not protect him +from the unfounded accusations of the Reviewer,<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> who informs his readers +that Sir George Prevost had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> excited the expectations of the Canadian +public, "that he had designed an attack upon Sackett's Harbour, where the +shipping was known to be very indifferently protected, by marching over the +ice, which was stronger at that time than had been known for many +years."—And that "the anxious inhabitants of the Provinces who had +witnessed his previous inactivity, with gloomy foreboding, were again +doomed to be disappointed." What the opinion of the inhabitants of the +Provinces was, with regard to Sir George Prevost's "<i>previous inactivity</i>," +has clearly been shewn from the different addresses presented to him at the +period alluded to.</p> + +<p>That Sackett's Harbour could at that time, or at any other period of the +winter, have been attacked with the smallest prospect of success, may be +confidently denied. So far from the shipping, which by the Reviewer's<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> +own showing, was a formidable squadron, commanded by an experienced +officer, and manned by more than 500 able seamen, being, as he has +asserted, indifferently protected, the enemy had constructed batteries for +their defence, and it was known that a very considerable force had been +assembled at that post, and in its neighbourhood, in order to be ready for +embarkation as soon as the season would permit the fleet to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> take the Lake. +To have attempted with the small force which then garrisoned Kingston, and +which was scarcely sufficient for its defence, an expedition against an +enemy's position, capable of a determined resistance, when it is considered +that the troops would have been obliged to march several miles over the ice +before they could reach the American territory, from whence they would +still have been 15 miles distant from the object of their attack, and +exposed during the whole of their approach to the concealed fire of the +enemy's troops in the woods, would have been, under the circumstances in +which Sir George Prevost was placed, with regard to his resources for +defending Kingston, the Key, as it has been termed, to the Lower Province, +little short of madness. Nothing but a determination to attach blame to the +conduct of Sir George Prevost could have induced the Reviewer to hazard so +groundless and unmilitary a stricture. That Sir George was alive to the +importance of attacking this place, and of destroying the means there +possessed by the enemy for increasing their marine, and for carrying on +from thence their offensive operations, will appear evident from the +measure which will be immediately adverted to, and which has drawn upon the +Commander of the forces the acrimonious censure of the Reviewer.</p> + +<p>In December, 1812, Sir George Prevost, aware<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> of the importance of +strengthening himself against the threatened attempts upon the Canadas, in +the interval which would elapse before any reinforcements could by +possibility arrive from Europe, had directed Lieutenant-General Sir John +Sherbrooke, and Major-General Smyth, to make arrangements for forwarding to +him, during the winter, by land, the 104th regiment, then in New Brunswick. +This arduous march, which had not before been attempted, and which was +thought extremely hazardous, if not altogether impracticable, was effected +in the month of March without the loss of a single man, and by the end of +April six companies of that regiment arrived at Kingston. This accession to +the strength of that garrison enabled Sir George Prevost, who, as already +stated, reached Kingston with Sir James Yeo about the middle of May, to +avail himself of the opportunity afforded by the sailing of the American +fleet for the head of the Lake, to attempt a diversion in favour of the +points threatened by the enemy on the Niagara frontier. The expedition +against Sackett's Harbour was accordingly resolved upon, the moment the +absence of the enemy's squadron was ascertained. The circumstances which +attended this expedition, have been misrepresented in the most +extraordinary manner by the Quarterly Reviewer,<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> who, instead of +ascribing the failure<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> of the enterprise to its real and natural causes, as +given in the official report of Colonel Baynes,<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> and which will now be +more particularly detailed, has not scrupled to attribute that failure to +the indecision and misconduct of the Commander of the forces. As the whole +force, which could be mustered for this service, hardly exceeded 700 men, +consisting of the greater part of the garrison of Kingston, it must be +obvious that means so inadequate could justify an attempt to carry +Sackett's Harbour only by surprise. This, in fact, was the sole object in +view; and the troops being embarked, together with two field-pieces, on +board of our squadron, sailed in the evening of the 27th May, under the +immediate command of Colonel, now Major-General Baynes. Sanguine hopes were +entertained of teaching the enemy's post in the course of the night, when +the surprise would have been complete, and our success infallible; but +owing to light and baffling winds, it was not until between 10 and 11 +o'clock on the following morning, the 28th, that our fleet was able to +approach within 12 or 15 miles of Sackett's Harbour. Previously to this, +and as soon as our squadron had been discovered from the port, alarm-guns +had been fired, and boats were seen filled with armed men,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> continually +passing down the shores of the Lake, from Oswego towards Sackett's Harbour, +to assist in its defence. In the mean time, the troops on board the fleet +were held in readiness for landing in the boats, as soon as the vessels +should have approached sufficiently near to the shore for that purpose, as +well as for insuring their co-operation in the attack. At this period, +unfortunately, the wind, which had been rather fair, though light, +altogether failed, and shortly afterwards the breeze came almost +immediately from the point which the fleet was endeavouring to approach. To +have attempted a landing in boats, at the distance of fifteen miles from +the object of attack, would have been a most tedious and hazardous +undertaking, exposed, as the men must have been, to the fire of musketry +and field-pieces from the shore, and to the direct <i>enfilade</i> of all the +heavy cannon in the enemy's forts and batteries. The day was too far +advanced to leave any hope of completing the service before dark; and +without the efficient co-operation of the fleet, which, from the state of +the wind, could not be obtained, the most gallant exertions of the troops, +as was afterwards proved, would have been ineffectual. From these +circumstances, it was the unanimous opinion of the principal officers of +the expedition under Colonel Baynes, who, together with Sir James Yeo, had +been consulted by him as to the expediency of persevering in the +enterprise,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> that the attempt should be abandoned, and orders were +accordingly given for the return of the squadron to Kingston. The incident +of the surrender of the cavalry officer and his party, which is stated by +the Reviewer with his usual incorrectness, did certainly lead to the +determination, which was subsequently taken, of persisting in the +expedition; but it was the information obtained from those persons, with +regard to the force of the enemy, and their means of defence, which +principally influenced that determination. It appearing probable, from the +state of the wind, which towards evening again became favourable for +approaching Sackett's Harbour, that the men might be brought under cover of +the night to the point of attack, in which they would be supported by the +active co-operation of the fleet, it was resolved to make the attack at +day-break the following morning. In order to favour the belief that we had +abandoned the attempt, the ships' heads were kept towards Kingston until +the evening commenced, when the squadron stood in for the shore. The troops +were in the boats at ten o'clock, and confident hopes were indulged that, +on the approach to the landing at day-break, they would be assisted by the +artillery, and receive the effectual support and co-operation of the fleet, +which was judged most essential to the success of the undertaking. The +landing took<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> place as was intended, nearly at day-break; and, considering +the local impediments, was effected in a style highly creditable to the +military skill of Colonel Baynes. Notwithstanding the want of our +artillery, which being on board of a schooner, towed by the boats of the +squadron, was still at a considerable distance, and the state of the wind, +which prevented the squadron from approaching the shore, our troops, after +landing and taking possession of one of their field-pieces and a tumbril, +had, by a spirited advance, driven the enemy before them, at the point of +the bayonet, through the woods, which were most obstinately maintained by +them, and had forced them to retire towards their works and loop-holed +barracks. But these works were found to be of such strength, as to render +it next to impossible for our small force, unprovided with heavy cannon, to +make any impression upon them. The men had been now engaged for several +hours, and had sustained a considerable loss. It was at this period that +Sir George Prevost, who had landed shortly after the troops, and who had +followed their course and progress, came up with the main body engaged with +the enemy; and it was then that he received from the officer commanding the +expedition, the report of the manner in which the enemy had been driven +towards their works and loop-holed barracks, and of the difficulty, if not +impossibility, of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> forcing them without the aid of our artillery and the +co-operation of our fleet. The former, with all the exertions made in +towing the schooner, had not been landed; and the latter, from the state of +the wind, could not approach sufficiently near for their guns to bear upon +the enemy's batteries.</p> + +<p>The Commander of the forces then, for the first time, interfered, so as to +give any orders respecting the expedition. Though there was scarcely a hope +of success, yet he determined not to abandon the enterprise whilst a +possibility of attaining his object remained. He accordingly directed +Colonel Baynes to concentrate his scattered force, and to advance upon the +enemy, who were posted in considerable numbers in front of and behind their +loop-holed barracks. Not more than from 300 to 400 men could be assembled +for this last attack. It was, however, made by this small band with +intrepid gallantry. The enemy, though superior in numbers, were driven from +their position, and forced to take shelter in the town; but in the further +attempt to approach the works, our troops were met by such a galling and +destructive fire of grape and musketry, both in front and flank, that they +were compelled to abandon a contest to which their numbers were so unequal. +The force of the enemy, at this period, consisted, by their own +acknowledgment, exclusive of their killed and wounded, of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> upwards of 1,100 +men, including 142 artillerymen. They were strongly posted in Fort +Tompkins, armed with heavy guns, and in their block-houses and loop-holed +barracks, the very situation which renders the youngest American recruit (a +marksman from his youth), more than a match for the most experienced +veteran. Our force was reduced to nearly one-third of its effective +strength from the casualties of the field, and from the absence of those +who had withdrawn to the rear with the wounded and prisoners. We possessed +not a single field-piece, the artillery not having yet been landed. Colonel +Young had retired from exhaustion, in consequence of previous illness. All +the other field-officers, one excepted, were wounded, together with most of +the captains and subalterns. Captain Mulcaster commanding the gun-boat, +made every exertion in his power; but there was no hope of assistance from +the fleet, in consequence of the state of the wind. Under such +circumstances, that so small a band, exhausted by previous exertion, should +have attacked and carried Fort Tompkins, the block-houses, and the +remaining loop-holed barracks of the enemy, so numerously defended as they +were, might probably be expected by such experienced warriors as the +Quarterly Reviewer, and those upon whose authority he relies; but it was +apparent to every officer and man who was present,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> that success was +impossible. Such being the conviction of the Commander of the forces, who +had witnessed with feelings of poignant regret the last gallant though +unavailing exertions of his troops, he reluctantly ordered their +re-embarkation, which was effected in the most perfect order, and without +the slightest precipitation, the enemy not attempting to offer the least +molestation. This expedition, though certainly attended with a considerable +loss on our part, was not unproductive of advantage to us, or of damage and +serious inconvenience to our adversaries. Their apprehensions of the result +of the last attack, ignorant as they were of the trifling force by which it +was made, induced them to set fire to their new ship and naval arsenal; and +although, afterwards, when their fear subsided, from a more perfect +knowledge of the state of our force, they succeeded in extinguishing the +fire on board the ship, before it had got to any height, yet, by their own +acknowledgment, they lost their arsenal, with a large quantity of valuable +stores; while one field-piece, and upwards of 200 prisoners were brought +away, together with some camp-equipage, and another field-piece was +rendered useless. Their loss, also, in killed and wounded was, by their own +admission, upwards of 150 men. From this detail of facts, to the truth of +which there are abundant living witnesses to vouch, it must be obvious<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +that the main object of the expedition failed principally from the +smallness of our numbers, compared with the superior force of the enemy; +from the want of our artillery, which could not be landed in time; and +particularly from the little assistance which, from the state of the wind, +the squadron could afford in taking off the fire of the forts. So far from +nearly <i>two days</i> being lost, as the Reviewer has stated,<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> it is +notorious to every person who was employed in that expedition, that the +fleet sailed on the evening of the 27th May from Kingston, and did not +arrive at Sackett's Harbour until the morning of the 28th, when the +intended attack was prevented solely by the impossibility of approaching +the shore from the state of the wind, and that it did in fact take place on +the following morning, the 29th, within 24 hours after the fleet had +appeared off the place. It is a fact equally well known to every person +engaged in this enterprise, that Sir George Prevost did not take the +personal command of it, in the sense in which the Reviewer<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> would have +it understood. That he accompanied the expedition was never denied, or +attempted to be concealed. His zealous and anxious feelings prompted him to +that measure, to prevent any delay in the contemplated service, should a +reference to him become<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> necessary. It is freely admitted, that when +present he could not divest himself of his authority, or responsibility as +Commander of the forces. But independently of its being contrary to all +military usage, for the Governor in Chief and Commander of the forces in +British North America, to assume the immediate command<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> of so +inconsiderable a force, no instance of his interference took place until +the period of the last attack, which certainly produced the greatest damage +that the enemy sustained. The order to retreat was neither precipitate,<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> +nor one which the gallant officers "believed with difficulty."<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> They +were all convinced, not excepting the naval commander, Sir James Yeo, that +it was impossible longer to contend with any prospect of success, and with +our diminished means, against<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> the superior numbers and resources of the +enemy. It may indeed be confidently asserted, in direct opposition to the +Reviewer's statement, that although "the troops withdrew to their boats in +disappointment," at their not having been able to accomplish their object, +they felt no disgrace in retiring from a contest which they had so long and +so bravely supported; nor did either officers or men experience any +indignation or shame at a retreat which, after the most gallant, though +unavailing exertions, they knew to be indispensable for their own +preservation. It may here be observed, that the situation of our troops at +the time of the retreat was most critical. At that very period, a +reinforcement of 600 men, under Colonel Tuttle, reached Sackett's Harbour. +With the overwhelming superiority which this accession to their force gave +the enemy, it is obvious that with very moderate pretensions to either +skill or enterprise, they might have opposed most formidable obstacles to +our re-embarkation. A further perseverance in the attack on our part, or +the least delay in the retreat, would probably have ended in the capture or +destruction of the whole of our troops. Fortunately, the coolness and +deliberation with which that measure was executed, served to deceive the +enemy with regard to our numbers and losses; and the re-embarkation being +effected without opposition, the troops returned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> the same day to Kingston +with the field-piece, camp-equipage, and prisoners which they had taken.</p> + +<p>On the following morning the American squadron, which had been recalled +from the head of the Lake to the assistance of Sackett's Harbour, appeared +off Kingston, and it was a most fortunate circumstance that they did not +fall in with our fleet, encumbered as it was with troops and wounded men. +One material advantage immediately accrued from this expedition, by the +recal of the enemy's fleet to Sackett's Harbour. Sir George Prevost lost +not a moment in availing himself of the opportunity of their being in port, +to embark the 49th regiment on board the squadron, and to despatch it to +the head of the Lake to reinforce Brigadier-General Vincent, who was then +hard pressed by the enemy, and to whose small force that regiment proved an +important accession of strength at a very critical period. Sir James Yeo +accordingly sailed with, and safely landed them, and from that time our +full equality at least, if not our ascendancy, was established on Lake +Ontario.</p> + +<p>In reviewing the events that took place during the campaign of 1813, it +will be necessary to notice the operations on the Detroit frontier, and on +Lake Erie, more especially as the Commander of the forces has been accused +of neglecting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> the representations of Colonel Procter, who commanded in +that quarter.</p> + +<p>The battle of Frenchtown, in which the Americans were totally defeated, and +their General captured, was highly creditable to the talents of Colonel +Procter, who certainly, until the retreat from Amherstburgh, was entitled +to the reputation of a zealous and active officer.</p> + +<p>It is said by the Quarterly Reviewer, that at this period Colonel Procter +was positively restrained by Sir George Prevost from any offensive +operations. The nature of the instructions given by the Commander of the +forces to that officer has been already shewn; and will further appear by a +reference to the letters<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> of Sir George Prevost to Colonel, now become +Brigadier-General Procter, in answer to the despatches received from him, +announcing the different operations which had taken place in the Michigan +territory. These operations, though not always attended with success on the +part of General Procter, and though they occasioned a considerable +diminution of his small force from his repeated losses, were yet favourably +viewed by Sir George Prevost, who, as it appears from the correspondence +already referred to, was always disposed to give him full credit for his +exertions,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> and to put the most favourable construction upon his failures. +That Sir George Prevost was fully aware of the importance of General +Procter's position, and of the necessity of strengthening it by every means +in his power, will now be shewn by the testimony of General Procter +himself.</p> + +<p>The letters of that officer fully prove, in contradiction to the assertion +of the Reviewer, who has attributed to the Commander of the forces, the +neglect (if any took place) in forwarding to him the reinforcements which +he had so strongly solicited, that no such neglect is imputable to Sir +George Prevost.</p> + +<p>As early as the month of March, 1813, a confidential letter was addressed +by Sir George Prevost to General Procter, upon the subject of the +reinforcements he had solicited, and Captain M'Douall, one of the Commander +of the forces' Aids-de-camp, was sent for the purpose of ascertaining +General Procter's wants, and the best mode of relieving them. In the +correspondence between the Commander of the forces and General Vincent, the +situation of General Procter was constantly alluded to, and the former +officer was desired to pay his particular attention to the subject. On the +20th June, Sir George Prevost acquainted General Procter that General de +Rottenburg, who had been appointed to the command of the forces serving in +Upper<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> Canada, had received his directions to push on the remainder of the +41st regiment, from the head of Lake Ontario to Amherstburgh. And in his +subsequent letters to General Procter, of the 11th and 12th July, after +stating that his wants of money, clothing, &c. had been supplied as far as +lay in the power of the Commander of the forces, and that those articles +were then on their passage to him, he informed him that the whole of the +41st regiment were either on their way, or would be with him before that +letter could arrive. This assurance was given by Sir George Prevost, in the +full confidence that the orders which he had sent to the officer commanding +in Upper Canada, for the immediate forwarding of the remainder of that +regiment to Amherstburgh, had been complied with. That they were not +complied with as early as Sir George Prevost intended they should be, was +owing to circumstances over which the Commander of the forces had no +control. The force under Major-General de Rottenburg, from which the 41st +regiment was to be detached, was then before an enemy greatly superior in +numbers and resources, and he was very unwilling to weaken it by sending +off the remainder of that regiment, until other reinforcements which were +on their way to him should arrive. It appears, however, by his letter to +Sir George Prevost, of 9th July, 1813, that he had, on the 6th of that +month,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> sent forward 120 men of that regiment to Long Point, in order that +thence they might be transported by means of the fleet to Amherstburgh, and +that it was his intention to send the remainder of the regiment to General +Procter, as soon as the Royals, then daily expected, should arrive. In a +subsequent letter from Sir George Prevost to Major-General de Rottenburg, +dated 23d July, 1813, in which his high opinion of General Procter's merits +and conduct is pointedly expressed, he says, "I trust the reinforcements +and supplies, which, in consequence of my orders to you, must be near him," +&c.</p> + +<p>From these letters it is evident that it was Sir George Prevost's intention +that General Procter should be reinforced to the extent he had required, +and that the commanding officers in Upper Canada, who from the peculiar +circumstances in which they were placed at the time, thought themselves +justified, as they really were, in so doing, were the persons who delayed +the forwarding of such reinforcements.</p> + +<p>That to this cause the delay was attributed by General Procter himself, is +unequivocally proved by his correspondence respecting it with the Commander +of the forces. The letter to Sir George Prevost, of the 4th July, 1813, to +which the Reviewer has referred,<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> commences<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> in a way little to be +expected, from the extract which that writer has given from it. He says, "I +have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th ult. +and <i>am fully sensible</i> that this district has received a due share of your +Excellency's attention. I beg to add, that <i>if I had received from the +Line</i> the reinforcements <i>which you had directed should be sent</i>, I should +by this time," &c.</p> + +<p>It must not be forgotten that this letter was before the Reviewer, and that +he must therefore have designedly suppressed that portion of it, which +completely exonerates Sir George Prevost from any charge of neglect.</p> + +<p>In General Procter's next letter to the Commander of the forces, of the +11th July, he says, "I beg leave to add, that we are fully confident of +every <i>aid from your Excellency</i>, and of the fortunate result of the +contest, <i>if we are allowed the benefit of your consideration of us</i>; but I +am unfortunately so situated, that your best intentions towards me are of +no avail. If the means were afforded me, and which were no more than what +your Excellency has repeatedly directed, &c."—In his next letter to the +Commander of the forces, of the 13th July, he says, "The reinforcements +which have been reluctantly afforded me, <i>notwithstanding your Excellency's +intentions</i>, have been so sparingly and tardily sent me, as in a +considerable degree to defeat the purpose of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> their being sent. I have no +hopes of any aid from the <i>centre division</i>, where our situation is little +understood, or has ever been a secondary consideration."—These extracts +clearly shew that General Procter ascribed the delay in forwarding to him +the remainder of the 41st regiment, not to the Commander of the forces, but +to General de Rottenburg, who then commanded the centre division in Upper +Canada.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the Reviewer must have known this to have been the fact, +from the very correspondence he was quoting, he has had the hardihood to +say, "that although Sir George Prevost fully acknowledged, in his letter of +the 12th July, his immediate ability to grant the reinforcement General +Procter had asked for, in his letter of the 4th of that month, it will +scarcely be credited, that even after this, he should have suffered <i>above +five weeks</i> to elapse before he <i>despatched</i> the small amount of regular +troops, &c."<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a></p> + +<p>Now it appears from General de Rottenburg's letter, before referred to, +that 120 men of the 41st, <i>had been despatched</i> to Amherstburgh on the 6th +July; and by a return made to the Military Secretary's Office, by Captain +Chambers, Deputy-Quarter-Master-General with General Procter's army, dated +Amherstburgh, 13th August,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> 1813, it further appears, that up to the <i>10th +August</i>, more than 300 rank and file of the 41st, and 41 rank and file of +the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, with nearly 50 officers and +non-commissioned officers, <i>had arrived at that post</i>, which was further +strengthened, within ten days afterwards, by a detachment of 50 provincial +dragoons. The cavalry and men of the Newfoundland Regiment were +particularly requested, by General Procter, in his correspondence with the +Commander of the forces, to be sent to him.</p> + +<p>It may here be observed, that General Procter appears to have attached by +far too much importance to his own command, and not to have made proper +allowances for the critical situation of the centre division, from which +his reinforcements were expected. Upon the safety of that division his own +altogether depended; for had they been defeated, or obliged to retire from +the Upper Province, he would have been cut off from all supplies and +assistance, and his capture would have been inevitable. Whereas, as +afterwards happened, a disaster to the force under General Procter, and the +capture of Amherstburgh, would not necessarily involve in it the safety of +the centre division. These reasons, without doubt, weighed with General de +Rottenburg, in retaining the remainder of the 41st regiment, until they +could be despatched to General<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> Procter, without injury to the more +important service for which they were required on the Niagara frontier.</p> + +<p>Having thus proved that, as far as depended upon Sir George Prevost, +General Procter's requisitions, of every description, had been complied +with, we now proceed to shew that he did not neglect our marine on Lake +Erie.</p> + +<p>The Quarterly Reviewer, indeed, has not hesitated to say, "that in the +whole course of that vacillation and error, which unhappily distinguished +the administration of Sir George Prevost,<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> his imbecility of judgment +and action was most flagrant and palpable, in the circumstances which led +to the destruction of our marine on Lake Erie." These censures, unfounded +as they are, may perhaps be thought to require a more particular and +detailed reply.</p> + +<p>To the exertions made by Sir George Prevost, both before the war and after +its commencement, to preserve our naval ascendancy on Lake Erie, we have +already had occasion to refer. From these statements it will appear, that, +independently of the new schooner, Lady Prevost, launched, armed, equipped, +and upon the Lake, before the month of August, 1812, the Detroit, a ship to +carry 18 guns, which the Reviewer would have his readers believe was only +<i>laid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> down after Captain Barclay's arrival at Amherstburgh in June</i>,<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> +had been commenced building before the month of <i>March</i> preceding, together +with several gun-boats. The latter were launched in April. The ship was, in +fact, in a state of considerable forwardness, when Captain Barclay assumed +the command on the Lake. Upon the declaration of war, we had only one ship +and a schooner on Lake Erie; and, within little more than a year +afterwards, our fleet there consisted of two ships, a brig, a schooner, and +two small vessels. In order properly to appreciate the efforts made for the +construction and armament of this squadron, it must be borne in mind that +the whole of the supplies necessary for that purpose, with the exception +perhaps of the timber alone, were to be transported from the Lower to the +Upper Province, by the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario, and from thence to +Lake Erie, where the superiority of our marine enabled us to convey them to +Amherstburgh. As the efficiency of this squadron necessarily depended upon +the number and discipline of the crews with which it was manned, the +subject of a supply of able seamen, for that service, early engaged the +attention of Sir George Prevost. Upon Sir James Yeo's arrival at Kingston, +and the appointment by him of Captain Barclay, to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> take the naval command +on Lake Erie, the Commander of the forces urgently requested Sir James to +supply that officer with a greater number of seamen than he was disposed, +from his own wants, to allow him. As the obtaining the naval ascendancy, on +Lake Ontario, was a primary consideration, and as the seamen whom Sir James +Yeo brought with him were not sufficient adequately to man his own ships, +Captain Barclay was obliged to proceed with a very scanty supply of men. +The Commander of the forces was in hopes that there might be other +opportunities of increasing Captain Barclay's force, and that, in the mean +time, the reinforcements which he intended, and immediately afterwards +directed, should be sent to General Procter, would enable him to spare a +sufficient number of soldiers for the use of the squadron on Lake Erie, +until Captain Barclay's wants could be more efficiently supplied. The first +letter from Captain Barclay, upon the subject of these wants, was addressed +to Brigadier-General Vincent, who then commanded on the Niagara frontier, +and was dated 17th June, 1813. The principal object of that letter was to +obtain a reinforcement of troops for General Procter, in order to enable +him to co-operate with Captain Barclay, in an attack upon the enemy's naval +establishment at Presqu' isle, and in that letter he expressly states that +he was making an application for seamen to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> Sir James Yeo. This +communication was forwarded to the Commander of the forces by General +Vincent, with an intimation that he should immediately push forward the +remainder of the 41st regiment, (a company of the regiment having been sent +by him the preceding month) in order to assist in the proposed attack upon +the enemy's fleet. Before the above letter either was or could be received +by Sir George Prevost, he had appointed Major-General de Rottenburg to the +command of the forces in Upper Canada, and had given him particular +directions for supplying General Procter's wants, and for immediately +despatching to him the remainder of the 41st regiment. The Reviewer has +asserted,<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a> that "Captain Barclay stated the wants of his squadron in +men, stores, and guns, with the same truth and earnestness as General +Procter had repeatedly expressed; but the <i>only reply</i> of Sir George +Prevost, to his statements, was a cold and general promise, in a letter to +General Procter, that some petty officers and seamen, for Lake Erie, should +be sent forward on the first opportunity."</p> + +<p>Captain Barclay's wants were particularly detailed by him to the Commander +of the forces, in the only letter he addressed to him on the subject, dated +Long Point, 16th July, 1813.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> The receipt of this letter was acknowledged +by Sir George Prevost, on the 21st of the same month, he having the day +before sent an extract from it, with a strong letter of representation upon +the subject, to Lord Bathurst. In this letter to Captain Barclay, Sir +George Prevost states, that he is fully aware of all that officer's +difficulties, and that he should endeavour to relieve his wants, as far as +was in his power, explaining to him the reasons which prevented him from so +doing to the extent required. He repeats, also, what he had before said to +General Procter, that Captain Barclay must endeavour to obtain his naval +stores from the enemy, but that being satisfied that such a measure could +not be effected without an addition to his present strength, he had +strongly pressed upon Sir James Yeo the necessity of immediately sending +forward to him a supply of petty officers and seamen, and that he (Sir J. +Yeo), had assured the Commander of the forces that he would do so without +delay: that he had also given positive directions for the remainder of the +41st regiment to be sent to General Procter, and hoped that the arrival of +these reinforcements would afford the timely means of attempting something +against the enemy's flotilla, before it should be in a state to venture out +upon the Lake.—With this assurance from Sir James Yeo, that seamen and +officers should be supplied to Captain Barclay, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> in the hope that his +repeated orders for the reinforcement of General Procter, with the +remainder of the 41st regiment, had been complied with, Sir George Prevost +might with justice point out to Captain Barclay the necessity of supplying +his further wants from the enemy's resources,<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> more especially as +General Procter had repeatedly declared that a supply of troops alone would +be sufficient to enable him to succeed in an attack upon Presqu'isle.</p> + +<p>Subsequent to Captain Barclay's letter to the Commander of the forces, of +the 16th July, all further representations respecting the supply of seamen +for Lake Erie, were made by General Procter, in his letters to Sir George +Prevost. The several answers to these representations the Reviewer has not +thought proper to notice, contenting himself with giving a partial and +immaterial extract from Sir George Prevost's letter to General Procter, of +the 22nd August, evidently for the purpose of introducing what he is +pleased to term a <i>taunt</i>, but which was in fact neither designed as such +by Sir George, nor so considered by the gallant Captain Barclay. After +stating that General Procter had, in his letter of the 18th August, 1813, +announced to the Commander of the forces, that the Detroit was launched, +and that, if he had seamen, a few hours<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> would place that district in +security, the Reviewer adds, "but instead of replying to this application, +with <i>an immediate reinforcement of seamen</i>, the Commander-in-chief +answered it as usual, on the 22nd of August, with mere promises."</p> + +<p>Without dwelling upon the Reviewer's error in supposing that Sir George +Prevost, who had no control whatever over the seamen belonging to the +squadron on Lake Ontario, who were exclusively under the orders of Sir +James Yeo, could by any possibility immediately have sent forward to +Captain Barclay the reinforcement of seamen required, we shall shew that +Sir George Prevost's answer to the application was not one of <i>mere +promises</i>, but that the reinforcement required, and which had been +previously provided by him, was then actually on its way to its +destination. Within two days after the date of the letter of the Commander +of the forces to Captain Barclay before referred to, he acquainted General +Procter that Sir James Yeo had assured him, that as many petty officers and +seamen as could be spared, should be forwarded to Captain Barclay without +delay, but that he, Sir George Prevost, much feared they would, as to +numbers, fall short of his expectations. That he was, however, endeavouring +to obtain a further supply from Quebec, which he meant should be +exclusively appropriated for the service<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> of Lake Erie. This letter, which +was an answer to that of General Procter, of the date of 13th July,<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a> +referred to by the Reviewer, has been altogether suppressed by him, as well +as the material fact that almost immediately after the letter of 13th July +was written, General Procter relinquished the intended expedition against +Presqu'isle, although 120 men of the 41st had been sent forward to Long +Point, to be there taken on board by Captain Barclay for that purpose, and +employed the whole of his disposable force in an unsuccessful expedition to +Forts Meigs and Sandusky, by which proceeding that force was considerably +diminished. In his answer of the 22d to General Procter's letter of the +18th August, before referred to, an extract from which is given in the +note, Sir George Prevost expressed his opinion of that expedition, and +stated the measures he was taking to remedy the inconveniences which might +arise from it.<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a> After mentioning the reinforcements<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> which he intended +to send forward to General Procter, he informed him, that, of the three +troop-ships which had arrived at Quebec with De Meuron's regiment, two had +conveyed to Halifax 500 American prisoners of war, and the third, the +Dover, had been laid up <i>in consequence of his having directed +three-fourths of the officers and seamen to be landed and sent forward for +the naval service on the Lakes</i>; and that he had the satisfaction to inform +General Procter, that the first Lieutenant of that ship, with 50 or 60 +seamen, were then at Kingston, from whence they were to be forwarded, +without delay, to Amherstburgh. This circumstance Sir George Prevost +requested might be made known to Captain Barclay. This portion of the +letter, which so clearly shews the exertions Sir George Prevost had made, +and was then making, to send a supply of seamen to Lake Erie, the Reviewer, +with the whole letter before him, has thought proper to omit, and in lieu +of it, to insert as the only reply given by Sir George Prevost to General +Procter's request for further assistance, a passage in the letter<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a> which +was evidently meant as a compliment to the bravery of General Procter's +troops, and an encouragement to him to persevere under the difficulties of +his situation, assured, as he must have been, that every endeavour<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> was +making to relieve him. On the 26th August, four days after the date of the +last letter, the Military Secretary informed General Procter that Colonel +Talbot had been sent to the head of the Lake to await the arrival of the +seamen mentioned in his letter of the 25th, and to forward them to +Amherstburgh with all possible despatch. He was further informed, that 12 +24lb. carronades for the new ship, the Detroit, were expected in the fleet +at Burlington Bay, and General Procter was desired to request Captain +Barclay, on his arrival at Long Point, to send off an express to the +officer commanding at Burlington Heights, to say when he would be ready to +receive them on board. In this letter, the Military Secretary, Captain +Freer says, "His Excellency trusts, that upon the arrival of the seamen, +Captain Barclay will be able to make his appearance on the Lake to meet the +enemy."</p> + +<p>From all that has been stated upon this subject, it must satisfactorily +appear, that every exertion in the power of Sir George Prevost was made by +him to supply the wants of Captain Barclay and the squadron, both with +seamen and stores, and that at the very period when the action was fought, +more men were on their way to him.</p> + +<p>The truth of the Reviewer's assertion, that the conduct of Sir George +Prevost contributed to the destruction of our marine on Lake Erie,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> will be +best ascertained by a reference to Captain Barclay himself; and the +following letter from that officer to the present Sir George Prevost, will +clearly shew how unwarrantably the character of the Commander of the forces +in the Canadas has been attacked on this occasion.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="date"> +"<i>Edinburgh, 14th January, 1823.</i> +</p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"I have had the honor to receive a letter from Miss +Prevost, acquainting me that the family of the late +Lieut.-General Sir George Prevost are preparing a +pamphlet, in vindication of his memory and conduct, so +ungenerously and cruelly aspersed in the Quarterly +Review for October, 1822, and appealing to me for the +truth or falsehood of that portion of the article, +which attributes the defeat and capture of His +Majesty's squadron on Lake Erie, then under my command, +to the imbecility of his conduct, and general +inattention to our necessities.</p> + +<p>"I most deeply lament that an article so ungenerous and +severe, should have been written, when the object of +its hostility has been so long in his grave, which must +not only lacerate most deeply the feelings of his +family, but which also tends to open again a +controversy which I had hoped was at rest.</p> + +<p>"Agitated, however, as the question again is, by this +anonymous publication; appealed to as I am for its +truth or falsehood, I declare that as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> far as relates +to Lake Erie, nothing can be more false and groundless. +So contrary indeed is the fact, that I can say, the +only communication which was made by me direct to the +Commander of the forces, and which I was only induced +to make by the extreme urgency of the case, was +answered by his ordering a reinforcement of seamen from +Quebec, and which I am confident would have been +larger, <i>had it been possible to have waited</i> for them.</p> + +<p>"It is also but justice in me to declare, that I ever +considered his peremptory order<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> to risk a battle, +(which, however, did not arrive till after the battle +was over,) arose from his firm conviction of the +paramount necessity of a strenuous exertion on the part +of the navy for the preservation of the post, and from +a generous desire on his part, to share with me the +responsibility of a measure so hazardous, should the +issue prove unsuccessful.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +I have the honor to be,<br /> +<br /> +Sir,<br /> +<br /> +Your most obedient servant,<br /> +<span class="smcap">R. H. Barclay.</span><br /> +<br /> +"<i>Sir George Prevost, Bart.<br /> +Oriel College, Oxford.</i>"</p> + +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<p>The subjoined extract of a letter from Sir James Yeo to Sir George Prevost, +will also shew that the Naval Commander on the Lakes entertained a very +different opinion on this subject from the Reviewer.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="date"> +"<i>Kingston, 23d March, 1814.</i> +</p> + +<p>"Dear Sir,</p> + +<p>"I have had the honor of your Excellency's letter of +the 14th inst.</p> + +<p>"It is impossible any person can be more truly sensible +of your Excellency's unremitting attention and +assiduity to every thing connected with the naval +department in this country than myself, &c.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p class="sig"> +I have the honour to remain,<br /> +With the highest respect,<br /> +Dear Sir,<br /> +Your Excellency's<br /> +Most obedient servant,<br /> +<span class="smcap">James Lucas Yeo.</span>"</p> +</div> + +<p>With regard to the naval action on Lake Erie, we shall only observe, that +it certainly was not lost from the want of skill or courage on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> part of +the officers and men of our squadron. The decided superiority of the enemy +in their weight of metal and seamen, gave them an advantage which the +bravest efforts of our squadron, directed and encouraged by the +distinguished gallantry and conduct of their Commander, were insufficient +to resist. The causes of the disastrous result of that action are best +told, in the words of the sentence of the Court-martial upon Captain +Barclay and his officers, which will be found in the Appendix.<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> The +situation of General Procter was such, after this disaster, as to render it +indispensable for him to take the most prompt and energetic measures for +withdrawing his troops from posts which were no longer tenable, and to join +the main body of the army on the Niagara frontier, to whose force he knew +his men would prove a seasonable and powerful accession. Upon this +disastrous retreat it is unnecessary to dwell. It must, however, be +remarked, that from the sentence of the Court-martial upon General Procter, +and the subsequent remarks upon that sentence by order of His Royal +Highness the Prince Regent, it certainly appears that General Procter did +not avail himself, with sufficient energy and activity of the period which +elapsed between the loss of our fleet and the action at the Moravian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +village, to effect the important object of retiring with his troops to a +place of safety.</p> + +<p>However meritorious had been the conduct of General Procter, and of the +troops serving under him previous to his retreat from Amherstburgh, it was +not possible for Sir George Prevost to avoid noticing in the public orders, +which announced to the army the capture of the greater part of those troops +at the Moravian town, what appeared to him the disgraceful circumstances +with which the affair had been attended. Although General Procter might +feel hurt by the reflections thus passed upon his conduct, yet the +Commander of the forces, in consideration of his former services, was +unwilling to make that conduct the subject of public investigation, until +His Majesty's Government, to whom General Procter's explanation had been +submitted, should determine upon the course to be pursued. It was in +obedience to their orders that General Procter was at length put upon his +trial.<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a></p> + +<p>That the charges against General Procter could only rest upon the events of +the retreat which he was accused of misconducting, and that "a long period +of arduous services and neglected representations"<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> could form <i>no part +of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> such charges</i>, must be obvious to the lowest capacity. General Procter +had, of course, the opportunity of availing himself of those services +before the Court-martial, and that he did so the nature of the sentence +would lead us to suppose. But it surely cannot be inferred from the opinion +of the Court, that Sir George Prevost had any other motive in preferring +the charges, than the good of the service, and obedience to the commands of +his superiors. Whether, under these circumstances, and with the knowledge +of Sir George Prevost's military life, which the Reviewer must have +possessed, he is justified in making the gross insinuation with which he +concludes his strictures on this subject, will be left to the candid reader +to determine.</p> + +<p>The greater part of the troops under General Procter having been captured, +General Vincent was compelled immediately to retreat to Burlington Heights, +a measure which the information received by that officer of the extent of +General Procter's loss, and the probable immediate advance of the enemy, +seemed to render indispensable.</p> + +<p>The first intelligence received of General Procter's defeat was through a +Staff-Adjutant, who had escaped from the field of battle, and who, by +exaggerated accounts of this disaster, and of the consequences to be +expected from it, spread terror and dismay through the country as he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +passed rapidly along to Kingston, where he arrived on the 12th October. In +the mean time, General Vincent, whom these reports had reached, and who had +also on the 8th received from General Procter intelligence of the action, +had begun his retreat from the four-mile creek, and had halted at the +twelve-mile creek, when a communication from Colonel Young, at Burlington, +induced him immediately to fall back upon that place as a post where he +might with less difficulty maintain himself if attacked, and where he might +wait for instructions from General de Rottenburg, the officer commanding in +Upper Canada.</p> + +<p>General de Rottenburg, who was on his way from York to Kingston, when the +intelligence of General Procter's defeat overtook him on the road, +immediately sent to General Vincent, directing him, in his despatch of the +10th October, if he did not consider himself sufficiently strong to hold +out against the superior force of the enemy, to destroy the stores, &c. and +to fall back on Kingston. These directions, it is to be observed, were +given under the impression created by the Staff-Adjutant's account, which, +in a very short time was discovered to be greatly exaggerated; and it +appears from General Vincent's letter to General de Rottenburg, previous to +the receipt of the despatch last mentioned, as well as from the one in +answer to it, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> he had no immediate intention of retreating from the +position he then occupied, although he thought circumstances might +afterwards render such a measure necessary. In the mean time the same +exaggerated accounts of the action at the Moravian village, which had been +carried to Kingston, having been received at Montreal by the Commander of +the forces, together with General de Rottenburg's despatches, communicating +the orders he had sent to General Vincent in consequence of that +intelligence, Sir George Prevost in his letter to General de Rottenburg of +the 18th October, approved of those orders, and directed them to be carried +into execution.</p> + +<p>On the 18th October, the very day on which this last despatch was dated, +General de Rottenburg informed Sir George Prevost, by letter, that the +Staff-Adjutant's account, by which he had been induced to give the +directions to General Vincent to retreat to York, preparatory to falling +back on Kingston, was false and scandalous. As soon as it was thus +ascertained at head-quarters at Montreal, what the real nature of General +Procter's disaster was, the Commander of the forces having also reason to +believe, from the information transmitted to him by General de Rottenburg, +that the enemy had designs upon York from Sackett's Harbour, instructions, +dated the 29th October, were sent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> to that officer, directing him to +prevent General Vincent's further retreat, and to order him to occupy both +Burlington and York with the force under his command. The orders, which +were accordingly sent from General de Rottenburg to General Vincent to that +effect on the 1st November, were received by him on the 4th, and he in +consequence remained in the position he then occupied at Burlington +Heights, which undoubtedly led afterwards to the recovery of the Niagara +frontier.</p> + +<p>From the above correspondence it incontrovertibly appears, that the orders +transmitted from the Commander of the forces, through General de Rottenburg +to Major-General Vincent, were the real and only cause of that officer's +<i>not retreating</i> to York, and of his continuing to hold his position at +Burlington; which, as appears by his own letter of the 27th October, before +referred to, he was preparing to leave on the 1st November.</p> + +<p>Sir George Prevost's orders to General Vincent, to fall back upon Kingston, +had not reached him on the 23rd October; previous to which, his orders to +retreat had been discretionary. On the 27th he was preparing to obey them, +and on the 4th of November he received orders to remain where he was.</p> + +<p>There cannot, therefore, be a doubt of the gross incorrectness of all the +Reviewer's statements,<a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> of the repeated peremptory orders to retreat; +of the advice which the firmness of General Procter and others had induced +them to give General Vincent to disobey those orders, and of his being +persuaded upon their responsibility to adopt it.</p> + +<p>It was, in fact, the prompt and decided measures of Sir George Prevost, as +soon as the truth, with regard to General Procter's defeat, was made known +to him, that alone prevented General Vincent from continuing his retreat, +and that led to those offensive operations which followed shortly +afterwards on the Niagara frontier, and which, notwithstanding the attempt +made by the Reviewer to give the sole credit of them to General Vincent and +Colonel Murray, originated in the instructions which the former officer had +received from General de Rottenburg, then commanding in Upper Canada. Even +the attack upon Fort Niagara had previously been pressed upon the +consideration of Major-Generals de Rottenburg and Sheaffe, by the Commander +of the forces, as desirable, whenever circumstances might render such a +measure practicable.</p> + +<p>In summing up the events of the campaign of 1813, the Reviewer +observes,<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> "that on the British side, the occurrences of the year, on +the part of the <i>subordinate commanders</i> and troops,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> presented a brilliant +series of achievements, the greater number of which were rendered nugatory +or imperfect in result, from the absence of all energy, talent, and +enterprise, in their Commander-in-Chief."</p> + +<p>In support of this opinion, which is sufficiently singular, considering +what the Reviewer has himself stated to have been the result of the +campaign, he adds, that the successes obtained by General Vincent and +Colonel Harvey, by General Procter, Colonel Murray, and Lieutenant-Colonel +Morrison, were <span class="smcap">all</span> obtained either against the positive commands of Sir +George Prevost, or without any instructions from him; and that in the only +measure which could be ascribed to him, he endeavoured to wrest the merit +from Lieut.-Colonel De Salaberry, because he happened to arrive when the +enemy were beaten.</p> + +<p>The following observations will afford a full answer to this unfounded and +disgraceful attack upon the character and reputation of Sir George Prevost. +The brilliant affair at Stoney Creek, under Major-General Vincent and +Colonel Harvey, and the equally successful operation on the Michigan +frontier, when General Procter defeated the forces of Winchester and Clay, +arose out of the circumstances of the moment, of which those officers +immediately, with great judgment and gallantry, availed themselves. There +could, therefore, be no time for communication with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> the Commander of the +forces, and consequently the operations in question could not have taken +place in direct opposition to commands which were never received. With +regard to the general instructions under which the subordinate Commanders +acted, it has already been shewn that General Procter had discretionary +orders from Sir George Prevost to act on the defensive or otherwise, as +circumstances might require; so likewise had General Vincent; and the +marked approbation expressed, both in general orders, and in the despatches +to the Secretary of State announcing these events, is a further strong +proof that the conduct of those officers was in perfect accordance with the +orders and instructions which they had received from the Commander of the +forces. Colonel Murray's expedition against Plattsburg was, as appears by +the despatch to Lord Bathurst, of the 1st August, 1813, planned altogether +by Sir George Prevost, who had previously endeavoured to place our marine +on the Richelieu, which had been increased by the capture of the two +schooners from the enemy, on a respectable footing; first, by the +appointment of Captain Pring to the naval command there, and subsequently +by obtaining the services of Captain Everard, and the officers and seamen +of the Wasp sloop of war, then lately arrived at Quebec from Halifax, to +man these vessels and the gun-boats. Colonel Murray was the officer +particularly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> selected by Sir George Prevost to command on this expedition, +from the opinion he entertained of his zeal and energy. The event amply +justified his expectations, and this enterprise, undertaken by the orders +and under the instructions of the Commander of the forces, was in every +respect successful.</p> + +<p>The daring exploit which was subsequently achieved by Colonel Murray, in +the capture of Fort Niagara, so far from being in opposition to Sir George +Prevost's orders, or in the absence of any instructions respecting it, was +the consequence of the verbal instructions given by Sir George Prevost to +Lieutenant-General Drummond, previous to his assuming the command in Upper +Canada, and confirmed in his letter to him of the 3rd December, 1813. +Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison had been detached from Kingston with the 49th, +the 2nd battalion of the 89th, and the Voltigeurs, as a corps of +observation, to follow the motions of General Wilkinson's army, then +threatening Montreal from Sackett's Harbour, in consequence of the <i>express +orders and directions of Sir George Prevost</i>; a fact established by his +despatch to Lord Bathurst of the 15th November, 1813.</p> + +<p>The foresight of the Commander of the forces in providing this force to +watch the enemy, and his judgment in the selection of Lieut.-Colonel +Morrison to command it, led beyond all doubt,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> to the defeat which General +Boyd received at Chrystler's farm, and ultimately, by the interruptions +thus occasioned to General Wilkinson's plans, to the safety of Lower +Canada. That the measures adopted by Sir George Prevost might in some +degree have contributed to the success which attended Lieut.-Colonel De +Salaberry's defence of his position at Chateaugay, the Reviewer seems most +unwillingly to admit, while at the same time he imputes to him the base and +unworthy attempt of endeavouring to assume to himself the merit which on +that occasion was alone due to Colonel De Salaberry.</p> + +<p>In Sir George Prevost's despatch to Lord Bathurst on this subject, of the +date of 30th October, 1813, he expresses himself fortunate at having +arrived at the scene of action shortly after it commenced, as it enabled +him personally to witness the conduct of the officers and men engaged in +it, and to form a proper judgment of their merits, which he then severally +details in his letter. The unqualified praise which he bestows upon the +officer immediately commanding, (Lieut.-Colonel De Salaberry) is of itself +a sufficient refutation of this libel on the part of the Reviewer.<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a></p> + +<p>The checks thus received by the forces under Generals Wilkinson and +Hampton, from Lieut.-Colonel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> Morrison, and Lieut.-Colonel De Salaberry, +were, without doubt, no inconsiderable causes of their repulse in the +attempt upon Lower Canada; but it was also the duty of the Reviewer to have +noticed the prompt and judicious measures adopted by Sir George Prevost, as +soon as he had ascertained that General Wilkinson was descending the St. +Lawrence to attack Montreal, for the defence of that place, by calling out +the whole militia of the district, and by collecting all his disposable +force at La Chine, where he commanded in person. The formidable defences +which he had prepared both at Coteau du Lac, and at the Cedars, together +with the imposing force of militia which had been assembled at a very short +notice, must have convinced General Wilkinson that he could not hope to +make any impression upon a people who shewed so much zeal and alacrity in +defending themselves, and who were commanded by one who possessed their +entire confidence and affection. Under these circumstances, and from the +opposition already experienced to his attempt, the American Commander +resolved to abandon it as impracticable, more particularly as he found +himself without support from General Hampton, who had retired towards Lake +Champlain.</p> + +<p>In detailing the events of the campaign of 1814, the Reviewer has again not +scrupled, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> his account of Captain Pring's expedition to Vergennes, to +distort the truth, for the purpose of attaching the blame of this failure +to Sir George Prevost. So far from the Commander of the forces refusing to +Captain Pring the assistance of the troops stationed at Isle aux Noix, as +the Reviewer asserts,<a name="FNanchor_72_72" id="FNanchor_72_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a> a strong detachment of the marines then in +garrison at that post, was embarked on board of his squadron, and the +despatch to Lord Bathurst from Sir George Prevost, of the 18th of May, +1814,<a name="FNanchor_73_73" id="FNanchor_73_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a> proves that this expedition was planned and directed by the +Commander of the forces, and probably failed from the circumstance alone of +Captain Pring being prevented by baffling winds for four days from reaching +his destination, before the enemy had time to mature their preparations for +defence.</p> + +<p>A similar degree of incorrectness prevails in the Reviewer's statements +with regard to the force retained by Sir George Prevost in Lower Canada. +That Lower Canada, in the middle of April, 1814,<a name="FNanchor_74_74" id="FNanchor_74_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a> had nothing to dread, +may be confidently denied. On the 22d and 30th March, two attempts had been +made by General Wilkinson to penetrate into that Province by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> Montreal +frontier, and in the latter instance, in considerable force. Though he was +repulsed in both cases, and in the latter with severe loss, he still +continued to keep a considerable body of men on the frontier line, from +which he did not withdraw until towards the middle of May.<a name="FNanchor_75_75" id="FNanchor_75_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a> Sackett's +Harbour, instead of being weakly garrisoned, had been strengthened by two +regiments from General Wilkinson's army, besides other reinforcements; and +our fleet on Lake Ontario was so far from being at that period ready for +sea, that it was not until the 14th of April, that the two ships, which +were to constitute its principal strength, had been launched, nor was our +squadron in a situation to take the Lake until the beginning of May. The +only reinforcements which, up to this period in 1814, and even until the +beginning of June, had arrived in Lower Canada, were the 2d battalion of +the 8th regiment, which the foresight of the Commander of the forces had +induced him to draw in the depth of winter by land from New Brunswick, +whence they arrived in the month of March, together with 200 picked seamen +from Admiral Griffiths for the fleet on Lake Ontario, without a single +accident. This regiment is enumerated by the Reviewer amongst his nine +regular regiments of infantry, with three squadrons of dragoons, six<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +strong battalions of militia, and a numerous <i>division</i> of artillery, the +<i>whole</i> of which he has untruly asserted, were crowded together in +inactivity at Chambly, behind a strong frontier, without an enemy to oppose +them;<a name="FNanchor_76_76" id="FNanchor_76_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a> adding, that although reinforcements were daily arriving or +expected, not a man was sent to strengthen the inadequate force on the +Niagara frontier, until the middle of July, when only two of the Peninsular +regiments were reluctantly yielded for that service. Of the nine regular +regiments of infantry, of which the Reviewer speaks, one was De Meuron's +foreign corps, another the Canadian Fencibles, a third a battalion of +Marines, a fourth the Canadian Voltigeurs, militia-men, subject to militia +law, and whose force at the utmost was 450 men. Of the real regular +regiments, viz. the 8th, 13th, 16th, 49th, and 70th, the 16th did not +arrive until June, together with two companies of artillery. This regiment +was almost immediately stationed at Montreal, where it remained the whole +of July, and in August was despatched to Upper Canada. The 70th garrisoned +Quebec, with a portion of artillery, and a small corps, composed of the +recruits of the other regiments in the Province. The 13th was in advance at +St. John, and La Cole Mill, and the battalion of marines garrisoned Isle +aux<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> Noix. Of the six battalions of embodied militia, one was at La +Prairie, and another, if not two of the others, at different parts of the +frontier; the Voltigeurs were also in advance, and part of the Canadian +fencibles were at Coteau du Lac. From this statement, made out from +documents, the authenticity of which cannot be doubted, it will appear that +the troops under Sir George Prevost in the Lower Province, which were +barely adequate to its defence, in lieu of being all assembled at Chambly, +were stationed in different parts of the Province, where their services +were most required, and that they did not at any time, collectively form +the camp of instruction of which the Reviewer speaks. Previous even to the +1st of May, when the Reviewer has stated that Sir James Yeo was ready with +his fleet for any operation, no part of this force could, consistently with +the safety of Lower Canada, have been despatched for the reinforcement of +General Drummond. Still less could a sufficient portion of it have been +spared, to have enabled that officer, with any prospect of success, to +attempt an attack on Sackett's Harbour. General Drummond was, in fact, +aware that, from the period of the first attack on that place, in May, +1813, the enemy had been indefatigable in fortifying it, and that it was at +all times guarded by a large body of regular troops and militia, together +with a number of able and experienced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> seamen. Nothing, therefore, short of +the full co-operation of a superior fleet, and a large body of troops, +could have afforded him a well-grounded expectation of succeeding. General +Drummond well knew that, up to May, 1814, and for some time afterwards, no +force of this description could be spared from the Lower Province. However +desirable he might have thought it, to destroy the naval depôt at Sackett's +Harbour, he knew that no adequate means were within his power, or that of +the Commander of the forces; and until, by fresh reinforcements from +England, those means should be acquired, he was obliged to content himself +with operations compatible with his resources. We accordingly find that, as +soon as the fleet was in readiness to take the Lake, General Drummond, in +consequence of the previous communication which had taken place between Sir +George Prevost and himself, undertook the expedition against Oswego, which +terminated in the capture of that place, together with a quantity of +stores, provisions, and ordnance, most of which being designed for the +squadron at Sackett's Harbour, must have materially delayed its equipment. +Of this enterprise the Reviewer has thought proper to say nothing, because +he knew that it might in a great degree be attributed to the measures of +Sir George Prevost. For a similar reason he has altogether omitted to +notice the extraordinary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> and energetic measures which had been adopted by +the Commander of the forces, for relieving Michilimachinac, and affording +to that garrison an important reinforcement of troops, seamen, and +provisions, under the command of an able and experienced officer, who +afterwards gave ample proofs of his courage and talents in his successful +defence of that post against a powerful attack of the enemy. The +reinforcement of that distant position, whilst the enemy were in possession +of the whole of the Michigan territory, and by a route never before +attempted, reflected the greatest credit upon the Commander of the forces +who directed, and upon Lieutenant Colonel M'Douall, who executed, this +arduous enterprise, which was highly important in its consequences as +respected our Indian allies, and the safety of the Upper Province. +Independently of this reinforcement to the troops in Upper Canada, we shall +find that Sir George Prevost continued mindful of Lieutenant-General +Drummond's situation, and desirous of assisting him, as soon as the means +of doing so were placed within his power. It has been already shewn, that +out of the force which the Commander of the forces possessed for the +defence of Lower Canada, and of which the Reviewer has given so incorrect a +statement, the 2nd battalion of the 8th arrived from New Brunswick in +March, and the 16th with two companies<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> of artillery in June. It was not +until the month of July that the next reinforcements, consisting of the +90th regiment, from the West Indies, and the 6th and 82nd from the army +under the Duke of Wellington, reached Montreal. These three regiments were +immediately sent forward to the Niagara frontier. The despatch to the +Secretary of State, announcing the arrival of these troops, sufficiently +and satisfactorily explained the reasons which had hitherto prevented Sir +George Prevost from strengthening General Drummond's force in the Upper +Province. In the beginning of June, and previously to the arrival of these +reinforcements, Sir James Yeo had retired into port after blockading +Sackett's Harbour; and from that period, until October, the enemy had the +ascendancy on Lake Ontario. Our operations in Upper Canada were, therefore, +necessarily confined to the defensive; and although the superior numbers of +the enemy gave them at times an advantage over us, and occasioned a +considerable loss of valuable lives, the efforts made by the Commander of +the forces, to supply these losses, enabled General Drummond successfully +to maintain the contest, and to prevent the Americans from gaining any +permanent footing in the Province. Upon the arrival of the Nova Scotia +Fencibles, a battalion of the Royals, and the 97th regiment towards the end +of July, the latter regiment was immediately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> sent to Kingston, and Sir +George Prevost continued to make every exertion to reinforce the army on +the Niagara frontier.</p> + +<p>Before we proceed to the consideration of the much misrepresented affair of +Plattsburg, the orders under which Sir George Prevost acted, and the plan +of operations proposed upon the arrival of the reinforcements from the Duke +of Wellington's army, it will be necessary to expose the perverted +statement with which the Quarterly Reviewer has introduced his account of +this expedition. "In <i>June</i> and <i>July</i>," he says, "a numerous fleet arrived +in the St. Lawrence from Bourdeaux, with the flower of the Duke of +Wellington's army."<a name="FNanchor_77_77" id="FNanchor_77_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a> Now connecting this paragraph with the one that +follows soon afterwards—"that the Peninsular troops were suffered to +ascend no higher than the ill-fated camp of Chambly, where they were +detained <i>during the whole month of August</i>"<a name="FNanchor_78_78" id="FNanchor_78_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a>—it is evident that the +Reviewer meant his readers to believe that the brigades, under Generals +Robinson, Brisbane, Power, and Kempt, had arrived in Canada in June and +July, so as to enable Sir George Prevost to assemble them for any service +at Chambly by the beginning of August, and yet that he kept them the whole +of that month unemployed. It appears, however, from Sir George<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> Prevost's +despatches to Lord Bathurst, dated 28th June, 1814, that the only part of +the Duke of Wellington's army, which arrived in June, were the 6th and 82nd +regiments. The transports having those regiments on board passed Quebec for +Montreal, about the 26th of that month, but did not reach the latter place +until the first or second week in July, from whence they were immediately +pushed forward to reinforce Lieutenant-General Drummond on the Niagara +frontier. The brigade under Major-General Power, which was accompanied by +Major-General Brisbane, did not arrive at Quebec until late in July; indeed +so late, that Sir George Prevost, in his despatch to Lord Bathurst +announcing their arrival, states, that they would scarcely be able to +arrive at Montreal, with every exertion, before the <i>20th of August</i>. The +two last brigades, under Generals Kempt and Robinson, arrived still later; +and Sir George Prevost's despatch of the 5th August, 1814, announcing their +approach to Quebec, stated that it would be impossible, with every +exertion, to collect the whole force, viz. all the brigades in the +neighbourhood of Montreal, <i>before the end of that month</i>. In fact, it was +not until towards the end of August, that two of the brigades above +mentioned were assembled at Chambly, and in the neighbourhood; the other +brigade, under Major-General Kempt, being stationed partly at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> Montreal, +and partly in advance towards Kingston, in order to be in readiness for the +service for which it was designed, whenever our ascendancy on Lake Ontario +should be required.</p> + +<p>In his next observations, the Reviewer has confounded both dates and facts, +in order to make it appear that Sir George Prevost knew not how to dispose +of the succours which had reached him; with which, in the Reviewer's +opinion,<a name="FNanchor_79_79" id="FNanchor_79_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a> he ought instantly to have made a rapid movement towards Lake +Ontario, for the purpose of attacking Sackett's Harbour; an attempt which, +it is stated, should have been made whilst Sir James Yeo was blockading +that place, instead of wasting some of the most valuable months of the +summer in the camp at Chambly:<a name="FNanchor_80_80" id="FNanchor_80_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> and further, that the march of General +Izzard to Sackett's Harbour, with 3,000 or 4,000 regular troops, was a +proof that the American Government felt (although our Commander did not), +that all objects on the frontier were insignificant, in comparison with the +protection of the numerous squadron which was blockaded in their ports on +Lake Ontario.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately for the Reviewer's consistency, he had previously stated, +that in consequence of Commodore Chauncey having prepared two new frigates +for sea, Sir James Yeo discontinued<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> his blockade of Sackett's Harbour, and +retired to Kingston, to await the equipment of the St. Lawrence, and that +during the months of <i>August</i> and <i>September</i>, Chauncey <i>held the Lake</i>.</p> + +<p>General Izzard was despatched to Sackett's Harbour about the <i>end of +August</i>, or <i>1st of September</i>, and consequently the American Government, +from the Reviewer's own shewing, could not at that time have any +apprehensions for their <i>numerous squadron</i>, blockaded <i>in their Port on +Lake Ontario</i>. So far indeed from the American squadron being at this time +in danger, Kingston, and Sir James Yeo's numerous squadron, were actually +at the period of General Izzard's march to Sackett's Harbour, most +rigorously blockaded by Chauncey, and so continued for nearly six weeks +afterwards. Sackett's Harbour was in fact only blockaded by Sir James Yeo, +from the beginning of May to the beginning of June, at which latter period +he relinquished the blockade, and did not make his appearance on the Lake +until the middle of October following.</p> + +<p>It has been already shewn what Sir George Prevost's force really consisted +of, in the Lower Province, during the period of this blockade, and until +the month of July, when the first reinforcements from France reached him. +These reinforcements were immediately sent to the Upper<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> Province. It is +consequently most evident that he did not then possess the means of +attacking Sackett's Harbour, and that after the blockade had ceased, +tenfold the means he possessed would not have sufficed for the service, +without the co-operation of the fleet.<a name="FNanchor_81_81" id="FNanchor_81_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a></p> + +<p>It is in the highest degree improbable, that any man in Sir George +Prevost's army, or in the Provinces, possessing a knowledge of these facts, +which were within the reach of all, should have thought it possible that on +the arrival of the troops from Bourdeaux, Sackett's Harbour was or could be +the point of attack, so long as our squadron was not able to take the Lake.</p> + +<p>It will, it is apprehended, tend very materially to elucidate the +subsequent operations of the war, to state the views which probably +influenced His Majesty's Government in sending so large a force from the +Duke of Wellington's army to Canada, and the manner in which it was +directed to be employed. The circumstances under which the war had been +commenced on the part of the Americans, and the refusal of their Government +to consider the revocation of the Orders in Council, the ostensible ground +of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> war as a cause for pacification, had justly offended both the +Government and people of Great Britain. The efforts, however, which they +were called upon to make in Europe, had, until the termination of the +contest by the abdication of Buonaparte, prevented the British Government +from furnishing any other reinforcements for the army in the Canadas, than +such as were barely sufficient, aided by the bravery of the troops, and the +talents, zeal, and energy of their Commander, for the defence of the +country from the repeated attacks of the enemy. As soon, however, as the +peace with France placed a larger force at their disposal, His Majesty's +Government resolved to avail themselves of a portion of it, in order to +retaliate upon America her unjust aggressions, and to carry the war into +such parts of her territory as might prove most assailable. In consequence +of this determination, the expeditions to the Chesapeake and the Mississipi +were planned; and with the same views three brigades were ordered from +Bourdeaux to Canada. The objects contemplated in sending this reinforcement +to Canada, will be best understood by a reference to Lord Bathurst's +despatch to Sir George Prevost, of the 3d June, 1814, in which it is said, +"The object of your operations will be, First, To give immediate +protection, secondly, to obtain, if possible, ultimate security, to His +Majesty's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> possessions in America. The entire destruction of Sackett's +Harbour, and the naval establishment on Lake Erie and Lake Champlain, come +under the first description."—"Should there be any advanced position on +that part of our frontier which extends towards <i>Lake Champlain</i>, the +occupation of which would materially tend to the security of the Province, +you will, if you deem it expedient, expel the enemy from it, and occupy it +by detachments of the troops under your command, <i>always, however, taking +care not to expose his Majesty's troops to being cut off by too extended a +line of advance</i>"—"At the same time, it is by no means the intention of +His Majesty's Government to encourage such forward movements into the +interior of the American territory, <i>as might commit the safety of the +force placed under your command</i>." It must be evident to every person in +the least acquainted with the territories of America bordering upon the +Canadas, that none of the objects of offensive warfare contemplated in the +foregoing despatch could be undertaken without the aid and co-operation of +a fleet able to contend with that of the enemy. That His Majesty's +Government might be aware of the impossibility of complying with the views +and wishes above described, until the naval ascendancy should be secured on +Lakes Ontario and Champlain, Sir George Prevost, in his despatch<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> to Lord +Bathurst, of the 12th July, before referred to, expresses his opinion on +this head, stating that he did not expect from the reports he had received +from Sir James Yeo, and the officer commanding our naval forces on the +Richelieu, that their fleets would be in readiness before the middle of +September.</p> + +<p>Upon the arrival of the troops from France, and upon their being assembled +as before stated in the neighbourhood of Montreal towards the end of +August, it was ascertained that the new ship at Kingston would not be +launched until towards the middle of September, and consequently, that Sir +James Yeo would not be ready to take the Lake, at the earliest, until the +beginning of October. All, therefore, that could be done with regard to the +projected expedition against Sackett's Harbour, was to make such a +disposition of the troops designed for the service, that they might be in +readiness for it, whenever it might be deemed advisable to make the +attempt. Major-General Sir James Kempt, who was to have the command, was +accordingly dispatched to Kingston, and two brigades were quartered partly +at Montreal and partly in advance, wherever he judged they might be best +placed, with a view to the ultimate service for which they were designed. +The employment of the remainder of the force from France next became the +subject of Sir George Prevost's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> consideration. The enemy had at that time +a strong squadron on Lake Champlain, and their naval depôt at Vergennes +furnished them with the means of continually adding to it. They had also +since the first attack fortified Plattsburg, a position which, provided we +had the ascendancy on the Lake, it might be expedient for us to occupy for +the security of the Lower Province. Should, therefore, our squadron, +equipping in the Richelieu, be ready to co-operate with the army before the +season was too far advanced for offensive operations, it was clear that one +of the objects contemplated by Government might be undertaken with every +prospect of success. The enemy's fleet, if they waited the attack upon them +in Plattsburg bay, or elsewhere, might be destroyed, or the depôt at +Vergennes might fall into our hands by the occupation of Plattsburg, and +the further advance of the army aided by the fleet. That the enemy were not +assailable in any other quarter, (Sackett's Harbour being out of the +question from what has been before stated,) it can scarcely be necessary to +mention, nor has it ever been pretended that they were.</p> + +<p>The State of Vermont on the east shore of the Lake might, indeed, have been +entered from St. Amand, and our townships on that frontier, without the +assistance of our squadron. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> independently of there not being any +object of sufficient consequence in that quarter to make an attack upon it +advisable, it was deemed highly imprudent to molest that State by a mere +predatory expedition, whilst two-thirds of the supplies of fresh meat for +the army in Canada were furnished by American contractors, and whilst +droves of cattle, as well as large sums of money in specie were constantly +passing by that route from the United States into Canada; a fact which is +not generally known, and which strongly marks the wisdom of that policy +which Sir George Prevost pursued during the American warfare. As the +destruction of the enemy's naval depôt on Lake Champlain was then the only +operation contemplated by His Majesty's Government, which could be +undertaken with any prospect of success, Sir George Prevost with a view to +that object, had, immediately after the receipt of the despatch of the 3rd +June, above referred to, used every possible exertion to accelerate the +building of the new ship at Isle aux Noix, and the efficient arming and +equipment of the squadron there, for the service in which it was proposed +to be employed. Some time previous to this period it appears from Sir +George Prevost's correspondence with Sir James Yeo, that he had repeatedly +called the particular attention of that officer to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> the manning of the +squadron for Lake Champlain.<a name="FNanchor_82_82" id="FNanchor_82_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> In addition to this, his correspondence +with Captain Fisher, and Vice Admiral Otway, tends to establish the fact of +his unwearied and successful exertions to accomplish that object.</p> + +<p>The Confiance was launched on the 26th of August, and Sir George Prevost +having reason to believe that the efforts which were making for her +equipment would enable Captain Fisher to take the Lake in the course of a +few days, proceeded, on the 30th, to inspect the first brigade of troops +quartered at Chambly; and on the 31st. established his head-quarters at +Odell Town, close upon the enemy's frontier. Having here received +information that General Izzard had suddenly quitted his position at +Champlain Town, and had marched with a body of troops in the direction of +Niagara, evidently for the purpose of joining General Brown, who had +established a footing on the Niagara frontier, and was pressing upon +Lieutenant General Drummond, Sir George Prevost determined to lose no time +in entering the enemy's territory, (even though our fleet was not ready to +co-operate,) in the hope by this movement of checking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> General Izzard's +progress, and of thus making a diversion in favour of General Drummond. Our +troops accordingly crossed the frontier line, and on the 3d of September +took possession of Champlain Town, which the enemy had abandoned on their +approach. Our forces advanced the following day to Chazy and Simpson's Inn, +about eight miles from Plattsburg, where they halted on the 5th. Previously +to this advance Captain Fisher, who had superintended the building of the +Confiance, and whose local knowledge would have rendered his services +peculiarly useful in the joint operations contemplated, had been suddenly +and unexpectedly superseded by Sir James Yeo in the command of our naval +force on the Richelieu, and Captain Downie had been appointed to succeed +him. This officer did not arrive at Montreal from Lake Ontario until the +3rd September, and on the following day repaired to Isle aux Noix to +superintend the equipment of the new ship. On the 5th of September, the day +on which the troops halted at Simpson's Inn, an interview took place +between Sir George Prevost and Captain Downie, when the latter assured the +Commander of the forces, that his flotilla would be ready to co-operate +with the army in less than forty-eight hours; that he had correctly +ascertained the state and condition of the enemy's fleet; and that in +consequence he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> entertained no apprehensions of the result of an action. +Sir George Prevost then explained to Captain Downie the reason of his +having pressed forward before the latter was ready. On the following day, +the 6th September, the army advanced to Plattsburg, and took possession of +that part of it situate on the northern side of the Saranac, the enemy's +troops having retreated thence to the south side, and to their fortified +position on the crest of the hills.</p> + +<p>No sooner had this position been taken, than Sir George Prevost, conceiving +that the enemy, on the first approach of our troops, might not be fully +prepared to receive them, proposed that the works should be immediately +attacked;<a name="FNanchor_83_83" id="FNanchor_83_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> but it being represented to him that one of the brigades was +extremely harassed, having been brought forward from Chazy with great +celerity, and that after allowing the men a reasonable time to rest, the +afternoon would be too far advanced to attempt an operation for which it +was desirable to have day-light, as the movement was to be made through so +thick and intricate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> a country, Sir George was induced to acquiesce in this +reasoning; and being likewise satisfied, from the assurance given him, by +Captain Downie, that the fleet would be ready to co-operate in a day or two +at farthest, he finally resolved to defer the attack until the junction of +the squadron. The enemy's fleet had retired from the mouth of the Chazy +(where it was placed, when our troops entered the American territory), to +Plattsburg Bay, and there, on the arrival of our army, it was found +anchored; their gun-boats, which had been employed to interrupt the march +of our army on the Lake road, being placed so as to manifest a +determination to support their troops and position on the south side of the +Saranac. On the morning of the 7th, it was discovered that the enemy's +flotilla had changed their position since the preceding evening, and had +moved further into the bay, out of the range of cannon from the shore, +evidently with the object of avoiding the fire from the works, in case they +should be attacked and carried.</p> + +<p>As soon as Sir George Prevost had, by a thorough reconnoitring of the +enemy's position, on shore and in the bay, satisfied his own mind that +their fleet was moored too far from the shore to receive any support from +their own batteries, or any injury from ours, he communicated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> the enemy's +force and situation to Captain Downie, by a letter<a name="FNanchor_84_84" id="FNanchor_84_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a> dated the 7th +September, seven o'clock a. m., and stated, that if Captain Downie felt the +vessels under his command equal to the contest, the present moment afforded +advantages that might not again occur, requesting, at the same time, his +decision on the subject. This letter was delivered by Major Fulton, +Aid-de-Camp to Sir George Prevost, who was ordered particularly to explain +to Captain Downie the position of the enemy's squadron, and that they were, +in his opinion, anchored out of range of shot from the shore. Major +Fulton's statement<a name="FNanchor_85_85" id="FNanchor_85_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a> on this subject, shews most clearly the views which +Captain Downie then entertained, and the confidence which he felt in the +result of the contest, for which he declared he would be ready in 24 hours. +Captain Downie's letter, in reply to Sir George Prevost's communication, +although more guarded in expression, contained in substance what he had +said to Major Fulton, and confirmed the expectation of his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> being able to +meet the enemy in a day or two. On the 8th of September Sir George Prevost +again despatched a letter to Captain Downie, stating that he had sent his +Aid-de-Camp, Major Coore, to give him correct information with regard to +the enemy's naval force in the bay, and that he, Sir George Prevost, only +waited the arrival of Captain Downie to proceed against General Macomb's +position. In this letter he particularly points out the co-operation which +he expected from Captain Downie. That officer's answer, dated on the same +day, states, "that his ship was <i>not ready, and that until she should be, +it was his duty not to hazard her before the enemy</i>;" and this +determination of Captain Downie's appears to have been still more strongly +expressed by him in his conversation with Major Coore. Hitherto, therefore +it may be assumed as an incontrovertible fact, that nothing had been either +said or written by Sir George Prevost to Captain Downie which might lead +the latter to expect any assistance in his approaching contest with the +American fleet, from the forces on shore, or that any simultaneous attack +was to be made upon the enemy's works, with a view to afford such aid or +support. Being thus perfectly aware of the number, force, and position of +the enemy's fleet, and finding himself ready for a conflict, of the +successful issue of which we may be assured that he had not a doubt,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +Captain Downie, on the 9th of September, wrote to Sir George Prevost, +informing him that it was his intention to weigh and proceed with his +squadron, so as to approach Plattsburg Bay at day-break on the 10th, and to +commence an immediate attack on the enemy's squadron, if it should be found +anchored in a position to afford any chance of success. Immediately upon +the receipt of this letter, Sir George Prevost gave orders for the troops +to be held in readiness to assault the enemy's works at the same time that +the naval action should commence. On the 10th, the fleet not making its +appearance, Sir George Prevost addressed a letter to Captain Downie, +acknowledging the receipt of his communication of the 9th, and acquainting +him that, in consequence of it, the troops had been held in readiness since +six o'clock in the morning, to storm the enemy's works at nearly the same +moment as the naval action should commence in the bay; that he ascribed the +disappointment he had experienced to the unfortunate change of wind, and +should rejoice to learn from him that his expectations had been frustrated +by no other cause. At day-break, on the 11th, Sir George Prevost proceeded +to the quarters of Lieutenant-General de Rottenburg, (who was second in +command,) in company with the Adjutant-General, and acquainted him that, as +the wind was then fair, the fleet, unless prevented by accident, might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +soon be expected, and therefore directed him immediately to circulate the +orders for the troops to hold themselves in readiness, as directed on the +preceding day. This was immediately done by Captain Burke, +Assistant-Adjutant-General, who personally delivered these orders to +Major-Generals Brisbane, Robinson, and Power, viz. to cook, and hold +themselves in readiness as on the preceding day. These orders were so +delivered by Captain Burke <i>before the fleet had made its appearance, and +before the scaling of their guns was heard</i>. It seems by the time on shore +to have been about eight o'clock when the fleet was first discovered, and +about nine when it rounded Cumberland head, and stood into the Bay. Orders +having been given by the Commander of the forces that the batteries should +open upon the enemy's works, the moment the naval action should commence, +they were accordingly opened, and actually commenced the fire a full +quarter of an hour before the Confiance had fired a shot at the enemy's +vessels. The fire from our shore-battery was so well served, that the +enemy's Lake battery, the only one which could possibly annoy our squadron, +or afford protection to that of the enemy (but from which not a shot was +fired in the direction of the Lake) was very soon silenced, and the men +driven from it to seek shelter in the higher redoubt. Almost immediately +upon the commencement<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> of the naval action, orders were despatched for the +troops to take their allotted positions for the assault of the enemy's +works. In consequence of these orders, the two brigades under +Major-Generals Robinson and Power, proceeded in the rear of their Bivouacs, +to approach the ford of the Saranac, which it was intended they should +cross and proceed through the wood, in order to conceal their movements +from the enemy, whose position it was then contemplated to attack in +reverse, the ground being broken and uneven, and the works much too strong +to be attempted in front. Whilst these movements were making by our troops, +which from their nature, must have been equally concealed from the fleet on +the Lake, and from the enemy, Major-General Brisbane's brigade had formed, +and was ready to force the bridge of the Saranac, on the right of the +enemy's position, as soon as the troops under Generals Robinson and Power +should have passed the ford, and made their appearance before the enemy's +works. These movements must necessarily have required time for their +completion, but no person in the army for an instant doubted that the +duration of the naval action would enable the troops to accomplish the +design of penetrating, by the ford, and through the road, to the foot of +the works which were the object of attack. Unfortunately, during this +period, and whilst the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> two fleets were still engaged, a wrong direction, +by the mistake of the guides, was taken through the wood which led to the +ford of the Saranac. As soon as the error was discovered, the troops were +counter-marched, but before they could recover the right direction, full +three-quarters of an hour, and perhaps an hour was lost—an invaluable +portion of time, which, had not the mistake occurred, must have brought the +troops to the very foot of the enemy's position. On approaching the ford, +it was found to be guarded by a strong force of the enemy on the other +side. At this period cheers were distinctly heard, which General Robinson +supposed to proceed, either from our squadron that had been successful, or +from General Brisbane's brigade advancing to the assault. Major Cochrane +was therefore despatched to head-quarters to ascertain the fact, and to +learn whether there were any further orders. Upon his arrival there, the +fleet having at that time surrendered, Sir George Prevost most reluctantly +gave the order for the recal of the troops from the attack of the forts, +and it is well known to those who were in his confidence, with what +poignant regret he thus sacrificed his private feelings to what he +considered his paramount public duty. Upon Major Cochrane's return with +these orders, he found that the troops had only been enabled to force the +ford of the Saranac, and were then in the act of advancing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> through the +wood to the enemy's position. Under these circumstances, General Robinson +felt himself bound to obey the orders, and the forces retired from the +attack.</p> + +<p>Having thus given a full and correct statement of the circumstances which +attended the enterprise against Plattsburg, it is necessary to notice the +animadversions which have been made upon the military character of Sir +George Prevost, in consequence of the unfortunate result of that +expedition. In no instance has the conduct of Sir George Prevost been +attacked with more virulence and injustice, than by the writer in the +Quarterly Review, whose representations are, as the reader must already +have perceived, in the highest degree incorrect.</p> + +<p>The charges which have been brought forward by the Reviewer and by others +are, that Sir George Prevost improperly urged Captain Downie into action +before his ship was adequately prepared; that he disregarded the signal for +the supposed co-operation between the army and the fleet, as solemnly +agreed upon by himself and Captain Downie, and neglected to assault the +fort when our fleet was engaged with the enemy; and lastly, that he did +not, after the defeat of our squadron, persist in his attack upon the fort, +by which it is pretended, that our fleet might still have been saved.</p> + +<p>With regard to the accusation, that Captain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> Downie was prematurely +hurried, against his better judgment, into an unequal contest with the +enemy, the correspondence between that officer and Sir George Prevost +already referred to, fully negatives any such supposition. The co-operation +of the fleet being deemed essentially necessary to the success of the +land-forces, Sir George Prevost was naturally anxious that Captain Downie +should be prepared as early as possible to meet the enemy. It has been +seen, that upon the 7th of September, Captain Downie informed the Commander +of the forces, that it would take a day or two at least, before the +Confiance would be in an efficient state, and that the engagement did not +take place till the 11th, four days after the above communication. So far +was Sir George Prevost from attempting by "taunt and inuendo"<a name="FNanchor_86_86" id="FNanchor_86_86"></a><a href="#Footnote_86_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a> +improperly to hurry the fleet into action, that in his letter to Captain +Downie, of the 9th of September, he says, "I need not dwell with you on the +evils resulting to both services from delay, <i>as I am well convinced you +have done every thing in your power to accelerate the armament and +equipment of your squadron</i>, and I am also satisfied that nothing will +prevent its coming off Plattsburg the moment it is ready." On the same day +Captain Downie announced his intention of commencing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> an attack on the +enemy's squadron the ensuing morning. Up to this time, therefore, it +appears that however anxious Sir George Prevost was to make an immediate +attack upon Plattsburg, for which purpose the assistance of the fleet was +requisite, he never urged Captain Downie to engage the enemy while +unprepared, but on the contrary, expressed his confidence that the moment +<i>the fleet was ready</i>, it would appear before Plattsburg.</p> + +<p>An expression in Sir George Prevost's letter, of the 10th, has indeed been +construed by the Quarterly Reviewer into a "taunt," which is supposed to +have driven Captain Downie to an engagement against his cooler judgment. In +that letter the Commander of the forces, after informing Captain Downie +that in consequence of his communication of the 9th, the troops had been +held in readiness since six in the morning to storm the enemy's works: thus +continues, "I ascribe the disappointment I have experienced to the +unfortunate change of wind, and shall rejoice to learn that my expectations +have been frustrated by no other cause." It must be obvious that many other +causes, independent of the wind, might have prevented Captain Downie from +sailing as he had intended to do on the 9th, although the state of the wind +was in fact the real cause of the delay. In consequence of the despatch +used in equipping his ship, articles<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> might have been overlooked or +omitted, which at the last moment only might have been discovered to be +indispensably necessary; accidents might have happened to different parts +of the squadron in their progress, and even the reinforcements of soldiers +from the 39th, although they had been immediately ordered upon his +requisition, might not, from various circumstances, have been supplied in +time. All, or any of these causes might, as they naturally did, suggest +themselves to the mind of the Commander of the forces, and his anxiety to +be correctly informed upon the subject, as naturally induced him to express +himself to Captain Downie in the terms above stated. It is in the highest +degree improbable, that Captain Downie could for a moment construe those +expressions in an unfavourable sense. But whatever might have been his +impression, it is evident, that a letter written on the 10th, could not +have influenced the determination which he took on the 9th, of engaging the +enemy the following morning.</p> + +<p>Nor will the assertion, that Sir George Prevost disregarded the supposed +signal of co-operation, and neglected to attack the fort according to his +promise, be more difficult to disprove. No such signal was in fact ever +arranged, nor was any such promise ever given. The destruction of the +enemy's fleet being the primary object of the expedition, and until that +was effected,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> the ulterior operations not being practicable, Sir George +Prevost resolved not to assault the fort until he was satisfied that our +squadron was actually proceeding to attack the enemy. Of the result of the +action when the fleets were once engaged, neither the Commander of the +forces, nor any one in our army allowed themselves to entertain a single +doubt. That Sir George Prevost intended to assault the enemy's works +simultaneously, or nearly so, with the commencement of the naval action, +and that Captain Downie was aware of that determination, appears from the +correspondence between those officers. But that Captain Downie should have +gathered from these communications any thing like a promise or agreement on +the part of the Commander of the forces to support, assist, or co-operate +with him during the naval engagement, is quite impossible. Sir George +Prevost had satisfied himself by personal observation, and by the most +accurate intelligence, that the American fleet was anchored out of range of +the batteries, and he must therefore have known that it was out of his +power to offer any support to Captain Downie. To have held forth to that +officer any hope or promise of assistance was consequently out of the +question. It was of the first importance, with a view to the success of Sir +George Prevost's operations, that the fleet should be engaged at the same +time, or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> before the fort was assaulted, but of no consequence whatever to +Captain Downie, that the fort should be attacked simultaneously with the +naval force. Sir George Prevost, therefore, in his communications with the +naval Commander, and particularly in his letter of the 10th, mentioned his +intention of making nearly a simultaneous attack, <i>as part of his own plan +of operations</i>, with which it was necessary that Captain Downie should be +acquainted. It is highly probable, that Captain Downie inferred from this +communication, that the attack on the fort which Sir George Prevost had +been in readiness to make on the morning of the 10th, would be made at the +time when the fleets should engage, but there is not the <i>slightest</i> ground +for believing that this expectation led him to place any reliance upon the +land attack, as a co-operation in support of the naval force, or that it +induced him to hasten into action, at a time when he felt unequal to it, or +unprepared for the contest. Had he considered the expressions used by Sir +George Prevost, in his letter of the 10th, as importing an agreement to +assist him by a simultaneous attack on shore, he would certainly have +answered that communication, and have availed himself of the services of +Captain Watson, who was left with him for that purpose, to express to the +Commander of the forces his reliance on the promised aid, and his assurance +that it was the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> state of the wind alone, which had prevented him from +appearing with the fleet on the morning of the 10th, as he had intended. At +the time when this letter was written by the Commander of the forces, he +was ignorant of the causes which had delayed the fleet, and he was +ignorant, likewise, of Captain Downie's further intentions, with regard to +the time when he would be prepared to attack the enemy's squadron. Had +Captain Downie, therefore, relied, in the slightest degree, on the +co-operation of the land forces, he would have informed Sir George Prevost +of the exact time when he contemplated an engagement, that the troops on +shore might be prepared to second his efforts. No reply, however, was +despatched by him to the Commander of the forces, who thus remained in +uncertainty with regard to the actual state and condition of the squadron, +and the intentions of its commander. Captain Watson, whose directions were +to proceed immediately to head-quarters, with intelligence of the sailing +of the squadron, should not Captain Downie have previously despatched him, +did not arrive until after the fleet had made its appearance. It has, +indeed, been asserted, by the Quarterly Reviewer, that the scaling of the +guns of our squadron was to be the signal for the advance of the columns of +attack. This misstatement appears to have arisen out of the evidence which +was given before the Court-Martial<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> on Captain Pring; for in no other place +is any allusion to such a fact to be discovered. The error of that +statement, which, without doubt, was unintentional, is manifest. The signal +in question is said to have been concerted with Major Coore on the 10th, +when, in fact, no interview or communication whatever took place between +him and Captain Downie on that day; and that no such signal was mentioned +to the former on the 8th, the day on which he <i>did</i> see Captain Downie, is +a fact to which the Major (now Colonel Coore) is ready to bear witness. In +all probability Captain Watson, who was with Captain Downie on the 10th, +was the person who was mistaken for Major Coore, and to him Captain Downie +might have communicated his intention of scaling his guns, previous to +rounding Cumberland Head, in order to announce to the Commander of the +forces the approach of the squadron. Whatever may have been the nature of +Captain Downie's communication by Captain Watson, it is certain that it +never reached Sir George Prevost.</p> + +<p>It has thus been shewn, that there was not even an understanding between +Sir George Prevost and Captain Downie, that the attack by land and sea +should take place simultaneously, for the purpose of affording protection +or support to our squadron, much less that there existed any "solemn +agreement" to that effect.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> It must also be evident, from the previous +statement, that the attack on shore did actually take place at the +commencement of the naval action, and that the sudden and unexpected +termination of the latter engagement alone prevented the prosecution of the +military operations. Orders, as we have already shewn, had been given by +Sir George Prevost, on the 9th, for the troops to hold themselves in +readiness for the attack of the enemy's works on the morning of the 10th, +and those orders were accompanied, as every military man knows, and as the +Reviewer<a name="FNanchor_87_87" id="FNanchor_87_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_87_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a> himself must have known, is usual, by an order <i>to cook</i>, when +the time will admit.<a name="FNanchor_88_88" id="FNanchor_88_88"></a><a href="#Footnote_88_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a> It has also been shewn, that early on the morning +of the 11th, and before the fleet was in sight, or the scaling of their +guns was heard, similar orders were circulated for the troops to hold +themselves in readiness for the attack, and so well prepared were the +forces on shore to make the attack, that almost at the same moment when the +Confiance began to engage the enemy, the troops were in motion for the +assault. Our batteries,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> as mentioned above, opened on the enemy's works +some time before the commencement of the naval action on the part of the +Confiance. Until confidently assured that the fleets would engage (and many +circumstances might have intervened to prevent it even after the appearance +of our squadron) Sir George Prevost felt that it would be highly imprudent +in him to commence the attack; but the moment he learned that Captain +Downie was actually in contact with the enemy, the troops were immediately +ordered to take their position for the assault.</p> + +<p>Although our naval official accounts of the transaction state the +engagement to have lasted for two hours and a half, that is from eight +o'clock in the morning until half-past ten, when the Confiance struck, the +American naval account, which is corroborated by the testimony of all who +witnessed the action from the shore, represents the engagement to have +terminated in about an hour and a half. The American account also +corresponds with the statements of our officers on shore, that our fleet +did not round Cumberland Head until between eight and nine o'clock, before +which time all the statements of persons on shore agree in admitting that +the action did not begin on the part of our fleet. With regard to the +period when the engagement terminated, all the accounts appear to coincide. +It has already been shewn, that notwithstanding the unfortunate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> mistake of +the attacking columns taking a wrong route, they had at that very period +forced the ford of the Saranac, and were then in the vicinity of the +enemy's works, and prepared to make an instant assault, and that the +unexpected result of the naval action was the sole cause which induced Sir +George Prevost to countermand that assault. It now remains to explain more +fully the reasons of the Commander of the forces for giving those orders, +which will afford an answer to the last charge brought against him.</p> + +<p>It has been often and confidently asserted, that both the enemy's squadron +and our own were within reach, of the guns of the works. It is not, +therefore, surprising that an unfavourable impression should have been made +upon the minds of many persons with regard to the policy of not persevering +in an attack, which might, under such circumstances, have led to the +recovery of our own fleet, or the destruction of that of the enemy. The +fact of the relative situation of the two squadrons and of the enemy's +works, has, like most of the other facts connected with this expedition, +been grossly misrepresented. Had an opportunity been offered by a public +investigation of the transaction, it could and would have been +satisfactorily proved, that neither of the fleets was within the range of +the enemy's guns from any part of their works, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> that their own squadron +was anchored more than a mile and a half from the shore.</p> + +<p>The grounds of the Reviewer's statement upon this subject it is impossible +to ascertain; but, in opposition to what he affirms<a name="FNanchor_89_89" id="FNanchor_89_89"></a><a href="#Footnote_89_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a> on the testimony of +Captain Pring, and "<i>numerous</i> other <i>eye-witnesses</i>" it can be proved by +testimony from on board the Confiance, as well as by officers without +number on shore, that she was taken possession of within half an hour after +she struck; and it can also be proved, in opposition to the decided opinion +of the number of officers, who are stated to have visited Plattsburg after +the peace, that the anchorage of the American squadron was not within range +of the forts.</p> + +<p>The evidence of the greater part of the General Officers accompanying the +expedition to Plattsburg, who viewed the naval action; of the commanding +officer, and others of the Artillery; of naval men on board of our fleet, +and of various other persons on shore, could and would have been produced +upon the trial of the question, had it taken place, in proof of the fact as +here stated. But independently of all opinion upon the subject, is it +probable or credible that the American naval Commander would have placed +his squadron in such a situation, that by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> possibility they could be +annoyed or injured from works which he saw it was the evident intention of +Sir George Prevost to attack, and which he must have felt convinced would +in such a case have fallen? That he was aware of the danger to which his +squadron was exposed by its vicinity to the forts, appears from the +circumstance before adverted to, of his having moved further into the Bay +from the station which he occupied on the 6th, the day of the arrival of +our troops before Plattsburg. The position which the American Commander +thus took, was one in which, according to his judgment, he could not have +been annoyed by the fall of the works on shore, an event for which he was +prepared. This opinion was expressed in the presence of a British officer +who had been made prisoner during the naval action. The same opinion was +entertained by Captain Henley, of the American brig, Eagle, who had himself +reconnoitred the position in which the fleet was anchored, and which upon +his report was selected by the American Commander, because it was evidently +out of the range of the guns from the shore. If any thing more were wanting +in confirmation of this fact, it will be amply supplied by the opinions of +the two officers most capable of forming a correct judgment on the subject. +The following letters of Commodore Macdonough and General Macomb, the +American<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> Naval and Military Commanders, will, it is apprehended, set the +question at rest in the mind of every unprejudiced person.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="date"> +"<i>Portsmouth, New Hampshire,<br /> +July 3, 1815.</i> +</p> + +<p>"Dear Sir,</p> + +<p>Your letter of the 26th ult. came to hand yesterday; +the letter you addressed to me at Washington has not +been received, or it assuredly should have been +attended to.</p> + +<p>In reply to yours of the 26th ult. it is my opinion +that our squadron was anchored one mile and a half from +the batteries at Plattsburg, during the contest between +it and the British squadron on the 11th September, +1814.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +I am, with much respect,<br /> +<br /> +Your obedient servant,<br /> +(Signed) <span class="smcap">J. Macdonough.</span>"<br /> +<br /> +"<i>Cadwr. Colden, Esq.</i>" +</p> + +</div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="date"> +"<i>City of New York, June 15, 1815.</i> +</p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>I should have replied earlier to your letter of the +26th ultimo, had it not been mislaid amidst a mass of +communications on the subject of the army.</p> + +<p>With respect to the distance of the American squadron +from the batteries at Plattsburg, I will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> state that it +is my decided opinion that the squadron was moored +beyond the effectual range of the batteries, and this I +know from a fruitless attempt made to elevate our guns +so as to bear on the British squadron during the action +of the 11th of September last. No guns, however, were +fired, all being convinced that the vessels were beyond +their reach. This opinion was strengthened by +observations on the actual range of the guns of the +Confiance—her heaviest metal falling several hundred +yards short of the shore when closely engaged with our +vessels.</p> + +<p>With a hope that this reply will be satisfactory, I +subscribe myself,</p> + +<p class="sig"> +Sir,<br /> +<br /> +Your most obedient servant,<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) <span class="smcap">Alex. Macomb.</span>"<br /> +<br /> +"<i>Cadwr. R. Colden, Esq.</i>" +</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="date"> +"<i>New York, August 1, 1815.</i> +</p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>In reply to your letter of the 30th ult. asking the +distance of the American squadron from the batteries of +Plattsburg, on the 11th day of September, 1814, while +engaged with the British squadron, I will state that it +is my decided opinion that the American squadron was +upwards of three thousand yards distant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> from the +batteries, being confirmed in that belief from +observations made on the actual range of the heaviest +guns of the British ship, Confiance, when fired towards +the batteries, the balls falling short upwards of five +hundred yards.</p> + +<p>With respectful consideration,</p> + +<p class="sig"> +I am, Sir,<br /> +<br /> +Your obedient servant,<br /> +(Signed) <span class="smcap">Alex. Macomb.</span>"<br /> +<br /> +"<i>To Cadwr. R. Colden, Esq.</i>" +</p></div> + +<p>If therefore our squadron could not have been recovered, or that of the +enemy annoyed or injured by the capture of their works on shore, it may be +asked, what advantages could have resulted from persevering in the attack? +It has been already shewn that the primary object of this expedition was +the destruction of the enemy's flotilla on the Lake. Had that object been +accomplished, Plattsburg might have been occupied by our troops, and from +thence, with the assistance of our squadron, they might have been +transported to other parts of the Lake for the further annoyance of the +enemy. The loss of our squadron, however, immediately rendered all these +important operations impracticable. Without the assistance of a fleet, +nothing beyond the occupation of Plattsburg could have been accomplished. +That Plattsburg would have fallen, neither the Commander of the forces, +nor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> a man under him, could have entertained a doubt. The enemy were indeed +strongly entrenched, and under works, which afforded complete shelter to +several thousand expert marksmen, from whose fire our troops must have +suffered most severely; but granting, that after a considerable loss, we +had carried the enemy's works, what adequate advantages should we have +gained? To retain Plattsburg was not possible without the assistance of a +fleet, which would have been necessary to the provisioning of our army; a +retreat, therefore, after destroying all we could not carry away, would +have been indispensable. Such was, however, the state of the season and of +the weather, that 24 hours delay in retiring with our troops to Canada, +would not only have made such a measure dangerous, from the advance of the +enemy in every direction, but would have rendered the conveyance of our +ordnance and stores exceedingly difficult, if not impossible. The militia +of the state of New York and Vermont were turning out, and rapidly +increasing in numbers; and although in the open field our troops would +justly have despised them, they would have proved most formidable in the +woods, and hanging upon the flank and rear of a retreating army. Sir George +Prevost knew that he had only to give the word, and that his gallant troops +would accomplish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> all his wishes,<a name="FNanchor_90_90" id="FNanchor_90_90"></a><a href="#Footnote_90_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a> but he knew at the same time how +useless the acquisition would be, and how costly the sacrifice at which it +was probable it would be made. He was also bound to bear in mind the +instructions of His Majesty's Government, with regard to the committal of +the force under him, so necessary for the preservation of the Provinces +entrusted to his care.</p> + +<p>He therefore wisely determined to retreat, whilst retreat was practicable, +and whilst it could be effected with the least possible loss. The order was +accordingly given for that purpose, and such was the energy and promptitude +of the execution, that the retreat was conducted without the smallest +molestation from the enemy, who, in fact, were not aware of it until it was +nearly completed. Notwithstanding the almost impassable state of the roads, +from the rains which were falling, not a gun was left behind; and, although +the subject has been much exaggerated, yet in fact only a very small +quantity<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> of provisions and stores, together with <i>fifteen</i> wounded men in +hospital, was left to the enemy. Of deserters, the utmost amount was under +300 men, which was the consequence, not as has been falsely asserted, of +the <i>retreat</i>,<a name="FNanchor_91_91" id="FNanchor_91_91"></a><a href="#Footnote_91_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a> but of the <i>advance</i>, many of them having deserted upon +our entry, and as we afterwards penetrated into the American territory; a +consequence which almost invariably attended every attack upon their +frontier, and was most strongly manifested in Colonel Scott's expedition, +in December, 1813, against part of General Wilkinson's army, when, out of a +force of not more than 500 men, he lost upwards of 90 by desertion.</p> + +<p>The exaggerated account of this retreat having induced his Majesty's +government to call upon Sir George Prevost for a more particular detail of +the losses attending it, it appears, by Sir George Prevost's reply to Lord +Bathurst's despatch on the subject, together with the documents +accompanying it, that the whole loss in killed, wounded, prisoners, and +deserters, from the time of the army entering the American territory, until +it was withdrawn, did not amount to 500 men. This affords a complete answer +to one of the Reviewer's concluding mis-statements, that when Sir George +Prevost wrote the despatch from Montreal, though dated at Plattsburg,<a name="FNanchor_92_92" id="FNanchor_92_92"></a><a href="#Footnote_92_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +"he knew that the desertion of 800 men had attended his shameful defeat."</p> + +<p>The unfortunate loss of our fleet, and the consequent withdrawing of our +troops from the American territory, afforded an opportunity to the party +opposed to Sir George Prevost's civil administration in Canada, of which +they immediately and eagerly availed themselves, of circulating the most +unfounded statements, and the most exaggerated accounts, with respect to +both those transactions. These were industriously transmitted to England by +a private ship belonging to one of Sir George Prevost's most violent +opponents, and upon their arrival, and in the absence of any official +accounts of the transactions to which they referred, they created a general +belief that the disastrous result of the naval action had been occasioned +by a want of co-operation from the shore; that the retreat had been +conducted in a precipitate and disgraceful manner; that a severe loss of +men, guns, stores, and provisions, had been the consequence of it; and that +the whole army was indignant at the conduct of their commander. The arrival +of Sir George Prevost's despatches, together with the explanations +afforded, as well by them as by the person to whom they had been given in +charge, could not fail to undeceive His Majesty's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> Government on this +subject, and to convince them of the grossness of the misrepresentations +which had gone forth. Had not some expressions in Sir James Yeo's letter, +accompanying the account of the naval action, been construed into charges +against Sir George Prevost, which, in justice to him, as well as to the +public, it was deemed proper to call upon him to answer, there cannot be a +doubt but that the further management of the war in the Canadas would still +have been entrusted to the Commander who had hitherto so successfully +conducted it. Even if the subsequent conduct of Sir James Yeo did not +afford ample proof of the fact, there is not wanting other evidence to shew +that the letter in question was written by him under the irritation of the +moment, and in consequence of Captain Pring's communication to him of the +result of the naval action, but without any intention of making a charge +against Sir George Prevost, and without the most distant idea that it could +be so construed. Sir James Yeo must have possessed too honourable a mind to +become a guest in Sir George Prevost's family, and to partake of his +attention and hospitality, had he for a moment supposed that his public +letter, on the subject of the naval action at Plattsburg, could have been +construed into a formal accusation. Had he really meant it as such, he +would most undoubtedly, in a manly and open<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> manner, have communicated the +proceeding he had adopted to the party accused; and, under such +circumstances, would, no less certainly, have refused the kindness and +attention of the person of whom he had publicly expressed so unfavourable +an opinion. That this must have been the case may further be inferred, from +the circumstance that, although Sir George Prevost was recalled to answer +the charges, amounting to three in number, supposed to be contained in Sir +James Yeo's letter, it was not until more than four months after both these +officers arrived in England, that the precise charges upon which he was to +take his trial, were officially communicated to him, and which charges +differed materially from those in Sir James Yeo's letter. Whether, under +these circumstances, Sir James Yeo would have supported the charges, had +the investigation taken place, cannot now be determined; but a confident +appeal may be made to the intelligent reader, whether, upon the facts +disclosed in these pages being made known, such an attempt must not have +utterly failed.</p> + +<p>With regard to the naval action on Lake Champlain, we are unwilling to say +more than may be necessary for the vindication of the character and conduct +of Sir George Prevost. The real causes of the disastrous result of that +affair, were such, as particularly belong to naval actions, and which, when +they do occur, must<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> materially influence the issue of the conflict. It is +not a little remarkable, that the naval Court-martial on Captain Pring and +his officers, should have overlooked or disregarded these causes; and it is +greatly to be regretted, that they should have thought themselves justified +in ascribing the disaster to the conduct of Sir George Prevost, and in +passing so severe a censure upon an officer of another service, of whose +orders and instructions they must necessarily have been ignorant, and who +was neither present to defend himself, nor amenable to their jurisdiction. +It is clear that it was Captain Downie's intention, on going into action, +to lay his own ship, in the size and strength of which he seemed to place +great confidence, along side of the American Commodore; but the unfortunate +failure of the wind, before he could accomplish this object, obliged him to +anchor at a distance of more than half a mile from his opponent; the same +circumstance also induced Captain Pring, in the Linnet, to take his +situation still farther from the enemy. But even this disadvantage would +probably not have been attended with the consequences which afterwards +ensued, had Captain Downie's invaluable life been spared, and had all under +him done their duty. The Finch, in going into action, grounded out of the +line of fire, and was shortly afterwards taken possession of by the enemy. +The gun-boats, when the action commenced, were considerably<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> distant from +the enemy's line, and slowly pulling up in apparent confusion. The Chub, +very shortly after the action, having her cables shot away, drifted into +the enemy's line, and was obliged to surrender. The Confiance, it would +thus appear, being left nearly alone to bear the brunt of the whole action; +the greater part of the enemy's fire being directed against her; the two +schooners gone, and the gun-boats, with the exception of two or three, +taking no part in the contest, it is not to be wondered at, that against +such fearful odds, the men could not be kept to their guns, and that, +notwithstanding the exertions and bravery of the officers, she was +compelled to surrender. The real causes of the disaster must, therefore, be +sought for in the unfavourable circumstances under which the action +commenced; in the squadron's not taking the station which Captain Downie +had designed they should; in the early loss of that officer; the grounding +of the Finch; the surrender of the Chub, and the desertion of the +gun-boats—circumstances more than sufficient to account for the capture of +our squadron, without having recourse to a reason which the gallant Downie +would have scorned to assign, and which we have already shewn to be without +the slightest foundation—namely, the want of a co-operation from the army. +Had even the gun-boats done their duty, the result of the action<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> might, +and probably would, have been widely different, as the men on board of the +Confiance assigned it as one reason for their refusing to stand to their +guns, that the gun-boats keeping at a distance, the whole fire of the enemy +was directed against the Confiance. The Commander of these gun-boats, it is +to be observed, was so sensible of his own misconduct, that he shortly +after the action, made his escape from Kingston, and was not afterwards +heard of. The removal of Captain Fisher from the command of the Lake +Champlain squadron, precisely at the period when it was about to be +employed in the service before mentioned, was particularly unfortunate; and +it was no less so that his zealous offer to Captain Downie, to serve under +him in command of the gun-boats, could not be accepted by that officer.</p> + +<p>In the month of March, 1815, Sir George Prevost received the despatch +communicating to him the Prince Regent's pleasure, that he should return to +England to answer the charges preferred against him by Sir James Yeo, and a +commission was, at the same time, transmitted to Lieutenant-General +Drummond, revoking the appointment of Sir George Prevost as +Governor-in-Chief and Commander of the forces in the Canadas, and +authorizing General Drummond to assume, provisionally, the chief civil and +military<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> command of those Provinces. By this measure, Sir George Prevost +was compelled either to remain for six weeks, until the navigation of the +St. Lawrence should be open—a private individual in the country over which +he had so lately presided as its chief magistrate, and exposed to the +observations of all who had been hostile to his measures,—or to encounter +at a most inclement season the fatigue and dangers of a journey, to be +performed, frequently on foot, through the wilderness to New Brunswick. His +high and honourable feelings did not permit him to hesitate for a moment as +to the course which it was his duty to pursue, and he immediately quitted +his government. It was no inconsiderable consolation to him, under +circumstances like these, to know that he carried with him on his departure +the regret and the good wishes of the inhabitants of Canada, which were +manifested, not only by the different addresses and letters<a name="FNanchor_93_93" id="FNanchor_93_93"></a><a href="#Footnote_93_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a> which were +presented to him upon this occasion, but in a still more striking manner, +by the terms of a vote of the House of Representatives, who proposed to +present to their late Governor-General a service of plate of the value of +5,000<i>l.</i> This munificent act, though honoured with the approbation of the +Prince Regent, was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> not carried into effect, in consequence of a refusal to +accede to it on the part of the legislative council.<a name="FNanchor_94_94" id="FNanchor_94_94"></a><a href="#Footnote_94_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a></p> + +<p>On the arrival of Sir George Prevost in England, in the month of May, 1815, +it was evident that his constitution had suffered a fatal injury. His +health had yielded to the excessive fatigues of his journey to New +Brunswick, and his illness was aggravated by the delays which he +experienced in urging forward the investigation which he so earnestly +desired. Notwithstanding all his efforts, the Court-martial was not +directed to assemble before the month of January, 1816—a delay which +proved fatal to his hopes. He died on the 5th January, 1816, in the 49th +year of his age.<a name="FNanchor_95_95" id="FNanchor_95_95"></a><a href="#Footnote_95_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a></p> + +<p>That Sir George Prevost was a zealous, active,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> and faithful servant to his +king and country, the preceding pages are amply sufficient to prove. The +defence of Dominica, and the preservation of the Canadas against greatly +superior forces, attested his merits as officer, and excited the admiration +of some of the first soldiers of the age. His system, upon both occasions, +was necessarily a defensive one; and he has, therefore, lost much of that +eclat which attaches to more active operations. But had his field of action +been different, he would, doubtless, have displayed the same gallant and +enterprising spirit which distinguished him on former occasions, and +particularly when he led the assault on Morne Fortunée, in the island of +St. Lucie. Of his total disregard of personal considerations, and of his +readiness to sacrifice his own fame for the promotion of the great +interests committed to him in America, there cannot be a stronger proof +than that afforded by his conduct at Plattsburg. He must have been well +aware that the capture of the works, especially after the loss of the +fleet, would be considered by the public in general as a brilliant exploit, +which could not fail to add to his military reputation; and he must also +have foreseen the popular outcry which the resolution he adopted would +occasion. But those personal feelings gave way to considerations of far +greater weight in the mind of a wise, humane, and honourable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> soldier. Sir +George Prevost had justly calculated the consequences of his probable +success—a great loss of valuable lives, the immediate abandonment of his +conquest, and an unavoidable and difficult retreat. Although these +considerations were far from obvious, and not of a nature to be justly +appreciated by the public at large, he chose, without hesitation, that line +of conduct which his judgment and heart approved, and, notwithstanding his +conviction that this determination would necessarily expose him to much +unmerited odium, he resolutely adopted it. His subsequent recal, and +premature decease, were undoubtedly the consequences of this measure; but +his country will not fail, finally, to do justice to the purity of his +motives, and, on an impartial review of his conduct, to rank him amongst +its ablest and most faithful defenders.<a name="FNanchor_96_96" id="FNanchor_96_96"></a><a href="#Footnote_96_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a></p> + +<p>As a civil governor, Sir George Prevost had the gratification of knowing +that he was invariably esteemed and respected by the people over whom he +was placed. His zeal and devotion to his duties, both in his civil and +military character, were eminently conspicuous. No personal considerations, +no fatigue, no dangers, ever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> interfered with what he esteemed the good of +the service. Over the public interests he watched with the most sedulous +attention. In private life, he was remarkable for the purity of his moral +character, for the generosity of his heart, and for his pleasing and +conciliatory manners.</p> + +<p>In consequence of the lamented death of Sir George Prevost, at the very +period when he was on the point of substantiating, before a competent +tribunal, his innocence of the charges preferred against him, the care of +his honour and reputation devolved upon his widow; nor did she neglect this +sacred trust. Soon after Sir George Prevost's decease, his brother, Colonel +William Augustus Prevost, addressed a letter to His Royal Highness the +Commander-in-Chief, in which, after stating the distressing situation in +which Sir George Prevost's family were placed, he requested that an +investigation of his brother's conduct might be ordered before a court of +inquiry. A reference to the Judge-Advocate was made upon the subject, who +was of opinion that such an inquiry could not properly be instituted. +Immediately after this determination, Lady Prevost represented, by letter, +to the Commander-in-Chief, the painful circumstances in which she was +placed. She intreated his Royal Highness to extend his protection to +herself and her family, and to procure from His Royal Highness the Prince +Regent a gracious consideration<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> of their claims, to such marks of +distinction as might be due to the memory of the deceased. The receipt of +this letter was acknowledged by the Commander-in-Chief, who assured Lady +Prevost, that he would gladly do any thing calculated to alleviate her +distress, but that he declined interfering with the Prince Regent on the +subject, to whom he was of opinion it could only be regularly submitted by +His Majesty's ministers.</p> + +<p>A memorial was accordingly drawn up by Lady Prevost, which was submitted to +the Prince Regent through the regular channel. His Royal Highness, having +taken the same into consideration, was graciously pleased publicly to +express the high sense entertained by him of the services of Sir George +Prevost; conferring, at the same time, as a mark of his approbation, +additional armorial bearings to the arms of his family.</p> + +<p>The following grant of heraldic distinctions appeared in the London Gazette +of 11th September, 1816.</p> + +<p><i>"Whitehall, September 3rd.</i>—His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, taking +into his royal consideration the distinguished conduct and services of the +late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Baronet, during a long period +of constant active employment in situations of great trust, both military +and civil, in the course of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> which his gallantry, zeal, and able conduct +were particularly displayed at the conquest of the island of St. Lucie, in +1803, and of Martinique, in 1809; as also, in successfully opposing, with a +small garrison, the attack made in 1805 by a numerous French force upon the +island of Dominica, then under his government; and while Governor-General +and Commander-in-Chief of the British provinces in North America, in the +defence of Canada against the repeated invasions perseveringly attempted by +the American forces during the late war; and His Royal Highness being +desirous of evincing, in an especial manner, the sense which his Royal +Highness entertains of these services, by conferring upon his family a +lasting memorial of His Majesty's royal favour, hath been pleased, in the +name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to ordain that the supporters +following may be borne and used by Dame Catherine Anne Prevost, widow of +the late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, during her widowhood; viz. +"On either side a grenadier of the 16th (or Bedfordshire) regiment of foot, +each supporting a banner; that on the dexter side inscribed "West Indies," +and that on the sinister, "Canada;" and the said supporters, together with +the motto <i>servatum cineri</i>, may also be borne by Sir George Prevost, +Baronet, son and heir of the said late Lieutenant-General, and by his +successors in the said dignity<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> of a baronet, provided the same be first +duly exemplified according to the laws of arms, and recorded in the +Herald's office. And His Royal Highness hath also been pleased to command, +that the said concession and especial mark of Royal favour be registered in +His Majesty's College of Arms."</p> + +<p>Whilst the impartiality of His Majesty's Government towards the servants of +the public is strongly evidenced by the recal of Sir George Prevost from +his command in the Canadas, under the circumstances before stated, their +sense of justice is no less strongly manifested by the above grant of +posthumous honours to his family, whose feelings of satisfaction were +greatly heightened by the gratifying manner in which His Royal Highness the +Commander-in-Chief was pleased to express himself upon this occasion, in +the following letter.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="date"> +"<i>Horse Guards, 17th September, 1816.</i> +</p> + +<p>"Madam,</p> + +<p>"I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Ladyship's +letter of the 12th inst., and to assure you that I am +highly gratified to find that His Majesty's Government +has adopted a measure grateful to your feelings and +honorable to the memory of your late distinguished +husband.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +I am, Madam,<br /> +<br /> +Your most obedient servant,<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) <span class="smcap">Frederick.</span>"<br /> +<br /> +<i>Lady Prevost.</i></p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lady Prevost having thus satisfactorily accomplished the great wish of her +heart, the vindication of her husband's injured fame, was almost +immediately afterwards attacked by an alarming disorder, evidently +occasioned by her severe afflictions, under which, after suffering for +several years, she finally sunk in 1821.<a name="FNanchor_97_97" id="FNanchor_97_97"></a><a href="#Footnote_97_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a> The family of Sir George +Prevost, deprived by an untimely death of one parent, and called upon to +witness the calamitous state of the other, were neither able nor willing, +under such circumstances, to enter into any further discussion upon the +merits of their father's conduct, in reply to the anonymous attacks made +upon it. They knew that in the opinion of every unprejudiced person, his +military character had been fully redeemed from the obloquy cast upon it, +by the high and honorable approbation bestowed upon it by his Sovereign, +and they had hoped that this strong attestation to Sir George Prevost's +worth would have sheltered his name from further attack or reproach. The +article in the Quarterly Review having disappointed them in this reasonable +expectation, it has become imperative upon them to prepare the present +statement. Whatever were the objects and motives of the Reviewer, it is +certainly not too much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> to say, that he has deliberately advanced charges +which he knew to be unfounded. The just feelings of indignation which every +page of the article in question is calculated to excite, were restrained by +the persuasion alone, that it was only requisite that the real facts of the +case should be made known, to rescue the memory of an honorable and gallant +officer from the aspersions thus wantonly cast upon it. In the Reviewer's +assertions, with regard to the preparations for the war; the care of our +Provincial Marine; the orders given to the subordinate Commanders; the +attack upon Sackett's Harbour; the reinforcing of General Procter's +division; the neglect of Captain Barclay's demands; the successes of +General Vincent, Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey, and others; the disposal of the +troops which arrived from Bourdeaux, and the expedition against Plattsburg; +in <i>all</i> of these instances, the Reviewer has been convicted, by the most +unimpeachable evidence, of shameful inaccuracy, and in many of them of +gross ignorance and of wilful misrepresentation. In ascribing to the +Commander of the forces in the Canadas "vacillation, indecision, and error" +at the commencement of the war, it has been shewn that the Reviewer was +totally ignorant of, or misconceived the grounds and motives of his policy +and conduct, which in the very instances<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> selected by the critic for +censure, received the pointed approbation of His Majesty's Government. To +"the want of talent, energy, and enterprise," of which the Reviewer has not +scrupled to accuse Sir George Prevost in the prosecution of the war, have +been opposed the various measures in which his vigilance and foresight were +conspicuous, in planning and directing those successful operations, the +merit of which the Reviewer would give to the subordinate Commanders alone. +To the charge of neglecting to preserve our marine ascendancy on Lake +Ontario and Lake Erie, which the Reviewer has styled "the most fatal and +palpable error" of Sir George Prevost, and the one in which his imbecility +of judgment and action was most flagrant, a reply has been given not only +by facts, in direct contradiction to his assertions, but by the letters of +the Naval Commanders on both Lakes; the one from Sir James Yeo, who +commanded in chief, in strong approbation of the general attention of the +Commander of the forces to the Marine service, and the other from Captain +Barclay, directly asserting the falsehood of the Reviewer's statement. The +true causes of the failures at Sackett's Harbour and at Plattsburg, which +have been so unjustly attributed to Sir George Prevost's misconduct, have +been distinctly pointed out, and the wisdom and energy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> of his proceedings, +upon both those expeditions, clearly established. To the Reviewer's +laboured attempts throughout the whole article, to prove that Sir George +Prevost was not the real defender of the Canadas, an answer has been given, +by shewing, that for three campaigns those provinces were preserved, whilst +he held the chief command in them, from the persevering attempts of a +powerful and superior enemy, and that to his unwearied efforts, the +inhabitants repeatedly expressed their firm conviction that they were +mainly indebted for their safety.</p> + +<p>The expression of concern and indignation with which the appearance of this +Review was instantly met amongst all who were in any degree qualified to +form a judgment upon the subject, was highly consolatory to the wounded +feelings of Sir George Prevost's family. They have in particular, the +greatest satisfaction in presenting to the public the two following +letters, addressed to the present Sir George Prevost, by Sir Herbert +Taylor, and by Earl Bathurst.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="date"> +"<i>Horse Guards, Nov. 15th, 1822.</i> +</p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"I am directed by the Commander-in-Chief to acknowledge +the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, +containing a statement,<a name="FNanchor_98_98" id="FNanchor_98_98"></a><a href="#Footnote_98_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a> "which the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> family of the +late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost have felt +themselves called upon to make public, in reply to a +wanton and malignant attack which has been recently +made in an article of the Quarterly Review upon his +military character and reputation."</p> + +<p>"His Royal Highness orders me to assure you, that it +has not been without great concern and indignation that +he has noticed the ungenerous and cowardly attack to +which you advert: ungenerous, because, even if it had +been borne out by facts, it was calculated to wound +most deeply the feelings of respectable and amiable +individuals who had not provoked it; cowardly, as being +directed by an anonymous libeller against the memory of +an officer whose premature death had alone deprived him +of the benefit of an investigation into accusations +which he was prepared to meet, with the confident +expectation that he could successfully refute them. His +Royal Highness' sentiments upon the character, conduct, +and services of the late Sir George Prevost, have, upon +a former occasion, been conveyed to his family. Those +of His Majesty's Government, in approval of his +distinguished services, his gallantry, zeal, and able<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +conduct, are recorded in a public act of His Majesty's, +dated 4th September, 1816, which you have inserted in +your statement. To that record His Royal Highness +conceives that you may with confidence appeal for a +refutation of the calumnies recently published; and +having adverted to that document, so honorable to the +memory of the late Sir George Prevost, His Royal +Highness considers that he needs only to add, that +nothing has since the date of it come to his knowledge, +which can shake the opinion he then entertained in +perfect unison with the sentiments therein expressed.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +I have the honor to be,<br /> +Sir,<br /> +Your obedient humble servant,<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) <span class="smcap">Ht. Taylor.</span>"<br /> +<br /> +"<i>Sir George Prevost, Bart.<br /> +Oriel College, Oxford.</i>" +</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Cirencester, Nov. 13, 1822.</i></p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"I have had the honour of receiving your letter, +inclosing a statement which you inform me that the +family of the late Lieutenant-General Sir George +Prevost consider themselves compelled to make public, +in reply to some attack which has recently been made +upon his memory.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p> + +<p>"In returning the statement, I can only say that I read +with the utmost regret the cruel attack which has been +so unwarrantably made in the Quarterly Review upon your +Father's memory, and can well understand the anxiety +which his family must feel to refute it as soon as +possible.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +I have the honor to be,<br /> +Sir,<br /> +Your obedient humble servant,<br /> +(Signed) <span class="smcap">Bathurst.</span><br /> +<br /> +"<i>Sir George Prevost, Bart.<br /> +Oriel College, Oxford</i>." +</p></div> + +<p>The family of the late Sir George Prevost, justly proud of the sentiments +thus expressed by such high authorities upon his character and conduct, +consider any further attempt to vindicate his fame as altogether +unnecessary. In sanctioning the present publication, they have been +actuated solely by the pure motive of rescuing the reputation of their +father from unmerited reproach. Called upon by every feeling of filial +affection to expose the injustice of the cruel aspersions which have been +cast upon his memory, they trust that their endeavours will not be +fruitless, and that the impartial readers of these pages will be convinced +that the merits of Sir George Prevost were not confined to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> private +virtues which endeared him to his family and friends, but that in public +life, as a Civil Governor and a Military Commander, he deserved the esteem +and approbation of his country.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Vide the Quarterly Review for October, 1822, p. 405.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Vide Beatson's "Naval and Military Memoirs," vol. iv, p. 518, +Appendix, No. I.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Mr. Gibbon to Mr. Holroyd.—"Let me tell you a piece of +Lausanne news. Nanette Grand is married to Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost. +Grand wrote to me; and by the next post I congratulated both father and +daughter. There is exactness for you.—<i>Beriton, Oct. 31st, 1765.</i>" Vide +Gibbon's Miscellaneous Works, vol. i. p. 439.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> See Appendix, No. II.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Vide Letter from the Duke of Portland, Appen. No. III.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Vide Appendix, No. IV.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Vide Appendix, No. V.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> Vide accounts of the capture of St. Lucie and Tobago, from the +Annual Register, Appendix, No. VI.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Vide extracts from letters, Appendix, No. VII.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Vide Appendix, No. VIII.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Vide account of this expedition from the Annual Register, +Appendix, No. IX. Also the public despatches and letters, No. X.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> Vide letter from H. R. H. the Duke of York to the Earl of +Camden, Appendix, No. XI.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> Vide Appendix, No. XII.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> Vide the resolutions, Appendix, No. XIII.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> Vide the resolutions, and the letter of the chairman general +Prevost, Appendix, No. XIV.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> Vide the resolutions, Appendix, No. XV.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> Vide extract from the Dominica Journal, Appendix No. XVI.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> Vide the public despatches, and letters from Lord +Castlereagh, Appendix, No. XVII.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> Vide the addresses and answer, Appendix, No. XVIII.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Vide Appendix, No. XIX.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> Vide Appendix, No. XX.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> Vide Review, page 413.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> Vide Quarterly Review, p. 413.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> Review, p. 413.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> Review, p. 413.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> Review, p. 414.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> Ibid. p. 413.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> Ibid. p. 409.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> Review, p. 410.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> Review, p. 411.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> Review, p. 411.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> Review, p. 414.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> Review, p. 411.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> Review, p. 414.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> Review, p. 415.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> Review, p. 413.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> Review, p. 418.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> Review, p. 414.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> Ibid. p. 415.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> Review, p. 415.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> Review, p. 415.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> Review, pp. 415, 416.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> Review, p. 412.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> Vide the Addresses in the Appendix, No. XXI.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> Review, p. 417.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> Review, p. 411.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> Review, pp. 418, 419, 420.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> Vide the Report in the Appendix, No. XXII.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> Review, p. 419.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> Review, p. 418.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> Review, p. 420.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> There cannot be a stronger contradiction to the Reviewer's +assertion, that the order to retreat was precipitate, than the fact which +was known to every officer engaged in the expedition, that after the last +assault, and before any order was given for the retreat or re-embarkation +of the troops, a flag of truce was sent into the town, with a summons for +the surrender of the place, and that some time necessarily elapsed before a +refusal was received to that demand. It was not until after the return of +the officer with that refusal, and when all hope of the co-operation of the +fleet had been relinquished, the artillery still not having been landed, +that the order was given for the re-embarkation of the troops.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> Review, p. 419.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> Vide Appendix, No. XXIII.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> Review, p. 425.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> Vide Review, p. 426.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> Review, p. 427.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> Review, p. 425.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> Review, p. 427.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> Review, p. 427.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> Review, p. 427.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> "I have had the honor to receive your letters of the 9th and +18th inst. The first I received at York on my way to the centre division, +and I cannot refrain from expressing my regret at your having allowed the +clamour of the Indian warriors to induce you to commit a part of your force +in an unequal and hopeless combat. +</p><p> +"You cannot be ignorant of the limited nature of the force at my disposal +for the defence of our extensive frontier, and ought, therefore, not to +count too largely upon my disposition to strengthen the right division."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> Review, p. 428.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> The order here alluded to by Capt. Barclay, is contained in a +letter from the Adjutant-General, Col. Baynes, to General Procter, dated +the 18th Sept. 1813, nine days after the naval action had taken place, and +before the account of it had reached Sir George Prevost. This letter was +written in contemplation of the necessity of General Procter retiring from +Amherstburgh, in consequence of the difficulties of his situation, in which +case it was thought advisable that an action should be risked.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> Vide Appendix, No. XXIV.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> Vide the Proceedings of the Court-martial, Appendix, No. +XXV.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> Review, p. 432.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> Review, pp. 433, 434.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> Ibid, pp. 438, 439.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> Vide General Orders, Appendix, No. XXVI.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_72_72" id="Footnote_72_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> Review, p. 440.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_73_73" id="Footnote_73_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> Vide Extracts in the Appendix, No. XXVII.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_74_74" id="Footnote_74_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> Review, p. 441.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_75_75" id="Footnote_75_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> Review, pp. 440, 441.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_76_76" id="Footnote_76_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> Review, p. 441.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_77_77" id="Footnote_77_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> Review, p. 442.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78_78" id="Footnote_78_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> Ibid. p. 443.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_79_79" id="Footnote_79_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> Review, p. 443.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_80_80" id="Footnote_80_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> Ibid.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_81_81" id="Footnote_81_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> As a confirmation of this statement, the reader is referred +to an extract from a Letter addressed by Major-General Kempt to Sir George +Prevost upon the subject of the intended attack on Sackett's Harbour, of +which General Kempt was to have taken the personal command. Appendix, No. +XXVIII.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_82_82" id="Footnote_82_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> The extract from a letter addressed by Sir James Yeo, to Sir +George Prevost, given in the Appendix, No. XXIX. will shew his opinion of +the manner in which the Lake Champlain Squadron was manned.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_83_83" id="Footnote_83_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> The following is the Reviewer's mode of stating this:—"Had +the Commander-in-Chief suffered these works to be assaulted <i>as was eagerly +proposed to him</i> on the same evening, there is no question but they must +have fallen with scarcely an effort before a single brigade."—p. 445.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_84_84" id="Footnote_84_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> Vide the whole of this Correspondence in the Appendix, No. +XXX.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_85_85" id="Footnote_85_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> This statement and those of the General and other officers, +subsequently referred to, all of which are under the hand, and many of them +attested by the oaths of the parties, contain the facts relative to the +expedition against Plattsburg, to which those officers would have been +ready to depose before a Court-Martial.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_86_86" id="Footnote_86_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> Review, p. 446.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_87_87" id="Footnote_87_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> Review, p. 446.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_88_88" id="Footnote_88_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88_88"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> In the celebrated action between our fleet, commanded by Lord +Howe, and that of the French, on the 1st of June, 1794, whilst they were in +sight of each other, and preparing for action, the order was given for our +men to go to breakfast. See Brenton's Naval History, vol. i. p. 272-307.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_89_89" id="Footnote_89_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89_89"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> Review, p. 448.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_90_90" id="Footnote_90_90"></a><a href="#FNanchor_90_90"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> Notwithstanding the opinion entertained by Sir George Prevost +and the army regarding the probable fall of Plattsburg, it must be +recollected that failure was possible, and that nearly at this very period +we had been disappointed in our attempts both upon Baltimore and New +Orleans. The opinion of the Americans themselves upon this subject, will be +found well expressed in an extract from a Burlington paper (State of +Vermont) of that period, given in the Appendix, No. XXXI.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_91_91" id="Footnote_91_91"></a><a href="#FNanchor_91_91"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> Review, p. 447.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_92_92" id="Footnote_92_92"></a><a href="#FNanchor_92_92"><span class="label">[92]</span></a> Review, p. 448.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_93_93" id="Footnote_93_93"></a><a href="#FNanchor_93_93"><span class="label">[93]</span></a> Vide Appendix, No. XXXII.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_94_94" id="Footnote_94_94"></a><a href="#FNanchor_94_94"><span class="label">[94]</span></a> A further confirmation of the favourable sentiments +entertained in Canada, on the subject of Sir George Prevost's conduct and +services, during the war, will be found in the extracts given in the +Appendix, No. XXXIII. from Christie's Memoirs of the Administration of the +Government of Lower Canada, and Bouchette's Topographical Account of that +Province.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_95_95" id="Footnote_95_95"></a><a href="#FNanchor_95_95"><span class="label">[95]</span></a> Sir G. Prevost's family, at the time of his decease, +consisted of his widow and three children, viz. the present Sir George +Prevost and two daughters. He likewise left two brothers, Major-General Wm. +Prevost, late Lieutenant-Colonel of the 67th regiment, and James Prevost, +Esq. Post-Captain in the Royal Navy. A monument to the memory of her +husband was erected by Lady Prevost in Winchester Cathedral, with the +inscription which will be found in the Appendix, No. XXXIV.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_96_96" id="Footnote_96_96"></a><a href="#FNanchor_96_96"><span class="label">[96]</span></a> The motives by which Sir George Prevost was actuated, upon +this occasion, are forcibly expressed in his private despatch to Lord +Bathurst, given in the Appendix, No. XXXV.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_97_97" id="Footnote_97_97"></a><a href="#FNanchor_97_97"><span class="label">[97]</span></a> Lady Prevost was the eldest daughter of Major-General Phipps, +of the Royal Engineers.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_98_98" id="Footnote_98_98"></a><a href="#FNanchor_98_98"><span class="label">[98]</span></a> A few copies of the statements above referred to, which first +appeared in the Courier of 13th Nov. 1822, were printed and distributed, +under the title of "A brief Reply to the Calumnies of the last Quarterly +Review, against the military character and reputation of the late +Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart."</p></div> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p> +<h2>POSTSCRIPT.</h2> + + +<p>Since the foregoing sheets were sent to press, some observations have +appeared in the British Critic, for May, 1823, upon the Civil +Administration of Sir George Prevost, in Canada, which may perhaps be +thought to require a brief notice. The writer of the remarks in question, +after premising that the military conduct of the late Commander of the +forces in the Canadas has been <i>sufficiently exposed</i> in another Journal, +(the Quarterly Review) proceeds to assert, "that his domestic management of +the Colony was no less censurable. That finding that the Canadian party +gave him most trouble, his object was to obtain a temporary popularity for +his own administration, and a peaceable residence for himself, by every +possible species and degree of weak concession, which he dignified with the +name of conciliation. That the Catholic Bishop being at the head of the +party, was honoured with a seat in the Legislative Council, received a +pension of 1,500<i>l</i>. per annum, which he still enjoys, and was either +overtly or tacitly confirmed in all the usurpations of power and of +Government property,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> (about 40,000<i>l.</i> per annum,) upon which he had +ventured, whilst discouragement and <i>insult</i> (a term of which the Critic +informs his readers he does not repent) were heaped upon the Protestant +Bishop and his Clergy, and upon the Loyal Members of both houses, and that +the just remonstrances of his Lordship in defence of the rights of his +Church, and which it was his first duty to protect, were represented at +home as the dictates of party spirit and political feeling."</p> + +<p>Although the generality of most of these remarks might seem to preclude the +necessity of any reply to them, yet, as the writer, in descending to +particular statements, displays a gross want of information, it becomes +necessary to expose his misrepresentations, in order that his censures may +be rightly appreciated.</p> + +<p>The policy of Sir George Prevost towards the Canadians, was, as the +foregoing pages will shew, adopted immediately upon his assuming his +government, and could not therefore be the consequence of any trouble given +him by the Canadian party, from whom, on the contrary, he invariably +received the most cordial support. His object in that policy was to +strengthen the hands of Government, and to avail himself, as he afterwards +did, of the whole resources of the country, in case it should be attacked. +But that any concession whatever was made by Sir<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> George Prevost to effect +that object is altogether untrue.</p> + +<p>The Catholic Bishop, though his character and influence well entitled him +to that distinction, was <i>not</i> honoured with a seat in the Legislative +Council during the government of Sir George Prevost, nor did he receive +during that period a pension of 1,500<i>l.</i> per annum. In 1775, the British +Government granted to the then Catholic Bishop a pension of 200<i>l.</i> per +annum. In the year 1778, a further sum of 150<i>l.</i> per annum, was given to +the same Bishop for the hire of the Episcopal Palace at Quebec, for public +offices. These two sums were continued to the subsequent Bishops, and +constituted the only income received by them from Government, until the +arrival of Sir George Prevost in Canada. During his administration, His +Majesty's Government was pleased to <i>increase</i> that salary to the sum of +1,000<i>l.</i> per annum, in favour of M. de Plessis, the present Catholic +Bishop, "as a testimony," to use the words of Lord Bathurst, in his +despatch upon the subject, "of the sense which His Royal Highness the +Prince Regent entertained of the loyalty, and good conduct of M. de +Plessis, and of the other Catholic clergy of the Province."</p> + +<p>The charge that Sir George Prevost either tacitly or overtly confirmed the +Catholic bishop in all the usurpations of power and of government<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +property, upon which he had ventured, is so obscurely worded, that it is +difficult to give it a distinct answer. The privileges and possessions of +the Catholic clergy were assured to them at the period when Canada became a +British province, and the present Catholic bishop is not in possession of +any property, nor does he exercise any power which his predecessors have +not enjoyed since that period with the knowledge and concurrence of all +former governors of the Province, and of His Majesty's Government. The +"accustomed dues and rights" of the Catholic clergy of Canada, are formally +secured to them by the act of 14 Geo. 3. c. 83, §. 5.</p> + +<p>To the assertion, positive in proportion to its want of proof, that the +Protestant Bishop and his clergy, and the loyal members of both Houses, +were treated with insult, it will be merely necessary to answer, that Sir +George Prevost was incapable of treating any person, much less those of a +sacred character and profession, with indignity or insult—and a confident +appeal is made to the Protestant clergy of Canada, and to the loyal members +of both Houses, against an insinuation as base as it is groundless.</p> + +<p>To the critic's charge of general mismanagement in the affairs of the +Colony, a reply, if any were wanting, will, it is trusted, be found, in the +foregoing pages; in the approbation of His Majesty's Government of the very +policy which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> this writer so acrimoniously condemns, and in the highly +flattering testimonials to the merits of Sir George Prevost's civil +administration, which he received not only from the Canadians, but from the +most respectable of the English inhabitants.</p> + +<p>It is evident that the writer of the article in the British Critic has +blindly adopted the prejudices and feelings of the Quarterly Reviewer +towards Sir George Prevost, and as he appears to dwell with particular +complacency upon the exposure which he imagines to have been made of that +officer's military character, he is justly entitled to share in the +disgrace which must attend his coadjutor's failure, and in the odium which +will always attach to the anonymous traducer of departed merit.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</a></span></p> +<h2>APPENDIX.</h2> + + +<h3>No. I.</h3> + +<p><i>Extract from Beatson's Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain, vol.</i> +iv. <i>p.</i> 518-529.</p> + +<p>Upon the first alarm of the enemy being on the coast, General Prevost +exerted himself to the utmost, to increase and strengthen the +fortifications of the town of Savannah; and was most ably seconded in his +operations, by Captain James Moncrieffe of the engineers, and Captain Henry +of the navy. Orders were sent to the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Maitland, who +was posted with a considerable detachment of troops at Beaufort, and to +Captain Christian, of his Majesty's ship Vigilant, to repair as soon as +possible to Savannah, with the troops, ships, and galleys, then at Port +Royal island. Unfortunately, the express with these orders was intercepted +by some of the rebel patrols; and, previous to the arrival of a second +messenger, the enemy had time to seize on the principal communications +between the two places. This rendered the junction of that detachment with +the garrison, upon which alone any hope of defending Savannah could be +reasonably founded, a matter extremely precarious, difficult, and +dangerous. Happily, however, the abilities of Colonel Maitland, and the +zeal of the troops under his command, powerfully aided by the professional +skill of Lieutenant Goldesborough, of the navy, who was thoroughly +acquainted with the various creeks, inlets, and cuts, with which the +interior navigation of this country abounds, overcame every obstacle in +their way. The battery at Tybee was destroyed; the leading<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</a></span> marks for the +bar were cut down; and the little naval force there was held in readiness +to run up the river Savannah, as soon as the French fleet were seen making +for the mouth of it.</p> + +<p>On the 9th, the whole of the French fleet anchored off the bar: and on the +10th, four frigates weighed and came to Tybee anchorage. M. d'Estaing had +got from Charlestown, a large supply of small craft, into which he put his +troops; and they proceeded into Ossabaw inlet, and made good the +debarkation of their forces at Bowley, 13 miles from Savannah, under cover +of four galleys. The French frigates prepared, at the same time, to advance +up the river.</p> + +<p>Captain Henry and the naval department were employed, from the 10th to the +13th, in conveying to Savannah part of the guns and ammunition of the Rose +and Fowey, in vessels which General Prevost had sent down for that purpose. +On the 13th, both frigates being much lightened, sailed over the Mud-flat +to Five Fathom Hole, from which the remainder of their guns and ammunition +were conveyed up to the town, which is only three miles distant. The Comet +galley, Keppel brig, and some armed vessels, were so placed as to cover the +passage of Colonel Maitland, with the forces under his command, from Port +Royal, through Wallscut. On the 14th and 15th, the seamen completed the +important business of landing the cannon and ammunition from the ships and +small vessels: and they were appointed to the different batteries, under +the command of Captains Henry, Brown, and Fisher, of the navy. Some masters +of transports, and the master of a privateer, with their men,<a name="FNanchor_99_99" id="FNanchor_99_99"></a><a href="#Footnote_99_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a> made +voluntary offers of their service; as did Mr. Manley; merchant of Jamaica. +Their offers were accepted; and they had their posts assigned them. The +marines were incorporated with the grenadiers of the 60th regiment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p> + +<p>On the 16th, the Compte d'Estaing sent a haughty letter to General Prevost, +summoning him to surrender the place to his Most Christian Majesty: +informing him, at the same time, that among the troops which he had the +honour to command, was the detachment which had stormed the Hospital Hill +at the Grenades. He begged leave to recal this to his memory; and assured +him, that he gave him this notice from motives of humanity, in order to +spare the shedding of human blood. General Prevost, on receiving this +message, called a meeting of the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, and +Field-Officers in the garrison, who authorised him to say, that he declined +surrendering on a general summons, without specific terms; but that, if +such were proposed as he could with honour accept, he would then give his +answer. This drew a reply from M. d'Estaing, in which he affirmed, that it +was customary, not for besiegers, but for those who were besieged, to +propose terms of capitulation; stated, that he had no objections to allow +the General every indulgence consistent with his duty; and informed him +that, as it was his intention next day to form a junction with the army of +the United States of America, if his answer was not immediately ready, he +must in future treat with General Lincoln and him. General Prevost, in +return, demanded a cessation of hostilities for 24 hours; as a time +absolutely necessary for deliberation, and for the discussion of various +interests. Towards the evening of the 16th, the Compte d'Estaing returned +an answer, in which he consented to this demand. The two armies joined on +the 17th, and formed separate but contiguous encampments.</p> + +<p>It was during this parley, that the detachment under Lieutenant-Colonel +Maitland, consisting of upwards of 1,000 men, arrived from Beaufort. The +enemy well knew, how important it would be to their interests to prevent +this junction; and for that purpose, had attempted an enterprise, which +proved unsuccessful, by their pilots refusing to undertake to place the +French frigates in the necessary stations, for enabling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span> them to cut off +Colonel Maitland's communication with Savannah. Of this circumstance the +Colonel availed himself: and after undergoing immense fatigues, joined +General Prevost in the evening of the 16th, with 500 men; and the remainder +of his detachment arrived about noon the next day. As he found the enemy in +possession of the ship-channel, the Colonel had been obliged to come round +Dawfaskie, and land on the marshes; and after dragging his boats (empty) +through a cut, got into the Savannah river above the French frigates, and +from that came down to the town. A Council of War was held, in which it was +determined to defend the place to the last extremity: and notice of this +resolution was sent to the besieging Generals. To this M. d'Estaing +returned an answer. Hostilities immediately recommenced: and the British +tars could not refrain from giving three huzzas from their batteries. Both +sides now exerted themselves with the utmost assiduity. When the town was +first summoned, there were not above eight or ten guns mounted; but so +indefatigable were the exertions of Captain Moncrieffe, the senior engineer +in the place, in putting it in a proper state of defence, that, by adding +the guns landed from the ships to those which were in store, he had, in the +course of a few days, nearly 90 pieces of cannon ready to oppose to the +enemy, as soon as their batteries should open. He had likewise erected many +redoubts, batteries, and other works, to retard their progress. In all +these operations, the soldiers and sailors, with the utmost cheerfulness, +worked day and night in the face of hostile troops flushed with conquest: +the enemy were greatly astonished at the activity of the garrison.</p> + +<p>From the accounts given to M. d'Estaing, of the situation of things at +Savannah, he considered his success against it as certain. He had made +repeated declarations to the Americans, that, as the season of the year was +so far advanced, he could not remain more than ten or fifteen days on +shore, lest his fleet should be injured on such a dangerous coast. The +reinforcement which the garrison had received, reduced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span> the besiegers to +the alternative of either storming or besieging the town of Savannah. The +latter plan was adopted, and they took their measures accordingly.</p> + +<p>As it was apprehended, that the enemy's ships might come too near the town, +and annoy the rear of the British lines, Captain Moncrieffe had some +fire-rafts prepared, and in readiness to act against them, if they should +make the attempt. It was also judged expedient, in order effectually to +prevent it, to sink a number of vessels to stop up the passage. As his +Majesty's ship the Rose was in so very bad a condition, that, by the report +of shipwrights lately employed to survey her, she could not swim above two +months; as her guns, ammunition, and stores, had been landed; and as her +weight would keep her across the channel, when lighter vessels might shift, +owing to the rapidity of the current, and to the hardness of its sandy +bottom, in which they could have little hold, Captain Henry selected her as +a vessel proper to be sunk. The Savannah armed ship, and four transports, +were also scuttled and sunk, and by these the channel was blocked up. Above +the town several smaller vessels were sunk, and a boom was laid across the +river, to prevent the enemy from sending down fire-rafts among the +shipping, or landing troops in the British rear. Previous to the vessels +being sunk, the Fowey, Keppel brig, Comet galley, and Germain provincial +armed ship, were got up to the town: and the latter having guns, was placed +off Yamairaw, to flank the lines. While the enemy's batteries were getting +ready to play against the town, three French frigates advanced up the river +to Mud-flat. One of them, having twelve-pounders, and two rebel galleys, +carrying each two eighteen-pounders in their prows, anchored in Five Fathom +Hole; from which one of the frigates sailed into the back river, with a +design to cannonade the rear of the British lines. She fired a great number +of shot; which, being at their utmost range, did no execution. The galleys +advancing nearer, did some damage to the houses;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span> but a few shot now and +then from the river battery, made them keep a respectable distance.</p> + +<p>Two sallies, one of them on the 24th; commanded by Major Graham, of the +16th regiment; and another on the 27th, commanded by Major M'Arthur, of the +71st regiment; were admirably well conducted, did the enemy considerable +mischief, and killed and wounded a great many of their best troops, while +the loss on our side was very inconsiderable; In the first sally, Major +Graham artfully drew the enemy into a snare, by which the French and the +rebels fired on each other, and had near 50 men killed before the mistake +was discovered.</p> + +<p>The batteries played on every place where the enemy were perceived to be at +work; and more than once obliged them to discontinue their labour. It was +the 3rd of October, before they opened any of their batteries: and then, +about midnight they began to bombard from nine mortars of eight and ten +inches, and continued the bombardment about two hours. At day-light, their +fire commenced again from the nine mortars, and also from 37 pieces of +cannon from the land side, and 16 from their shipping: and in this they +persisted with little variation during several days. The execution done by +this heavy fire, was much less than could have been imagined. It consisted +in killing a few helpless women and children, and some few negroes and +horses in the town, and on the common. On the 6th, the enemy threw some +carcasses into the town, which burnt one wooden house: and about 11 +o'clock, the General sent a letter, by a flag of truce, to M. d'Estaing, +requesting permission to send the women and children out of the place, on +board of ships and down the river, under the protection of a French ship of +war, until the siege should be ended. After three hours, and a deal of +intermediate cannon shot and shells, an insulting answer was returned by +Messrs. Lincoln and d'Estaing, in which they refused to comply with this +reasonable and humane demand.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> + +<p>The garrison, undismayed by this brutal conduct on the part of their +opponents, kept up a smart fire against them; and during the night were +extremely busy in adding to their works, and in repairing such of them as +had sustained damage. Thus things went on until the morning of the 9th; +when, a little before day-break, after a heavy, and as usual, incessant +cannonade and bombardment, the enemy attacked General Prevost's lines.</p> + +<p>The attack being upon the left of his centre, in front of the French; and +very soon after, upon his left and right. It was yet dark, and the darkness +was increased by a very thick fog, which made it impossible to determine +with precision, where the real attack was to be made, or how many assaults +were intended. No reinforcements therefore were sent; but every thing was +kept in readiness for that purpose, and the troops waited with the greatest +coolness in their different posts, for the approach of the enemy. Those in +the lines were prepared to charge them, wherever they should attempt to +penetrate: and the General had the greatest hopes, that the fire of the +field artillery, which was placed to support the advanced redoubts, would +enable him, while the enemy were entangled among these, to throw them into +some confusion; and, perhaps, with a good prospect of success, to order his +corps de reserve to sally forth and charge them. The ground toward both his +flanks, owing to its natural defects, which the utmost efforts of Captain +Moncrieffe had been unable effectually to remove, was but too favourable +for an enemy. On the right was a swampy hollow, by which they could +approach under cover to within fifty yards of his principal works, and in +some places still nearer; and there, he supposed, that the rebels would +make their assault. On the left, the approach was neither so well covered, +nor of so great an extent as that on the right; but as it was sufficiently +large to admit troops to act, as the ground was firm and clear, and as it +was near their encampment, he expected that the French regulars would make +their attack there: but in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span> this he was mistaken. A real attack did take +place there: but the principal attack, composed of the flower of the French +and rebel armies, and led by the Compte d'Estaing in person, assisted by +all the principal officers of both, was made upon his right. Under cover of +the hollow, they advanced in three columns; but, owing to the darkness, +took a wider circuit than they needed or intended to have done, and went +deeper into the bog. These circumstances prevented them from beginning the +attack so soon as they had concerted; and besides occasioning a loss of +critical time, produced considerable disorder in their ranks. The attack, +however, was very spirited, and for some time obstinately maintained; +particularly at a redoubt on the Ebenezer road, which was a scene of hot +action, great loss, and consummate bravery. Two stand of colours were +actually planted, and several of the assailants killed upon the parapet; +but they met so determined a resistance, that they could not, with all +their efforts, force an entrance. It was now, that the skill and design of +the defences raised by Captain Moncrieffe, were fully displayed; for, while +the conflict was still dubious and bloody, the field-pieces, from three +batteries which were manned by the sailors, took them in every direction, +and made such havock in their ranks, that they were thrown into confusion, +and compelled to make a pause. At this critical moment, Major Glacier, of +the 60th regiment, with the grenadiers of that corps and the marines, +advanced rapidly from the lines; in the most impetuous manner, charged the +enemy with their fixed bayonets; and plunging among them, into the ditches +and works, drove them, in an instant, from the ditches of the redoubt, and +from a battery a little to the right of it. Following up the blow, they +forced them to fly, in great confusion, over the abatis, and into the +swamp. On this occasion, Captain Wickham, of the 2d battalion of the 60th +grenadiers, greatly distinguished himself. When the grenadiers advanced, +three companies of the second battalion of the 71st regiment were ordered +to sustain them: and although they were posted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span> at no considerable +distance, and marched forward with the usual ardour of that corps, such was +the rapidity with which the grenadiers had made their attack, and so +precipitate was the enemy's retreat, that they could not come in for a +share of the victory. One of the enemy's columns a little more to their +left, in every attempt which it made to come out of the hollow, was +repulsed by the brisk and well directed fire of a redoubt, where the +militia were posted, aided by Hamilton's small corps of North Carolinians, +who were on the right, and moved there with a field-piece to bear obliquely +against it, while one of the seamen's batteries took it directly in flank. +It was now day-light: but the fog was not sufficiently cleared off, to +enable General Prevost to judge with any degree of certainty of the +strength, disposition, or further intentions of the enemy on the right. On +the left, and in the centre, the fog, with the addition of the smoke, was +still impenetrably close: and a smart firing being still kept up there, the +General thought it would be improper to draw from it a number of troops +sufficient to make a respectable sortie. By these means, an opportunity was +lost of taking complete advantage of the confusion of the enemy, by +charging them in their retreat; but they did not get off without being +severely cannonaded by the batteries and field-pieces, as long as they were +in sight, or judged to be within reach. They were every where repulsed: and +those on the left were only heard, being concealed from view by the +thickness of the fog.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant-Colonel de Porbeck, of Weissenbeck's Hessian regiment, was +field-officer of the right wing: and being in the redoubt when the attack +began, had an opportunity, which he well improved, of signalizing himself +in a most gallant manner. It would not be doing justice to the different +corps who defended the redoubt, if we neglected to mention them. They were +part of the South Carolina Royalists; and the light dragoons dismounted, +and commanded (by special order)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</a></span> by Captain Tawae, a good and gallant +officer, who nobly fell with his sword in the body of the third man he had +killed with his own hand. The loss on the part of the British in this +battle, consisted of one captain, and fifteen rank and file killed; one +captain, three subalterns, and thirty-five rank and file wounded. The loss +sustained by the enemy, as acknowledged by the French, was about a thousand +or twelve hundred men killed and wounded; of these, they lost forty-four +officers and seven hundred men: and the deserters, of whom there were a +great many, all declared, that the loss on the part of the rebels was not +less than four hundred men. Among the wounded was M. d'Estaing, (in two +places) M. de Fontange, Major-General; and several others of distinction. +Count Polaski, (who has been mentioned in the course of these Memoirs), a +Colonel of cavalry in the rebel service, in making a desperate push at the +British lines, was mortally wounded.</p> + +<p>About ten o'clock, the enemy requested a truce, and leave to bury their +dead, and carry off their wounded men. This was granted for those who lay +at a distance from the lines, or out of sight of them: but those within or +near the abatis were interred by the British. Their numbers were on the +right, two hundred and three; on the left, twenty-eight. One hundred and +sixteen prisoners, most of them mortally wounded, were delivered to the +enemy. To this loss, considerable of itself, must be added, the numbers +buried by them, the numbers who perished in the swamp, and many who were +carried off by them when they retreated.</p> + +<p>From this time to the 18th, nothing very material happened. Several flags +of truce were sent during that period by the enemy, and a great deal of +civility passed mutually between the French and British. Many apologies +were made for their refusal to allow the women and children to be sent out +of town: and the blame of this base conduct was laid, by a French Colonel, +Compte O'Duin, entirely on the scoundrel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</a></span> Lincoln, and the Americans.<a name="FNanchor_100_100" id="FNanchor_100_100"></a><a href="#Footnote_100_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a> +The offer was then made with great earnestness, that the ladies and +children should be received by the Chevalier du Romain, on board of the +Chimere; but the answer given to it was blunt and soldierly, that what had +once been refused, and that in terms of insult, was not in any +circumstances deemed worth acceptance. All the French officers seemed quite +ashamed of this affair. As it was with them only, that the British had any +intercourse after the repulse on the 9th, the sentiments of the Americans +could not be so well known. But, as the letter was signed by d'Estaing, as +well as by Lincoln, their imputing this harsh, cruel, and unprecedented +refusal, entirely to the brutality of the American General, may serve to +shew their consciousness, that it was altogether indefensible; but is by no +means sufficient to exculpate the French Commander, from his share of the +blame and disgrace, inseparable from it. An author,<a name="FNanchor_101_101" id="FNanchor_101_101"></a><a href="#Footnote_101_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a> who is extremely +partial to the American cause, endeavours to defend this measure from +motives of policy: "The combined army (says he) was so confident of +success, that it was suspected, that the request of sending away the women +and children, proceeded from a desire of secreting the plunder lately taken +from the South Carolinians, and artfully covered under the specious veil of +humanity. That the Commanders were suspicious, considering the stratagem +Prevost had practised after being summoned, is not strange. It was also +presumed, that a refusal would expedite a surrender." There does not seem +to have been much cordiality between the French and Americans in this +enterprise. M. d'Estaing would have been well pleased to have done the +business without them, by summoning the place to surrender to his Most +Christian Majesty. This, the latter took much amiss, as they considered +themselves as principals, and the French<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[Pg xii]</a></span> only as auxiliaries: and for this +piece of presumption, some concessions were made. When the time assigned by +M. d'Estaing for this expedition had elapsed, and still more was required +by the engineers, if it was expected that the garrison should be compelled +to surrender by regular approaches, he became extremely impatient to bring +matters to a quick decision, and urged giving the assault to the place. +This measure, says Mr. Gordon, was forced on M. d'Estaing by his naval +officers, who had remonstrated against his continuing to risk so valuable a +fleet in its present unrepaired condition, on such a dangerous coast in the +hurricane season; and at so great a distance from the shore, that it might +be surprised. These remonstrances were enforced, by the probability of +their being attacked by the British fleet completely repaired, with their +full complement of men, soldiers, and artillery on board, when the ships of +his Most Christian Majesty were weakened, by the absence of a considerable +part of their crews, artillery, and officers, employed at the siege of +Savannah. These reasons had great weight with M. d'Estaing: and he +prevailed on General Lincoln to storm the place without farther loss of +time. The Americans seemed to think, that by a little more patience and +perseverance, the town must have submitted; as in a few days, the lines of +the besiegers would have been carried quite close to the works of the +besieged. Their allies, however, judged themselves to be in so critical a +situation, that they acquiesced in M. d'Estaing's proposal; for, if the +French had retired to their ships, the siege must have been raised, so that +there remained only one alternative for them to adopt. The repulse which +they had received, was not followed by mutual accusations of want of +courage or conduct in either party; but the French, in all their +conversations, spoke of the Americans with the greatest contempt.</p> + +<p>It was not perceived until the 18th, that the enemy had raised the siege; +but, the fog clearing up in the morning of that day, it was found that they +had moved off. For some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[Pg xiii]</a></span> days previous to this, they had been busy in +drawing off their cannon and mortars, and in embarking their sick and +wounded, of whom they had a great number. General Prevost immediately +detached parties in pursuit of them; but they had got to such distance +before it was discovered they had retreated, that they could not overtake +them: the enemy in their march having broken down all the bridges. The +French embarked in Augustine creek, and the rebels crossed the river +Savannah, at Zubley's ferry, and got into South Carolina. The enemy's fleet +quitted the coast on the 26th October, and their frigates and galleys on +the 2d of November, as soon as an exchange of prisoners had taken place. +The balance of prisoners was in the enemy's favour: for while they were off +this coast, on the 11th of September, his Majesty's ship, Ariel, of 24 +guns, was taken by the French frigate, the Amazon, of 36 guns; and besides +taking the Experiment, they took also the Myrtle, navy victualler; and +Champion, storeship. The last of these was a prize of considerable +importance to them, for their fleet was very badly manned, their crews +sickly, their ships in bad condition, short of anchors and cables, and no +running rigging to reeve, but this ship afforded them a supply. She had +been sent from New York, with naval stores for the ships and vessels, under +the command of Captain Henry.</p> + + +<h3>No. II.</h3> + +<p><i>Address from the Council and House of Representatives of St. Vincents to +Lieut.-Col. Prevost, p. 7.</i></p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,</p> + +<p>The Committee of His Majesty's Council, and of the Representatives of the +Inhabitants of St. Vincents, deeply impressed with the many and eminent +services you have rendered this colony, beg leave to offer their most +grateful thanks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv">[Pg xiv]</a></span> to you, not only on their own account, but on that of the +community at large. It might be irksome to you to minutely particularize +these services: the Committee, however, cannot forbear mentioning your +voluntary and unsolicited return to the defence of the Colony, and to +participate in a most laborious and perilous war, against an inglorious +enemy. Such zeal, Sir, strongly characterizes the soldier. The happy +consequences to the public cause, although unfortunate to yourself, of your +late gallant attack on the enemy's advanced post, demand the warmest +acknowledgments, and the universal wish that you may speedily recover from +your wounds, and that our gracious Sovereign may discern, and properly +reward such distinguished merit.</p> + +<p>"<i>10th March, 1796.</i>"</p> + + +<h3>No. III.</h3> + +<p><i>Letter from the Duke of Portland to Brigadier-General Prevost, p. 7.</i></p> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Whitehall, 29th April, 1801.</i></p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">The</span> satisfactory manner in which you have conducted the Administration of +Public Affairs in St. Lucie, and the representations made to the King in +your behalf by the Members of the Court of Appeal, have induced His Majesty +to appoint you Lieutenant-Governor of that Island. I transmit to you +inclosed His Majesty's Commission; and I have only to add, that I am +persuaded that your conduct in the administration of your Government will +continue to justify the very flattering and favorable intentions of the +Court of Appeal, to contribute to the support of the respectability of your +civil station.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I am, Sir,<br /> +<br /> +"Your most obedient humble servant,<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">Portland.</span>"</p> + + +<h3>No. IV.</h3><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv">[Pg xv]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Address to Brigadier-General Prevost from the Inhabitants of St. Lucie, p. +7.</i></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Les Habitans de l'Isle de St. Lucie, à Son Excellence +Monsieur le Brigadier-Général George Prevost, +Lieut.-Gouverneur de cette Isle, &c.</p></div> + +<p>Monsieur le Gouverneur,</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Lorsque</span> le paix, objet de tous ties vœux, fait rentrer l'Isle de Sainte +Lucie sous la domination Française, c'est un hommage bien légitime que de +vous rendre au nom de tous les Colons un témoignage public de l'amour, du +respect, et de la reconnoissance que votre gouvernement doux et paternel, +et votre sage administration, ont fait naître dans tous les cœurs. Les +avantages sans nombre dont vous avez fait jouir la Colonie, depuis que vous +en avez pris le Commandement, l'attachent hautement. En effet, M. le +Gouverneur, l'amour constant que vous avez manifesté pour le bien public; +les soins infinies que tous avez pris pour rendre et faire rendre la +justice dans un tems où toutes les loix étaient en oubli; le zèle +infatigable avec lequel vous tous êtes occupé des discussions des intêrets +des Colons; votre gouvernement paternel, qui, en vous conciliant tous les +esprits, à detruit les divisions qui pouvaient exciter, a fait regner +l'union et la concorde parmi les habitans, et a fait renaître la confiance, +et la prospérité. Enfin, votre gouvernement tutelair, qui a fait chérir +l'authorité de sa Majesté dans la votre, sont autant de bienfaits dont vous +avez fait jouir les habitans de la Colonie, et dont ils conserveront +éternellement le souvenir.</p> + +<p>Mais il en était un plus grand que le zèle et l'amour du bien public, qui +vous animaient, reservoit à la Colonie; c'est votre sollicitude paternelle +qui a emploié et obtenue, pour nous, de sa Majesté, qu'elle nous rendit nos +loix, non tribunaux,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xvi" id="Page_xvi">[Pg xvi]</a></span> nos magistrats, c'est-à-dire, le témoignage le plus +convainçant qu'elle préferait au droit de nous traiter comme un peuple +conquis, la douceur de nous adopter pour ses enfans, et de nous rendre les +objets de sa tendresse. Nous en sommes tellement convaincus, M. le +Gouverneur, que nos infortunes ont été adoucis, et que nous en avons +ressentis les plus grands effets. Le bonheur, la tranquillité et la +prospérité dont les habitans de la Colonie out jouis jusqu'à present, ils +les tiennent de la bonté du Roi, et de votre administration paternelle, M. +le Gouverneur; et si notre reconnoissance ne trouve pas d'expressions assez +forte pour vous peindre aussi vivement que nous le sentons, notre +admiration pour vos talens, notre vénération pour vos vertus, et notre +amour profonde pour votre personne,—daignez permettre que la Colonie vous +présente, comme un foible témoignage, une épée, sur la lame de laquelle +seront gravé ces mots:—<i>La Colonie de St. Lucie reconnoissante.</i></p> + +<p>Jouissez, M. le Gouverneur, du bien que vous avez fait à la Colonie; et les +vœux des Colons pour votre gloire et votre bonheur vous suivront à votre +patrie.</p> + + +<h3>No. V.</h3> + +<p><i>Letters from Sir Thomas Trigge, Commander of the Forces in the West +Indies, p. 7.</i></p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th +inst., and feel very great regret, that your state of health is such as to +render your returning to England necessary, by that means depriving His +Majesty and myself of your services in this country. You may rely I shall +not fail to express my sentiments on this subject when I write home, as in +rendering this tribute of justice to your character, I shall discharge the +most pleasing and gratifying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xvii" id="Page_xvii">[Pg xvii]</a></span> part of my duty. I beg you will be pleased to +signify to the council, that in consequence of your absence, I have +appointed Brigadier-General G. H. Vansittart, to succeed to the civil and +military command of the Island of St. Lucie, per interim, in order that he +may be recognised accordingly, and take upon him the functions and +authorities of that situation.</p> + +<p>"I have now, Sir, to take my leave, and to offer my best wishes for your +welfare and happiness; entertaining the firmest hope and assurance, that +you will meet on your arrival in England those marks of approbation, which +in every instance you have so highly and eminently merited.</p> + +<p>"With sentiments of the purest esteem and regard, I have the honor to be, +Sir,</p> + +<p>"Your most obedient and faithful humble servant,</p> + +<p class="sig"> +(Signed)<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Thos. Trigge</span>,<br /> +Lieut.-General."</p> + +<p><i>Sir Thomas Trigge to Colonel Brownrigg.</i></p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"The return of Brigadier-General Prevost to England, calls on me to express +to His Royal Highness, the Commander-in-Chief, the opinion with which his +conduct has impressed me, both in his civil and military capacities during +his command in the island of St. Lucie, as, did I fail to point out those +officers who are deserving of His Royal Highness's countenance and support, +I should be as wanting in justice to the individual, as deficient in point +of duty to the Commander-in-Chief.</p> + +<p>"I cannot but view with infinite regret Brigadier-General Prevost's +departure from this country, as he has invariably conducted his command in +the most satisfactory manner. The zeal and unremitting exertion which he +has on every occasion shewn, and the exact attention which he has paid to +the several duties of his situation, point him out as a distinguished and +excellent officer, and whom it is my duty to recommend in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xviii" id="Page_xviii">[Pg xviii]</a></span> the strongest +terms to His Majesty, and to the Commander-in-Chief.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I have the honor to be, Sir, &c. &c.<br /> +<br /> +(Signed)<br /> +<br /> +"<span class="smcap">Thos. Trigge</span>,<br /> +Lieut.-General."</p> + + +<h3>No. VI.</h3> + +<p><i>Account of the Capture of St. Lucie and Tobago, from the Annual Register +for 1803, p. 8.</i></p> + +<p>"On the 22nd June, the island of St. Lucie was taken by General Grinfield +and Commodore Head. The French Commander, General Naguês, refused to +capitulate, and the expectation of approaching rains rendered it necessary +to get possession of the Morne Fortunée with as little delay as possible. +It was therefore determined to attack it by storm; the defence was gallant; +yet, by the determined bravery of the British soldiers and seamen, the +works were carried in about half an hour, not without some loss, chiefly, +among the officers. This conquest was of considerable importance as a naval +station. The island as a colony is valuable, but the climate is unhealthy.</p> + +<p>"The British commanders lost no time in pursuing their victorious career; +and on the 25th, they sailed for Tobago, which they reached on the 30th. It +was defended by General Berthier, an officer of note in the French service; +but being apprised of the number of the British, and of the gallantry they +had displayed at St. Lucie, he did not think it prudent to risk an +engagement. A capitulation was agreed to on the same day, upon the most +liberal terms, the garrison marching out with the honours of war, and to be +sent back to their native country."—<i>Annual Register</i> for 1803, p. 283.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xix" id="Page_xix">[Pg xix]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>No. VII.</h3> + +<p><i>Extract of a Letter from Major-Gen. Grinfield relative to the expedition +against St. Lucie and Tobago, p. 8.</i></p> + +<p>"It is with real satisfaction I send you the enclosed extract from Colonel +Clinton's letter to me."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>Extract of a Letter from Colonel Clinton to Lieutenant-General Grinfield, +dated</i></p> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Horse Guards, 3rd Sept. 1803.</i> +</p> + +<p>"This despatch, addressed to the Commander-in-Chief, bears testimony, in +the handsomest terms, to the meritorious services of Brigadier-General +Prevost; and to the zealous promptitude with which he left his government +of Dominica, to fulfil your wishes. In reply, I am directed to acquaint +you, that His Royal Highness is perfectly sensible of the zeal, which +induced Brigadier-General Prevost to volunteer his service on the late +occasion, under your command; a circumstance which redounds much to his +credit; and which, on a proper opportunity, His Royal Highness will not +fail to mention to His Majesty."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>Extract of a Letter from Lord Hobart to Brigadier-General Prevost.</i></p> + +<p>"I cannot omit to congratulate you upon the complete success of the +expeditions against St. Lucie and Tobago, in which you were so actively and +honourably engaged; and I have the satisfaction of acquainting you, that +His Majesty has been graciously pleased to notice, with particular +approbation, your conduct upon those services."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xx" id="Page_xx">[Pg xx]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>No. VIII.</h3> + +<p><i>Letter to Brigadier-General Prevost from General Naguês, p. 9.</i></p> + +<p>"Depuis la prise du Morne Fortuné, je ne cease d'éprouver de la part du +Général en Chef des égards que j'aie dû attribuer à un caractère de loyauté +qui se remarque des que l'on se trouve en rapport avec le Général +Grinfield.</p> + +<p>"Mais je n'ignore pas, Général, qu'animé des mêmes principes, je dois à vos +dispositions particulières une partie des precédés généreux dont je me suis +vu comblé. Avant de vous témoigner toute ma reconnoissance, laissez moi, je +vous prie, m'arrêter sur un fait qui vous est personnel, je veux parler de +l'humaine prévoyance que vous avez eue de placer, à votre arrivée au Morne, +une Sauve Garde à l'hôpital militaire pour la sureté de nos malades. Citer +un pareil trait c'est assez dire pour le Guerrier qu'il honore et +distingue. Je viens maintenant, Général, aux sentimens que vous m'avez +inspiré, et je vous prie de croire que je n'y mets point de reserve. +Veuillez donc bien m'agréer l'hommage, et recevoir mes très humbles +salutations.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +(Signéd) "<span class="smcap">Naguês.</span>"<a name="FNanchor_102_102" id="FNanchor_102_102"></a><a href="#Footnote_102_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a><br /> +<br /> +"<i>Caséuge,<br /> +le 6 Messidor, an 11.</i>"</p> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxi" id="Page_xxi">[Pg xxi]</a></span></p> + +<h3>No. IX.</h3> + +<p><i>Account of the Attack upon Dominica by a French Squadron, p. 9.</i></p> + +<p>"It may easily be supposed that much alarm prevailed at home, when it was +known that two such formidable fleets<a name="FNanchor_103_103" id="FNanchor_103_103"></a><a href="#Footnote_103_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a> of the enemy were actually at +sea, and which were aggravated by reports of strong detachments of the +Brest fleet having also escaped, with a view to some grand combined +exertion of the enemy. Where the blow was to fall, occupied the public +mind. Malta, Brazil, the British West Indies—a general junction of the +whole of the combined force of the enemy, in order to cover a descent upon +Ireland. In short, every possible point of annoyance or attack was warmly +agitated in the public mind. At length intelligence was received on the 6th +May, from the British Commander-in-Chief of the forces in the windward and +leeward islands, that Dominica had been attacked on the 22nd February +preceding, by a French armament of one three-decker, and four other line of +battle ships, three frigates, two brigs of war, and a schooner, with about +4,000 landmen on board. Brigadier-General Prevost, the Governor of the +island, immediately made the best dispositions for its defence, and +opposed, with the small force under his command, the landing of the French +inch by inch. At length the whole of the enemy's force, consisting of 4,000 +men, under the cover of the tremendous fire of the Majestueux, of 120 guns, +four 74's, and the frigates, having landed, and having made such a +disposition as threatened to cut off the retreat of the Governor, and his +few remaining troops from the town and fort of Prince Ruperts, and thereby +reduce the whole island; General Prevost, with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxii" id="Page_xxii">[Pg xxii]</a></span> utmost promptitude and +presence of mind, directed the regular force, under Captain O'Connell, to +make a forced march across the island, and join him at Prince Ruperts; to +which place he himself repaired attended only by his staff, and arrived in +24 hours: the troops also arriving there with their wounded, after four +days continued march, through the most difficult country existing. The +Governor immediately took the necessary precautions to place the fort in +the best state, and his appearance was so formidable, that the French +Commander-in-Chief, after having in vain summoned him to surrender, thought +proper, after levying a contribution upon the inhabitants of Roseau, which +town had been set on fire, in the moment of attack, and had suffered +severely by the conflagration, on the 27th, to reimbark his whole force; +and after hovering a day or two in the bay, and about the port of Prince +Ruperts, made easy sail towards Guadaloupe. Throughout the whole of this +transaction, the highest praise is due to the Governor, and the British +troops under his command. At one period 200 of the latter were opposed to +more than 2,000 of the enemy, and under the command of the gallant Major +Nunn, who unfortunately received a mortal wound in the action, and +subsequently under Captain O'Connell, succeeded in withstanding them for +more than two hours, and then effected their retreat, after having made +much slaughter of the invaders. Nor should the militia of the island be +without their due share of praise, for their exemplary bravery and +steadiness. Upon the whole it may be stated, with perfect propriety, in the +words of General Myers, that in this affair, had not the town of Roseau +been accidentally destroyed by fire, we should have little to regret, and +much in which to exult."—<i>Annual Register</i> for 1805, p. 220.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxiii" id="Page_xxiii">[Pg xxiii]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>No. X.</h3> + +<p><i>Public Despatches and Letters relative to the Attack of the French upon +Dominica, in 1805, p. 9.</i></p> + + +<p><i>From Lieut.-Gen. Sir William Myers to Earl Camden.</i></p> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Barbadoes, March 9th.</i> +</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">My Lord</span>,</p> + +<p>"I have the honour to enclose to your Lordship, a copy of a despatch from +Brigadier-General Prevost, dated Dominica, 1st March. The details contained +therein, are so highly reputable to the Brigadier-General, and the small +portion of troops employed against so numerous an enemy, that I have great +satisfaction in recommending that their gallant exertions may be laid +before his Majesty: the zeal and talents manifested by the +Brigadier-General, upon this occasion, it is my duty to present to his +royal consideration, and, at the same time, I beg to be permitted to +express the high sense I entertain of the distinguished bravery of His +Majesty's troops, and the militia of the colony, employed upon that +service. The vigorous resistance which the enemy have experienced, and the +loss which they have sustained in this attack, must evince to them, that +however inferior our numbers were on this occasion, British troops are not +to be hostilely approached with impunity; and had not the town of Roseau +been accidentally destroyed by fire, we should have little to regret, and +much to exult in. Your Lordship will perceive by the returns, that our loss +in men, compared to that of the enemy, is but trifling; but I have +sincerely to lament that of Major Nunn, of the 1st West India regiment, +whose wound is reported to be of a dangerous kind; he is an excellent man, +and a meritorious officer.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I am, &c.<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">W. Myers</span>." +</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxiv" id="Page_xxiv">[Pg xxiv]</a></span></p> + +<p class="date"> +<i>"Head-quarters, Prince Ruperts,<br /> +Dominica, March 1st.</i> +</p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"About an hour before the dawn of day, on the 22nd ult. an alarm was fired +at Scotshead, and soon after a cluster of ships was discovered off Roseau. +As our light increased, I made out five large ships, three frigates, two +brigs, and small craft, under British colours, a ship of three decks, +carrying a flag at the mizen. The frigates ranged too close to Fort Young; +I ordered them to be fired on, and soon after 19 large barges, full of +troops, appeared coming from under the lee of the other ships, attended and +protected by an armed schooner full of men, and seven other boats, carrying +carronades. The English flag was lowered, and that of France hoisted. A +landing was immediately attempted on my left flank, between the town of +Roseau and the post of Cachecrow. The light infantry of the 1st West India +regiment, were the first on the march to support Captain Serrant's company +of militia, which, throughout the day, behaved with great gallantry. It was +immediately supported by the grenadiers of the 46th regiment. The first +boats were beat off, but the schooner and one of the brigs coming close in +shore, to cover the landing, compelled our troops to occupy a better +position, a defile leading to the town. At this moment I brought up the +grenadiers of the St. George's regiment of militia, and soon after the +remainder of the 46th, and gave over to Major Nunn these brave troops, with +orders not to yield the enemy one inch of ground. Two field-pieces were +brought into action for their support, under the command of Serjeant Creed, +of the 46th regiment, manned by additional gunners and sailors. These guns, +and a 24-pounder from Melville's battery, shook the French advancing +column, by the execution they did. I sent two companies of the St. George's +militia, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Constable, and a company of the +46th, to prevent the enemy from getting into the rear of the position<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxv" id="Page_xxv">[Pg xxv]</a></span> +occupied by Major Nunn. On my return, we found the Majestueux, of 120 guns, +lying opposite to Fort Young, pouring into the town and batteries her +broadsides, followed by the other 74's and frigates, doing the same. Some +artillery, several captains of merchantmen, with their sailors, and the +artillery-militia, manned five 24-pounders, and three 18's at the fort, and +five 24's at Melville's battery, and returned an uninterrupted fire. From +the first post red-hot shot were thrown. At about ten o'clock, a. m. Major +Nunn, most unfortunately for His Majesty's service, whilst faithfully +executing the orders I had given, was wounded, I fear mortally. This did +not discourage the brave fellows. Captain O'Connell, of the 1st West India +regiment, received the command and a wound almost at the same time; +however, the last circumstance could not induce him to give up the honour +of the first, and he continued in the field, animating his men, and +resisting the repeated charges of the enemy, until about one o'clock, when +he obliged the French to retire from their advanced position with great +slaughter.</p> + +<p>"It is impossible for me to do justice to the merit of that officer. You +will, I doubt not, favourably report his conduct to His Majesty, and, at +the same time, that of Captain James, who commanded the 46th, and Captain +Archibald Campbell, who commanded the grenadiers of the 46th. Foiled and +beat off on the left, the right flank was attempted, and a considerable +force was landed near Morne Daniel. The regulars not exceeding 200, +employed on the left in opposing the advance of their columns, consisting +of 2,000 men, could afford me no reinforcement; I had only the right wing +of the St. George's regiment of militia to oppose them, of about 100 men. +They attacked with spirit, but, unfortunately, the frigates stood in so +close to the shore, to protect their disembarkation, that after receiving a +destructive fire, they fled back and occupied the heights of Woodbridge +Estate. Then it was that a column of the enemy marched up Morne Daniel, and +stormed the redoubt, defended by a small detachment, which, after an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxvi" id="Page_xxvi">[Pg xxvi]</a></span> +obstinate resistance, they carried. On my left Captain O'Connell was +gaining ground, notwithstanding a fresh supply of troops, and several +field-pieces, which had been brought on shore by the enemy. I now observed +a large column climbing the mountain to get in his rear. The town, which +had been for some time in flames, was only protected by a light howitzer, +and a six-pounder to the right, supported by part of the light company of +St. George's regiment. The enemy's large ships in Woodbridge-bay out of the +reach of my guns, my right flank gained, and my retreat to Prince Ruperts +almost cut off, I determined on one attempt to keep the sovereignty of the +island, which the excellent troops I had, warranted. I ordered the militia +to remain at their posts, except such as were inclined to encounter more +hardships and severe service; and Captain O'Connell, with the 46th under +the command of Captain James, and the light company of the 1st West India +regiment, were directed to make a forced march to Prince Ruperts. I then +allowed the President to enter into terms for the town of Roseau; and +demanded from the French general, that private property should be +respected, and that no wanton or disgraceful pillage should be allowed. +This done, only attended by Brigade-Major Prevost, and +Deputy-Quarter-Master-General Hopley, of the militia forces, I crossed the +island, and in 24 hours, with the aid of the inhabitants, and the exertions +of the Caribs, I got to this garrison on the 23rd. After four days +continued march, through the most difficult country, I might almost say, +existing, Captain O'Connell joined me at Prince Ruperts, wounded himself, +and bringing in his wounded, with a few of the royal artillery, and the +precious remains of the 46th regiment, and the 1st West India light +company. I had no sooner got into the fort, than I ordered cattle to be +drove in, and took measures for getting a store of water from the river in +the bay. I found my signals to Lieutenant-Colonel Broughton, from Roseau, +made soon after the enemy had landed, had been received; and that in +consequence, he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxvii" id="Page_xxvii">[Pg xxvii]</a></span> made the most judicious arrangements his garrison +would allow of, for the defence of this important post. On the 25th, I +received the letter of summons I have now the honour to transmit, from +General of Division La Grange, and without delay, sent the reply you will +find accompanying it. On the 27th the enemy's cruizers hovered about the +head; however, the Centaur's tender (Vigilante) came in, and was saved by +our guns. I landed Mr. Henderson, her commander, and his crew, to assist in +the defence we were prepared to make. As far as can be collected, the enemy +had about 4,000 men on board, and the whole of their force was compelled to +disembark before they gained an inch of ground. I trust this despatch by +Capt O'Connell, to whom I beg to refer you; his services entitle him to +consideration. I am much indebted to the zeal and discernment of +Foot-Adjutant Geraly, who was very accessary to the execution of my orders. +I cannot pass unnoticed the very soldier-like conduct of Lieut. Wallis, of +the 46th regiment, to whom I had entrusted the post of Cachearn or +Scotshead; perceiving our retreat, he spiked his guns, destroyed his +ammunition, and immediately commenced his march to join me at Prince +Ruperts, with his detachment; nor that of Lieutenant Shaw of the same +regiment, who acted as an officer of artillery, and behaved with uncommon +coolness and judgment, whilst on the battery, and great presence of mind in +securing the retreat of the additional gunners belonging to the 46th +regiment.</p> + +<p>"On the 27th, after levying a contribution on Roseau, the enemy reimbarked, +and hovered that day and the next about this port. This morning the French +fleet is seen off the south end of Guadaloupe, under easy sail. Our loss +you will perceive by the returns I have the honor to transmit, was +inconsiderable, when compared with that acknowledged by the enemy, which +included several officers of rank, and about 300 others.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"<span class="smcap">Geo. Prevost</span>."</p> + +<p>"P.S. As I find I cannot spare Captain O'Connell from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxviii" id="Page_xxviii">[Pg xxviii]</a></span> the duty of this +garrison, I must refer you to the Master of a Montreal vessel, who has +engaged to deliver this despatch."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Au Quartier-Général au Roseau,<br /> +le 5th Ventose, An 13.</i></p> + +<p>"Le Général de Division Lagrange, Grand Officier de la Légion de l'Honneur, +&c. &c.</p> + +<p>"Monsieur le Général,</p> + +<p>"Avant de commencer les operations militaires contre le fort où tous +paraissez tous être rétiré, je viens remplir une préalable autorisé et +pratiqué, entre les nations civilisées.</p> + +<p>"Vous connoissez aussi bien, M. le Général, votre position, et peut-être +même, l'inutilité d'une nouvelle éffusion de sang; vous avez dû gémir en +voyant le malheureux sort de la ville de Roseau; mon premier soin en y +entrant a été de donner des ordres pour arrêter l'incendie: mais par +malheur le mal était dejà trop grand. Le besoin en subsistence produit +toujours des effete cruels, et le résultat peut en être calculé plus +positivement que celui de toute autre chose. Ne fût-ce que cette +consideration, elle est plus que suffisante sous la circonstance où vous +vous trouvez pour accepter les conditions honorables que je suis disposé à +vous accorder, et soustraire ainsi par un arrangement les habitans +intéressants de cette colonie à des nouveaux malheurs presque toujours +inséparable des événemens de la guerre. Veuillez, M. le Général, me faire +connoître bientôt votre réponse; en attendant, recevez l'assurance de la +haute consideration que j'ai pour vous.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"J'ai l'honneur de vous saluer,<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">Lagrange</span>." +</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Head-Quarters, Prince Ruperts,<br /> +Feb. 25th, 1805.</i> +</p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"I have had the honour to receive your letter. My duty to my King and +country is so superior to every<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxix" id="Page_xxix">[Pg xxix]</a></span> other consideration, that I have only to +thank you for the observations you have been pleased to make on the often +inevitable consequences of war. Give me leave, individually, to express the +greatest gratitude for your humanity and kind treatment of my wife and +children; at the same time to request a continuance thereof, not only to +her and them, but towards every other object you may meet with.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I have the honor to be, &c. &c.<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">G. Prevost</span>." +</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Copy of a Letter from Lord Camden.</p> + +<p class="date"> +<i>Downing Street, 18th May, 1805.</i> +</p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"Your letter to me of the 1st of March, containing your reports to +Lieut.-General Sir William Myers, of the attack made by a French squadron +with a considerable body of troops on the Island of Dominica, of the +gallantry with which they were opposed, and of their retreat from that +Island on the 27th February has been laid before the King. I have it in +command from His Majesty to express his entire satisfaction in the +judicious and brave exertions which you displayed in this emergency; and +you will signify to the officers and men of the Regular and Militia forces +under your command, His Majesty's entire approbation of their spirited and +meritorious services.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I have honor to be, &c. &c.<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">Camden</span>."</p> + + +<h3>No. XI.</h3> + +<p><i>Letter from His Royal Highness the Duke of York to the Earl of Camden, p</i>. +9.</p> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Horse Guards, Nov. 26th, 1805</i>.</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">My dear Lord</span>,</p> + +<p>"I have to acknowledge your lordship's letter of yesterday, recommending +Major-General Prevost to my peculiar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxx" id="Page_xxx">[Pg xxx]</a></span> protection, from the military spirit +and knowledge which he displayed in the late affair with the enemy at +Dominica, and I request your lordship will be persuaded of the high sense I +entertain of the services and exertions of Major-General Prevost, and that +I shall be happy in availing myself of any opportunity to recommend him for +a mark of His Majesty's favor.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I remain, my dear Lord,<br /> +<br /> +"Yours sincerely,<br /> +<br /> +"<span class="smcap">Frederick</span>."<br /> +<br /> +"<i>To the Earl of Camden, K. G.<br /> +&c. &c. &c.</i>" +</p> + + +<h3>No. XII.</h3> + +<p><i>Letter from the Speaker of the House of Assembly of Dominica to General +Prevost, p. 10.</i></p> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Dominica, 17th May, 1805</i>.</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Sir</span>,</p> + +<p>"I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency, by desire of the +House of Assembly, a copy of their Resolutions of the 2d instant, +expressive of their thanks of your late gallant defence of the colony +against a French force so very superior, and appropriating the sum of 1,000 +guineas for the purchase of a Sword, and a service of Plate to be presented +to you in testimony of their gratitude and approbation.</p> + +<p>It affords me a peculiar gratification to be the organ of the House on the +present occasion, because I am thus furnished with an opportunity of +expressing the high esteem I entertain for your Excellency's character, not +only as a brave, judicious, and experienced officer, in which capacity your +merit has long stood conspicuous, but as a man of strict probity, and as a +Governor whose public measures have uniformly been directed by views of +general utility. When I say that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxxi" id="Page_xxxi">[Pg xxxi]</a></span> it is with the deepest regret I +contemplate the departure of your Excellency from this colony, I speak the +language of every respectable member of the community—but you go to reap +in the approbation of your Sovereign, and the applauses of your country, +the well-earned reward of your unremitting vigilance and indefatigable +exertions, and I am persuaded that you carry with you from hence the +earnest wishes of all good men for the happiness and prosperity of yourself +and your family.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I have the honor to be,<br /> +<br /> +"With the highest respect, &c. &c.<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">J. Lucas</span>,<br /> +<br /> +"Speaker."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>The Governor's Reply.</i></p> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Prince Ruperts, 3d June.</i></p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"You have conveyed to me, in terms most flattering, the thanks of the House +of Assembly for my endeavours to save this colony from the misery of a +foreign and oppressive yoke. As the organ of that body you have expressed +its partial sentiments with a friendly zeal, that has made on my mind an +impression not to be effaced.</p> + +<p>Allow me, Sir, through you, to offer to the House of Assembly my unfeigned +thanks for the token I have received of its partial consideration of my +services. That unanimity which has been our strength, uninterrupted, may +render Dominica, even in the present perilous moment,<a name="FNanchor_104_104" id="FNanchor_104_104"></a><a href="#Footnote_104_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a> almost +invulnerable. Whilst danger exists, I will never abandon my post; nor shall +I ever cease to entertain a grateful recollection of the sentiments the +occasion has called forth.</p> + +<p>So much of the resolutions of the House as we not personal to myself, I +have caused to be given out in General Orders, to the Regular and Militia +Forces.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I have the honor to be, &c.<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">G. Prevost</span>."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxxii" id="Page_xxxii">[Pg xxxii]</a></span></p> + +<h3>No. XIII.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>His Honor the President and Council, and the Speaker +and Gentlemen of the Assembly, to His Excellency the +Governor in Chief, p. 10.</i></p></div> + +<p>The Board and House having come to the following Resolution of voting the +sum of 1,000<i>l.</i> sterling, for the purpose of purchasing a Sword and +Service of Plate to be presented to his Excellency Governor Prevost, in the +name of the Colony, as a token of its gratitude for the gallant defence +thereof by his Excellency on the memorable 22d February last,</p> + +<p>Also a sum not exceeding 300<i>l.</i> sterling, for defraying the expense of a +Monument to the memory of the late Major Nunn who gallantly fell on the +same memorable occasion,</p> + +<p>Also the sum of 100 guineas for the purchase of a Sword to be presented to +Major O'Connell, And 300<i>l.</i> sterling to be presented to Captain James, +commanding the 46th regiment, to be laid out in the purchase of a Service +of Plate for the use of the officers' Mess of that regiment—request your +Excellency's' assent thereto, and that you will issue your warrants to the +Treasurer accordingly.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +<span class="smcap">T. Metcalf</span>, President.<br /> +<span class="smcap">J. Lucas</span>, Speaker.<br /> +<br /> +<i>Council Chamber, 12th May, 1805.<br /> +House of Assembly, 15th May, 1805.</i></p> + + +<h3>No. XIV.</h3> + +<p><i>Resolutions of the Patriotic Club, and Letter of the Chairman to General +Prevost, p. 10.</i></p> + +<p class="date"> +<i>Patriotic Fund, Lloyd's, May 14, 1805.</i></p> + +<p>At a Special General Meeting of the Committee held this day,</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Joseph Marryat</span>, Esq. in the Chair,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxxiii" id="Page_xxxiii">[Pg xxxiii]</a></span> Read, from the London Gazette of the +7th of May, a letter from Lieut.-General Sir William Myers, Bart. +commanding His Majesty's troops in the Windward and Leeward Islands, to +Earl Camden, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, inclosing +a letter from Brigadier-General Prevost, Governor of Dominica, relating to +the vigorous and gallant resistance made by the troops and militia under +his command, against the very superior force with which the French landed +at Roseau, on the 22d of February last; his retreat to the fort at Prince +Ruperts; and the resolution he expressed, in answer to the summons of +General Lagrange, of defending it to the last extremity; in consequence of +which the enemy abandoned the enterprise, and evacuated the Island.</p> + +<p>Resolved,</p> + +<p>That a Sword of the value of 100<i>l.</i>, and a Piece of Plate, of the value of +200<i>l.</i>, with appropriate inscriptions, be presented to Brigadier-General +Prevost, for the distinguished gallantry and military talents he displayed +on that occasion, by which the sovereignty of the Island was preserved to +His Majesty's arms.</p> + +<p>That a Sword of Fifty Pounds value, and a Piece of Plate, of the value of +100<i>l.</i>, with appropriate inscriptions, or that sum in money, at his +option, be presented to Major Nunn, wounded while faithfully executing the +orders of General Prevost, "Not to yield to the enemy one inch of ground."</p> + +<p>That a Sword of 50<i>l.</i> value, and a Piece of Plate, of the value of +100<i>l.</i>, with appropriate inscriptions, or that sum in money, at his +option, be presented to Captain O'Connell, whose wound did not induce him +to forego the honour of the command to which he succeeded on Major Nunn +being disabled; and in which he resisted the repeated charges of the enemy, +notwithstanding their great superiority in numbers, till he obliged them to +retire with great slaughter.</p> + +<p>That the sum of 100<i>l.</i> be presented to Captain Colin Campbell, wounded.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxxiv" id="Page_xxxiv">[Pg xxxiv]</a></span></p> + +<p>That the sum of 40<i>l.</i> each be given to the men whose wounds have been +attended with disability or loss of limb.</p> + +<p>That the sum of 20<i>l.</i> each be given to the other men severely wounded.</p> + +<p>And the sum of 10<i>l.</i> each, to the men slightly wounded, including the +Militia of the Island.</p> + +<p>That Brigadier-General Prevost be requested to advise the Committee of the +mode in which the Resolutions respecting himself, Major Nunn, and Captain +O'Connell, can be most acceptably carried into effect—to distribute the +sums voted to the men wounded, and draw for the amount—furnishing the +Committee with the names of the parties, and the sums respectively paid +them—and to forward to the Committee the best information he can procure +respecting the families of the men killed, including the Militia of the +Island, that relief may be afforded to such widows, orphans, and aged +parents, as depended upon them for support.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +<span class="smcap">Joseph Marryat</span>, Chairman.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>(Copy.)</p> + +<p class="date"> +<i>London, May 15, 1805.</i></p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"I have the honor to inclose you the resolutions of the Committee of the +Patriotic Fund, on their taking into consideration the official account of +the gallant and successful defence, made by you, and the brave men under +your command, against the very superior force with which the enemy invested +Dominica, on the 22d February last. That the sovereignty of the Island was +preserved to the British Crown, must be in a great degree ascribed, under +Divine Providence, to the talents with which you conducted the military +operations; to the confidence which those who served under you had in those +talents; and the animation with which they were inspired by your example.</p> + +<p>"The primary object of this Fund being the relief of the wounded, and the +families of those killed in the service of their country, the Committee, on +every occasion, restrict<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxxv" id="Page_xxxv">[Pg xxxv]</a></span> their votes of honorary marks of distinction for +gallant conduct, to the commanding officers. This, they trust, will +satisfactorily explain to those brave officers, to whose merit you bear +such honorable testimony, the reason of their not being noticed in these +resolutions.</p> + +<p>"The Committee, cannot but remark the very distinguished manner in which +the inhabitants of Dominica have displayed those gallant exertions against +the enemy, to which they so readily came forward to animate others, by +contributing to this fund. The Committee trust, that in attending to the +other objects of the inclosed resolutions, you will be particularly careful +to recommend to their consideration, the distressed relatives which any of +the Militia of the Colony may have left unprovided for. Your bills, at +three days sight, on Sir Francis Baring, Bart., Chairman of the Patriotic +Fund, at Lloyds, for the amount of the sums voted to the wounded men, will +be immediately honored. As those who are disabled, will be invalided and +sent home, the Committee submit it to your discretion, whether the +gratuities to them had not better be paid them on their arrival here, under +your certificate of their claims.</p> + +<p>"You will be pleased to accompany your draft, with a letter, giving the +names of the parties wounded, and the sums respectively paid to each; which +the Committee leave to your judgment, according to the nature and extent of +the injuries they have received, instead of waiting for further information +to act upon themselves.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I have the honor to be, Sir,<br /> +<br /> +"Your most obedient humble servant,<br /> +<br /> +"<span class="smcap">Joseph Marryat</span>,<br /> +Chairman."<br /> +<br /> +"<i>Brigadier-General Prevost.</i>"</p> + + +<h3>No. XV.</h3><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxxvi" id="Page_xxxvi">[Pg xxxvi]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>At a General Meeting of West India Planters and +Merchants, held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate +Street, May 22, 1805, p. 10.</i></p></div> + +<p>Resolved unanimously,</p> + +<p>That the thanks of this Meeting be given to his Excellency +Brigadier-General Prevost, Governor of the Island of Dominica, for the +distinguished gallantry and high military talents he displayed on the 22d +of February, 1805, in the defence and effectual protection of that Colony +against a numerous, powerful, and unexpected force from France.</p> + +<p>And that this resolution be communicated to General Prevost, in a letter +from the Right Honorable Lord Penrhyn, the Chairman of this Meeting.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Resolved unanimously,</p> + +<p>That this Meeting, impressed with the highest sense of the important +service rendered to all the West India Colonies, by the able resistance +made by General Prevost to the landing of the enemy on the 22d of February, +1805, do request that he will accept from the general body of West India +Planters and Merchants, a Piece of Plate, of the value of 300 guineas, with +an inscription expressive of the sense of this resolution.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Resolved unanimously,</p> + +<p>That the thanks of this Meeting be given to the Field-Officers, Captains, +and other Commissioned Officers of the Royal Artillery, the 46th regiment, +the 1st West India regiment, and also to the officers of the Colonial +Militia, for the gallant conduct they respectively exemplified, and the +zealous co-operation they afforded on the same occasion, and that his +Excellency the Governor be requested to communicate the same.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxxvii" id="Page_xxxvii">[Pg xxxvii]</a></span></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Resolved unanimously,</p> + +<p>That his Excellency General Prevost be requested, in a letter from the +Chairman, to signify to the Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates of his +Majesty's Regular and Militia forces at Dominica, the high sense this +Meeting entertains of their services in resisting the French force on the +22d of February, 1805.</p> + + +<h3>No. XVI.</h3> + +<p><i>Extract from the Dominica Journal, of Saturday, July 6th, 1805, p. 10.</i></p> + +<p class="date"> +<i>Roseau, July 6th, 1805.</i></p> + +<p>Yesterday afternoon, embarked from Roseau, in the Garrison-boat, (under a +salute from Fort Young and Scot's Head) for Prince Ruperts, to join his +amiable family, who left town the day preceding, his Excellency +Major-General George Prevost, our worthy and highly respected Governor, a +gentleman who retires from his government with the pleasing gratification +of the consciousness of having faithfully discharged his duty to his +Sovereign, at the same time that he has, as conscientiously, studied the +interests of the people, over whom he has for nearly three years most +uprightly and honorably presided.</p> + +<p>We presume not to arrogate to ourselves talents capable of becoming the +panegyrists of a Prevost—we shall confine ourselves to observing that his +remembrance will be ever held dear in the breast of every worthy inhabitant +of this Colony; and by declaring that it is our sincere prayer that his +merit may meet its due reward from our most Gracious Sovereign, and that +himself and family may pass their future days in the enjoyment of every +earthly felicity.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxxviii" id="Page_xxxviii">[Pg xxxviii]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>No. XVII.</h3> + +<p><i>Dispatches from Sir George Beckwith, and Letter from Lord Castlereagh, p. +11.</i></p> + +<p class="date"> +<i>Downing-street, March 27.</i></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The following despatches have this day been received +from Lieut.-General Beckwith, Commander of His +Majesty's Forces in the Leeward Islands, addressed to +Lord Viscount Castlereagh.</p></div> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Martinique, Feb. 1.</i> +</p> + +<p>"My Lord,</p> + +<p>"In my last, No. 42, I had the honour to report to your Lordship the +sailing of the army from Carlisle Bay upon the 28th ult. I have now the +satisfaction to acquaint your Lordship that we landed in two divisions upon +the 30th; the first division, under the orders of Lieutenant-General Sir G. +Prevost, consisting of between 6 and 7,000 men, at Bay Robert, on the +windward coast, in the course of the afternoon, without opposition; and, +notwithstanding the difficulties of the country, we occupied a position on +the banks of the Grand Lezard River before day-break of the 31st, with a +corps of nearly 4,000 men, after a night march of seven miles through a +difficult country. These services were greatly facilitated by the judicious +and manly conduct of Captain Beaver, of His Majesty's ship Acasta, who led +into the Bay in a bold and officer-like manner, preceded by His Majesty's +brig Forester, Captain Richards. The exertions and success of this measure +were completely effective, two transports only striking in the narrow +passage at the entrance of the Bay. Hitherto we have experienced no +resistance from the militia of the country; and they manifest a disposition +every where to return to their homes, in conformity to a joint proclamation +by the Admiral and myself, which is obtaining a very extensive circulation. +The second division of the army, consisting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xxxix" id="Page_xxxix">[Pg xxxix]</a></span> of upwards of 3,000 men, under +the command of Major-General Maitland, landed near St. Luce and Point +Solomon on the morning of the 30th; but, as our communication with that +corps is not yet established, I cannot enter into any details. +Lieutenant-General Sir G. Prevost, with the advance in my front, will take +possession of the heights of Bruno in the course of this day; and I am led +to expect will there, for the first time, feel the pulse of the regular +troops of the enemy. The port of Trinite, which lies beyond the line of our +operations, will, by order of Captain Beaver, of the navy, be taken +possession of this day, by a detachment of seamen and marines from the +squadron to windward, under the command of Captain Dick, of the Penelope. +The Admiral, with the body of the fleet and store-ships, is in the vicinity +of Pigeon Island, at the entrance of Fort Royal Bay. Our operations to +windward have been vigorous and effectual in point of time; and the +privations of the troops have been considerable, and borne in a manner +worthy of the character of British soldiers. From what has passed, I am of +opinion the inhabitants of the country manifest a friendly disposition; and +after the heights of Surirey shall be carried, which I expect will be +strongly contested, the campaign will be reduced to the operations of a +siege, and the defence of the fortress.—The services rendered by the +captains and officers of the navy to windward have been great and +essential, and the exertions of Captain Withers of the navy, principal +agent for transports, peculiarly meritorious.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"<span class="smcap">Geo. Beckwith</span>,<br /> +Com. Forces." +</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Martinique, Heights of Surirey, Feb. 3.</i></p> + +<p>"My Lord,</p> + +<p>"In my letter of the 1st inst. I had the honour to report, for His +Majesty's information, the progress then made in our operations against the +enemy. My expectation that Lieutenant-General Sir G. Prevost would meet +them upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xl" id="Page_xl">[Pg xl]</a></span> Morne Bruno, and that the heights of Surirey would be warmly +contested, was realized in the course of the same day; and both were +carried under the direction of the Lieutenant-General, with that decision +and judgment which belong to this respectable officer, and much to the +honour of Brigadier-General Hoghton, the officers and men of the Fusileer +brigade and light battalion, engaged on that service. On the 2nd, it +appeared to me to be desirable to extend to the right of our position; +which was effected in a spirited manner by the King's infantry. An exertion +was then made to carry the advanced redoubt; but, having soon reason to +believe that it would have been acquired with a loss beyond the value of +the acquisition, the troops were withdrawn; and the enemy abandoned it +during the night, with another redoubt contiguous to it, with evident marks +of disorder: both will be occupied and included in our position this night. +Pigeon Island surrendered at discretion yesterday, which enables the +shipping to enter Fort Royal Bay; all the batteries on the Case Naviere +side have been destroyed and abandoned, a frigate and some other +merchant-vessels burned, the lower fort abandoned, and all their troops +withdrawn from Fort Royal to the principal fortress. I consider the +investiture to be nearly completed, and we must now look for the operations +of a siege. Time does not admit of details; but your Lordship will perceive +that these operations have been effected in eight days from our quitting +Barbadoes, notwithstanding heavy rains and most unfavourable weather, in +which the troops have borne every species of privation in a manner worthy +their character as British soldiers.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"<span class="smcap">Geo. Beckwith</span>,<br /> +Com. Forces."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Camp, Heights of Surirey,<br /> +Martinique, Feb. 10.</i></p> + +<p>"My Lord,</p> + +<p>"Having, in my communications of the 1st and 5th instant, submitted to your +Lordship's consideration general<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xli" id="Page_xli">[Pg xli]</a></span> reports of the operations of the army I +have the honour to command, I now beg leave to inclose the special reports +of the General Officers commanding divisions, and of Brigadier-General +Hoghton, whose brigade was in action upon the 1st; with separate returns of +our loss upon the 1st and 2nd, which, I am inclined to believe, will +terminate our operations in the field.—The lower fort, formerly Fort +Edward, was taken possession of before day-break in the morning of the 8th, +by Major Henderson, commanding the Royal York Rangers, with that regiment, +without resistance, and we now occupy that work. St. Pierre surrendered to +Lieutenant-Colonel Barnes, of the 46th, the day before yesterday; and I +have not yet received the details. In the course of all these services, +where the co-operation of the navy was practicable, the greatest exertions +have been made by the Rear-admiral; and the important advantages rendered +on shore by that excellent officer, Commodore Cockburn, in the reduction of +Pigeon Island, and the landing cannon, mortars, and ammunition at Point +Negroe, and conveying them to the several batteries on that side, have been +of the highest importance to the King's service.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"<span class="smcap">Geo. Beckwith</span>,<br /> +Com. Forces."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p class="sig"> +"<i>Martinique, Heights of Surirey, Feb. 2.</i></p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"In conformity with your orders, I disembarked on the 30th ult. with the +Fuzileer brigade of the 1st division of the army, at Malgre Tout, in the +Bay Robert, at four o'clock, p. m. and proceeded from thence to De +Manceau's estate, where I arrived late, in consequence of the difficulties +of the country, and the unfavourable state of the roads for the movement of +cannon. Before the dawn of the next day, I reached Papin's, and proceeded +from thence with the advance, composed of the Royal Fusileer regiment, and +the grenadier<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xlii" id="Page_xlii">[Pg xlii]</a></span> company of the 1st West India regiment. The enemy retiring +before me, I reached the heights of De Bork's estate towards evening, where +I was joined at day-light on the 1st inst. by Brigadier-General Hoghton, +with the 23rd regiment and the light infantry battalion, under the command +of Major Campbell, of the Royal West India Rangers. I lost no time after +this junction, and pushed forwards the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Pakenham, +with the Royal Fusileers, to possess himself of Morne Bruno; this movement +I supported by the light infantry battalion, under Brigadier-General +Hoghton, who was ordered, after uniting the two corps, to proceed to force +the heights of Desfourneaux, whilst I held the Royal Welsh Fusileers in +reserve, to strengthen such points of attack as might require it. On my +coming on the heights of Surirey, I had innumerable proofs of the valour +and judgment of the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Pakenham, of the excellence of +the Fusileer brigade, and of the spirited and judicious exertions of +Lieutenant-Colonel Ellis, and Majors Pearson and Ostley, of the 23rd or +Royal Welsh Fusileers; also of the bravery of Major Campbell and the light +infantry battalion; all of which have enabled me to retain this valuable +position without artillery, within 300 yards of the enemy's intrenched +camp, covered with guns. The officers belonging to my staff distinguished +themselves by their zeal and activity during the heat of the action. I have +to lament the loss of Captain Taylor, Acting Deputy-Quarter-Master-General, +who was severely wounded whilst rendering effectual services to his +country.—I cannot omit acknowledging, that to Lieutenant Hobbs, of the +Royal Engineers, I am indebted for the rapidity of our movements, and +ultimate success, from his acquaintance with this country, which enabled +him to guide and direct our movements.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"<span class="smcap">Geo. Prevost</span>,<br /> +Lieut.-Gen."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xliii" id="Page_xliii">[Pg xliii]</a></span></p> + +<p>(Private.)</p> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Downing-street, May 25th, 1809.</i></p> + +<p>"Dear Sir,</p> + +<p>"I beg to congratulate you on the successful termination of the operations +in Martinique, in which you bore so distinguished a part. I hope that this +will find you safely returned to Nova Scotia, without having suffered in +your health from your West India campaign.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I remain, dear Sir,<br /> +<br /> +"Your faithful and obedient servant,<br /> +<br /> +"<span class="smcap">Castlereagh</span>."<br /> +<br /> +"<i>Lieut.-Gen. Sir G. Prevost,<br /> +&c. &c. &c.</i>"</p> + + +<h3>No. XVIII.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Addresses presented to Sir George Prevost, on his +Arrival at the Islands of Dominica and St. Christopher, +p. 11.</i></p></div> + +<p><i>To His Excellency Lieut.-Gen. Sir George Prevost, Bart. &c. &c. &c.</i></p> + +<p>"May it please your Excellency,</p> + +<p>"We, His Majesty's loyal subjects, the Members of the House of Assembly of +the Island of Dominica, avail ourselves of the occasion of your +Excellency's visit to your late government, to repeat to you the assurances +of the high esteem which we have ever entertained for the character of your +Excellency, and to express our most grateful sense of the unabated zeal +which your Excellency has evinced, on every occasion, to promote the +welfare and prosperity of this colony, as well as to add glory to the arms +of your country.</p> + +<p>"With every anniversary of the 22nd February, will the services rendered by +your Excellency recur to our memory,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xliv" id="Page_xliv">[Pg xliv]</a></span> not only from the gallantry displayed +by your Excellency upon that occasion, when opposed to so superior a force, +but for your subsequent exertions in favour of the unfortunate sufferers by +the fire, to which may be chiefly attributed the relief afforded them by +the mother country.</p> + +<p>"We beg leave to congratulate your Excellency upon the brilliant result of +the operations against the enemy's most important colonial possession, and +by which, an opportunity has been afforded you, of acquiring fresh laurels, +in addition to those which already grace your Excellency.</p> + +<p>"We most heartily and sincerely wish your Excellency a prosperous and +pleasant passage to your government, and we anticipate that reward which +awaits you (ever most pleasing to a soldier)—the approbation of your +sovereign.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"<span class="smcap">Jno. Hy. Hobson</span>,<br /> +Speaker."<br /> +<br /> +"<i>House of Assembly,<br /> +15th March, 1809.</i>"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>Reply of Sir George Prevost.</i></p> + +<p>"Mr. Speaker, and</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen of the House of Assembly,</p> + +<p>"I feel flattered by your expressions of personal consideration, and highly +gratified that my exertions in favour of the sufferers on the memorable 22d +of February, 1805, were attended by some success.</p> + +<p>"I thank you for your congratulations on the favourable termination of a +short, but brilliant campaign.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"<span class="smcap">George Prevost.</span>"<br /> +<br /> +"<i>Government-House, 15th<br /> +March, 1809.</i>"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>To His Excellency Lieut.-Gen. Sir George Prevost, Bart. &c. &c. &c.</i></p> + +<p>"May it please your Excellency,</p> + +<p>"We the merchants and inhabitants of this His Majesty's Island of Saint +Christopher, beg leave to approach<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xlv" id="Page_xlv">[Pg xlv]</a></span> your Excellency with the warmest +congratulations on your arrival in this colony; and to assure your +Excellency that could any circumstance enhance the satisfaction we receive +upon this occasion, it must proceed from the happy contemplation of the +recent success which has crowned the exertions to which you have so +pre-eminently contributed in the reduction of the Island of Martinique to +His Majesty's arms: a conquest which has at once given additional splendour +to the British name, and added another signal example of your merit, +perseverance, and intrepidity.</p> + +<p>"Although pre-eminent as your Excellency is viewed, by every class of your +heroic brothers in arms, we cannot, however, but assure your Excellency, +that the high and general estimation which every inhabitant of the sister +colony (hitherto entrusted to your command), feels toward you, (and which +colony you so gallantly defended against a superior force), contributes +most powerfully to endear you to every individual of this island, in the +united character of a brave soldier and a good citizen.</p> + +<p>"We trust your Excellency's stay amongst us will be protracted for a time +equal to the wishes of this community, who anxiously express the most +ardent desire of offering to your Excellency every testimony of the high +consideration they entertain of you, and the brave soldiers under your +command.</p> + +<p>"A great and good King, who can appreciate merit and bestow reward, will +add stability to our expressions, and pronounce to the world, by his +commendations, that we have not presumed to announce your merits, but from +the truest heralds of your fame—men who have shared your dangers and +received your smiles—the British soldiery."</p> + +<p> +"<i>Basseterre, March 21st, 1809.</i>"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xlvi" id="Page_xlvi">[Pg xlvi]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Reply of Sir George Prevost.</i></p> + +<p><i>To the Merchants and Inhabitants of the Island of St. Christopher.</i></p> + +<p>"Gentlemen,</p> + +<p>"Highly flattered as I feel by the address of the merchants and inhabitants +of His Majesty's Island of St. Christopher; the gratification I derive from +this testimony of their consideration, increases my very sincere regret +that the interest of the public service deprives me of the opportunity of +indulging my private feelings in making a longer stay than my duty will in +the present instance permit;—I shall ever most eagerly and joyfully avail +myself of every occasion of testifying to this island, my sincerest and +best wishes for its welfare and prosperity.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">George Prevost</span>."<br /> +<br /> +"<i>Basseterre, March 21st, 1809.</i>"</p> + + +<h3>No. XIX.</h3> + +<p><i>Address from the Inhabitants of Halifax, p. 12.</i></p> + +<p><i>To His Excellency Sir George Prevost, Bart. &c. &c. &c.</i></p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"Your Excellency intending shortly to leave this Province, the inhabitants +of Halifax cannot omit expressing to you their unfeigned regret on the +occasion, and, at the same time, testifying their gratitude for the many +real benefits which the province has derived from your short administration +of the government.</p> + +<p>"We have often been induced to come forward to manifest our esteem for many +valuable and respectable characters, who have filled high stations in this +country, for it has been our good fortune to have had many men of tried +worth at the head of the civil, naval, and military departments here; but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xlvii" id="Page_xlvii">[Pg xlvii]</a></span> +believe us, Sir, we use not the language of flattery, when we say, that we +have never felt more sincere regret, than for your departure from us.</p> + +<p>"Equity has been the ruling principle of your administration, and the most +unremitting attention to public business its invariable practice: your +indefatigable zeal carried you into the most remote parts of the province, +and you became early acquainted with our situation and our wants. The +confidence with which you inspired the legislative body, induced them to +provide ample supplies for the different branches of the public service. +The wisdom with which they have been appropriated, equals the liberality +with which they were granted, and must produce extensive and permanent +benefits to the country at large.</p> + +<p>"Your ears have been open to the petitioners of every class, and your ready +attention to their wants and their claims, has left no cause for complaint. +With the sentiments of affectionate and respectful regard which you have +excited in our breasts—while we deplore our loss, we cannot but derive +consolation from the justly merited honours that cause your removal.</p> + +<p>"We consider your appointment to the supreme command of British North +America, as an earnest of the blessing which His Majesty's subjects, on the +western side of the Atlantic, are to enjoy under the government of the +august personage, the anniversary of whose birth we this day assemble to +commemorate. At this critical period, when the prejudices and misguided +councils of a neighbouring nation render it not improbable that we may be +called upon to defend the invaluable privileges of Englishmen, it must be a +source of satisfaction to every loyal subject, that His Royal Highness, in +the name of our venerable sovereign, has entrusted the defence of these +colonies to an officer, who has so frequently proved himself worthy of +commanding British colonies. May he ever, Sir, be thus influenced in his +nominations to offices of great trust and high responsibility, by the merit +of those on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xlviii" id="Page_xlviii">[Pg xlviii]</a></span> whom they are to be conferred. We thank you for your +condescension in permitting your portrait to be taken and left with us. It +will be a perpetual memorial of a personage, whose public conduct and +private virtues have been so beneficial and endearing to His Majesty's +subjects in this province.</p> + +<p>"You go, Sir, to a more exalted station; but you cannot go where you will +be more beloved or respected. In taking our leave of you, permit us to +assure you of our warmest wishes, that every blessing may be yours, and +every happiness attend your amiable and exemplary lady, and each individual +of your excellent family.</p> + +<p> +"<i>Halifax, 12th August, 1811.</i>"</p> + + +<h3>No. XX.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Addresses from the Clergy of Nova Scotia, &c. &c. to +Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart. &c. &c. +&c. p. 12.</i></p></div> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"Although the clergy of the established church of Nova Scotia most +cordially join in the general tribute of respect, which is now offered to +your Excellency; and very largely share in the sincere regret, so +universally excited by your intended departure from this province; the +important benefits which you have rendered to the sacred objects of our +profession, by your Excellency's exertions in their behalf, impel us to a +more particular expression of our gratitude, and our grief.</p> + +<p>"Your Excellency has a claim upon the best acknowledgments we can offer, +for every mark of respect to our office, and every condescending attention +to ourselves, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xlix" id="Page_xlix">[Pg xlix]</a></span> we could receive at your hands; accompanied by +continual endeavours to promote the cause of literature and religion in +this colony.</p> + +<p>"Through your Excellency's attentive kindness, and your representations to +the throne, the most benevolent assistance has been extended to our +churches, and in every part of the province they are now receiving +improvement and enlargement. While our dutiful and affectionate gratitude +is directed towards the royal source of these great benefits, we cannot be +wanting in warm and grateful respect, for the channel through which they +have been obtained.</p> + +<p>"Nor are we under less obligation, for the uniform and exemplary attention +of your Excellency, and your family, to the public and private duties of +religion. You will permit us, Sir, though duly sensible of your other +numerous and distinguished merits, to consider this among the brightest +ornaments of your character. It supplies us with most gratifying evidence, +to an important truth, that the ablest and best servants to their King and +country, must be sought among those who are most faithful to their God.</p> + +<p>"Feeling as we do the extensive and peculiar benefits of your Excellency's +residence among us, it is impossible that we should not have the deepest +regret for your departure. But it will be our duty to seek for alleviation +for our sorrow, in grateful recollection of the benefits we have already +received, and in humble hope that the influence of your example will +remain, when we can no longer enjoy the advantages of your presence. We +have unfeigned satisfaction also, in the increased honours, and more +extensive command, to which you are called, by the discerning favour of +your Prince; and we shall have much comfort in reflecting, that although +your Excellency will be advanced from the particular charge of this +province, we shall still have the happiness of being under your general +government.</p> + +<p>"Permit us to assure you, Sir, that our sincerely affectionate respect and +esteem will ever follow you; and that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_l" id="Page_l">[Pg l]</a></span> our fervent prayers are now offered, +and will be long continued, for every blessing to yourself and family; for +every honour you can now enjoy; and for unfading glory when all the honours +of the world shall have passed away."</p> + +<p> +"<i>Halifax, Aug. 15th, 1811.</i>"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>His Excellency's Reply.</i></p> + +<p>"I received with sentiments of peculiar satisfaction, the address of the +Right Reverend the Bishop and the clergy of Nova Scotia.</p> + +<p>"My fervency in that important cause they especially promote, renders their +favourable consideration of my government, an act at once gratifying for +the past, and encouraging for the future, under whatever situation my +sovereign's commands may place me. I am well aware, that if our revered and +pious King could investigate the course of my administration in this +province, there is no part of it which would ensure me his royal favour, +equal to the testimony with which I am honoured in this address.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"<span class="smcap">George Prevost.</span>"<br /> +<br /> +"<i>Government House,<br /> +15th August.</i>"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p class="date"> +<i>Halifax, August 19.</i></p> + +<p>The following addresses were presented to his Excellency Sir George +Prevost, Bart. last week.</p> + +<p><i>The Address of the Council to his Excellency Sir George Prevost, Bart. +Lieut.-Governor of Nova-Scotia, &c. &c. &c.</i></p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"His Majesty's Council cannot take leave of your Excellency at this Board, +without an expression of those sentiments which they cordially feel upon +the painful eve of your departure.</p> + +<p>"The general regret of the province upon this occasion,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_li" id="Page_li">[Pg li]</a></span> pervading every +class, and flowing from the purest of sources, must afford you, Sir, the +most satisfactory evidence, that you have lived here in the hearts of His +Majesty's subjects;—and that you have well merited the affection they +manifest: to us who have had the honour of a closer communication with your +Excellency, and have, thus, become intimately acquainted with your talents +and your virtues, you have been more perfectly known;—by us, you will of +course be doubly regretted.</p> + +<p>"We early discovered your vigilance, and energetic zeal for the good of the +province,—your acute discernment of its best interests,—your perseverance +in the pursuit of every object that could lead to its welfare,—and your +unwearied attention to its minutest concerns;—we soon discovered that +excellent understanding, which has so well fitted you to govern, and that +integrity and independence, which have rendered your government so beloved, +and so respectable.</p> + +<p>"It is, however, to these talents and virtues, that we are to impute our +present loss;—the discerning mind of our excellent Prince has called you +to a higher appointment, and our fellow subjects of a sister colony will +have the satisfaction of receiving that boon, with which we are now +parting;—we have a consolation, however, in reflecting, that we are still +to remain within the influence of your valued abilities, and that we may +feel the effects of their spirited exertions, in a contiguous, and more +extensive quarter of the British empire;—wherever your duties, civil or +military, may call you, to the cabinet as a statesman, or to the field as a +soldier, we are confident you will deserve well of your country, and +justify, to the fullest extent, the very high opinion upon which your +preferment has been founded.</p> + +<p>"As your council,—with whom you have ever advised, upon terms of the most +unreserved candour and harmony,—as your friends,—with whom you have ever +associated, upon terms of the most affectionate condescension; we, Sir, +with feelings of the purest regret,—and with the sincerest wishes for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lii" id="Page_lii">[Pg lii]</a></span> +welfare of yourself and your family,—earnestly bid you farewell."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>Answer.</i></p> + +<p>"Gentlemen,</p> + +<p>"The expressions of general esteem and approbation, with which I have been +honoured, concurring with the sentiments of His Majesty's Council, is a +circumstance peculiarly gratifying to me. You, gentlemen, are intimately +acquainted with the principles upon which my conduct has been founded, +others can only judge from the effects produced by the measures pursued +during my administration.</p> + +<p>"If my endeavours in the public service have been successful, I may ascribe +much of that success to the able assistance I have received from you.</p> + +<p>"Your advice, ever springing from a perfect knowledge of the true interests +of the province, a due regard to the just rights of the people, and a +zealous attachment to His Majesty's person and government, has enabled me +to accomplish objects of much promise to the future prosperity of this +province.</p> + +<p>"Having expressed the obligations I feel on public ground, I am not the +less sensible of those of a personal nature.</p> + +<p>"I shall ever reflect with satisfaction on the happy state of our +intercourse during the period of my administration.—It is, therefore, with +feelings of the sincerest regard, I repeat your farewell.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"<span class="smcap">George Prevost.</span>"<br /> +<br /> +"<i>Government House,<br /> +16th Aug. 1811.</i>"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>To his Excellency Sir George Prevost, Bart. +Lieut.-Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His +Majesty's Province of Nova Scotia, &c. &c. &c.</i></p></div> + +<p>"We the undersigned representatives for the county and townships within the +county of Hants, as well for ourselves<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_liii" id="Page_liii">[Pg liii]</a></span> as our constituents: the clergy and +magistrates in the same county, beg leave to address your Excellency upon +your departure from this government.</p> + +<p>"We have recently heard with mingled joy and concern, that His Majesty has +raised you to the distinguished, but well-merited favour of being appointed +Governor-General of the British Provinces in North America, and that your +Excellency will immediately proceed to your government. Upon this occasion +we cannot forbear expressing our grateful sense of your wise and mild +administration.</p> + +<p>"The ardour manifested by your Excellency, in promoting the true interests +of this province, has made a deep impression upon the minds of the people +of this happy and highly-favoured colony.</p> + +<p>"Under your government, Sir, though a short one, the agriculture, commerce, +and fisheries of the province have rapidly increased; religion has been +cherished, schools established, extensive roads of communication with the +capital opened and improved, the militia organized and disciplined, and +under the most salutary regulations rendered efficient.</p> + +<p>"The inhabitants of the county of Hants, deeply impressed with a sense of +the benefits they have received, will ever retain a grateful recollection +of them, and while they lament the departure of your Excellency from this +government, are made happy by the consideration that your Excellency has +experienced an additional mark of the Royal favour.</p> + +<p>"We earnestly pray that your Excellency, Lady Prevost and family, may have +a pleasant voyage, and arrive in safety at the seat of your government, and +be attended throughout life with the choicest blessings of Providence.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +[Signed by the Representatives, Magistrates,<br /> +Clergy, and other principal Inhabitants.]<br /> +<br /> +"<i>Windsor, 13th August, 1811.</i>"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_liv" id="Page_liv">[Pg liv]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Reply.</i></p> + +<p>"Gentlemen,</p> + +<p>"With feelings of satisfaction and gratitude, I return you my best thanks +for the warm assurance of your regard, so kindly manifested in your address +upon my departure.</p> + +<p>"Your high approbation of my measures I shall ever retain as an additional +pledge of the general esteem of this province, which it has been my +ambition to acquire; and, believe me, that among those of His Majesty's +subjects, who have favoured me with their good opinion and good wishes, I +feel much pleasure in receiving the affectionate address of the flourishing +county of Hants.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"<span class="smcap">George Prevost.</span><br /> +<br /> +"<i>Government House,<br /> +16th Aug. 1811.</i>"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>To His Excellency Lieut.-General Sir George Prevost, +Bart. Lieut.-Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and +over His Majesty's Province of Nova Scotia, and its +Dependencies, &c. &c. &c.</i></p></div> + +<p>"May it please your Excellency,</p> + +<p>"The magistrates and militia officers of King's County, humbly intreat, +that they may be allowed to offer their assurance of high respect and +unfeigned esteem to your Excellency, on your departure from Nova Scotia. +Your Excellency's unwearied attention to the welfare and best interest of +this province, have engaged admiration, and given you a strong claim to our +gratitude; while the wisdom, mildness, and firmness of your administration +have commanded general confidence; and such are your military talents, +that, though storms have been hovering around us, and threatened to burst +over our heads, with dependence on Divine protection, we have felt secure, +while our armed force was under your direction.</p> + +<p>"The virtues of your character have endeared you to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lv" id="Page_lv">[Pg lv]</a></span> inhabitants of +Nova Scotia, and we cannot but feel regret at your departure: but a higher +and more important station requires your talents and abilities; and we beg +leave to congratulate you on the flattering testimony you have received of +royal favour and approbation.</p> + +<p>"Permit us to say, that we shall ever feel a lively interest in every thing +that regards your Excellency, and that the name of Sir George Prevost will +ever be dear and honoured among us.</p> + +<p>"To Lady Prevost we beg leave to tender our best respects, and sincere +wishes, for her future happiness.</p> + +<p>"May a pleasant passage await you, and may you continue to receive, from +our gracious Sovereign, those rewards which your services so justly entitle +you to.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +[Signed by the Magistrates, Clergy,<br /> +Militia Officers, and other principal<br /> +Inhabitants.]<br /> +<br /> +"<i>August 15th, 1811.</i>" +</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>Reply.</i></p> + +<p>"Gentlemen,</p> + +<p>"Feeling a sincere regard for every class of people within this happy +colony, I need not say that your kind address cannot but add to my +gratification.</p> + +<p>"I have made it my study to become acquainted with every part of the +Province, with its views, its resources, and its advantages; but of your +county I have had the satisfaction to obtain a more particular knowledge.</p> + +<p>"The high state of its cultivation, and the agricultural benefits attending +it, should make you proud of the land on which you live.</p> + +<p>"Permit me, in return for your cordial address, to express my sincere +wishes that your prosperity may continue, and that you may long live a free +and happy people, under the best of governments.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"<span class="smcap">George Prevost.</span>"<br /> +<br /> +"<i>Government House,<br /> +16th Aug. 1811.</i>"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lvi" id="Page_lvi">[Pg lvi]</a></span></p> +<h3>No. XXI.<a name="FNanchor_105_105" id="FNanchor_105_105"></a><a href="#Footnote_105_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a></h3> + +<p><i>Address from the House of Assembly of Upper Canada to Sir George Prevost, +March 1813, p. 75.</i></p> + +<p>"May it please your Excellency,</p> + +<p>"We, his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of Upper +Canada in Provincial Parliament assembled, beg leave to congratulate your +Excellency on your arrival in this Province, and to express the unfeigned +satisfaction it affords us in as much as it is an additional proof of the +high interest your Excellency takes in the general welfare of this colony.</p> + +<p>"We should be wanting to the sovereign, under whose paternal care we have +so long lived, to our country and to ourselves, were we to neglect to offer +to your Excellency at this time, the sentiments of gratitude with which we +feel inspired for the marks of your attention manifested in providing +clothing for a considerable portion of the loyal and brave militia of this +Province, as well as for the active and vigorous exertions which have been +made, and are now making for strengthening our marine force upon the Lakes, +which will enable us to secure and preserve that superiority upon that +favourite element to which Great Britain is indebted for her prosperity and +glory; and on which our safety so materially depends.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lvii" id="Page_lvii">[Pg lvii]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Emerging from a state of infancy, the inhabitants of this province have +been enabled, by the aid afforded them by your Excellency in his Majesty's +regular forces, to defeat the designs of the enemy; although his numbers +have been in every instance so superior.</p> + +<p>"To suppose your Excellency will not continue to extend every assistance to +us in this emergency, would be the height of incredulity, after the +testimony we have already witnessed of your vigilance and affectionate +solicitude for our preservation. It would be superfluous, therefore, to +suggest how much we stand in need of the fostering hand of our mother +country—to be directed by the wisdom of your Excellency, in order that we +may maintain the laws and constitution so dear to us, and which it is our +sincere hope we may transmit unimpaired to our posterity.</p> + +<p>"We hesitate not to say, that the energy your Excellency may exercise +towards the attainment of this great end, will be zealously seconded by the +people of this Province, and that their efforts under the influence of an +omnipotent power, and the devotion of your Excellency's military skill, +will be eventually successful.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"<span class="smcap">Allan M'Lean</span>,<br /> +Speaker."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>Address from the Inhabitants of York to Sir George Prevost.</i></p> + +<p>"May it please your Excellency,</p> + +<p>"We the Magistrates and other inhabitants of the town of York, are happy in +having an opportunity of paying that respect, which we owe to your +Excellency, and of offering our most sincere thanks and acknowledgments for +the attention you have been pleased to shew to this province.</p> + +<p>"The pride and pleasure which we feel from the behaviour of our gallant +militia, is greatly heightened when we consider that their conduct is +honoured with your approbation, and that you are pleased to testify your +sense of their services in ordering clothing for a considerable proportion +of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lviii" id="Page_lviii">[Pg lviii]</a></span> their number; an act of benevolence and humanity which will make a deep +and lasting impression on their minds; and stimulate them to preserve that +high character which they have already acquired.</p> + +<p>"But we should, indeed, be much wanting to your Excellency, as well as to +ourselves, if we did not on this occasion, with gratitude acknowledge the +obligation which this province lies under to the valour and discipline of +his Majesty's regular forces, whose courage and conduct, on the most trying +emergencies, have done honour to the name and to the character of a British +soldier.</p> + +<p>"We are particularly gratified, and offer our most sincere thanks and +acknowledgments for the vigorous exertions which have been made, and are +still carrying on towards the strengthening our provincial marine, by order +of your Excellency, fully convinced that to maintain a superiority upon the +Lakes is an object of the first importance to this Province.</p> + +<p>"Thankful for that success which has hitherto crowned his Majesty's arms +under your command, we earnestly beg for its continuance, entertaining the +pleasing hope, that by our own conduct, and the exertions of our brave +defenders, we, in this Colony, by the blessing of God, may long remain +under the protection of our parent State, a free, brave, and loyal people.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"<span class="smcap">Thomas Scott</span>,<br /> +Chairman."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>Address from the Inhabitants of Kingston to Sir George Prevost.</i></p> + +<p>"May it please your Excellency,</p> + +<p>"We, his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Magistrates, +Officers of the Militia, and other inhabitants of the town of Kingston, and +other parts of the Midland District, beg leave respectfully to express the +high sense we entertain of your Excellency's watchful care for the safety<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lix" id="Page_lix">[Pg lix]</a></span> +of this Province, which has led you at this inclement season to undertake a +toilsome journey of many hundred miles for the purpose of visiting and +inspecting its extensive frontiers. Your presence, Sir, cannot but diffuse +fresh energy in all classes of his Majesty's subjects, and encourage them +to continue their zealous co-operation in the common cause; and we trust +that under the judicious arrangement which has been made by your +Excellency's orders, Divine Providence will continue to crown our exertions +in defence of the Province against his Majesty's enemies with the same +success by which they have been hitherto happily distinguished.</p> + +<p> +"<i>Kingston, March 7, 1813.</i>"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>Address from the Inhabitants of the Eastern District of Upper Canada to +Sir George Prevost.</i></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"To his Excellency Sir George Prevost, Knight and +Baronet, Captain General, &c. &c. &c. The loyal address +of the Inhabitants of the Eastern District.</p></div> + +<p>"We, his Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, inhabitants of the Eastern +District of Upper Canada, beg leave to present to your Excellency our +unfeigned, and heartfelt congratulations on your safe return from your long +and fatiguing journey to the upper parts of this Province, which your +ardent zeal for the service of your king and country, and paternal +solicitude for the security of this portion of his Majesty's dominions only +could induce you to undertake.</p> + +<p>"We thank heaven for having preserved your Excellency's person from all the +dangers to which you have been exposed, not only from the enemy in the long +line of frontiers through which you had to pass, but from the contagious +diseases, which rage through many parts of these Provinces, and other +dangers incidental to a journey of upwards of a thousand miles in a country +like this, still destitute of inns, and proper accommodations for +travellers, and at the most inclement season of the year.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lx" id="Page_lx">[Pg lx]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So illustrious an example of despising danger and sacrificing personal +ease and comfort, exhibited by the representative of our beloved sovereign, +both chears and animates us to bear with resignation our individual +privations in the glorious cause in which we have to struggle. We now +experience the truth which we have so often heard with wonder from others, +that your Excellency's prudence carries with it an irresistible attraction +and confidence among all classes of people, wherever you go. We should +consider it criminal to complain of the hardships to which the present +state of warfare has subjected us, in common with all our fellow-subjects +in this Province; perfectly convinced, as we are, of your Excellency's +earnest wish and readiness to alleviate our sufferings as much as lies in +your power.</p> + +<p>"The auspicious event which, in the late brilliant success of His Majesty's +arms at Ogdensburg, so closely followed the arrival of your Excellency in +Upper Canada, flatters us with the hope that this will be but one of the +happy consequences of your visit. We cannot express to your Excellency in +terms sufficiently strong, our satisfaction in thus having an opportunity +of teaching the enemy that their repeated insults, and wanton attacks upon +our shores, are not to be borne with impunity.</p> + +<p>"To your Excellency's active and fertile mind we look up with much +confidence for the vigorous and energetic measures, to prosecute a war, +into which the insidious policy of a faithless and inveterate enemy has +involved our country and ourselves, and in which are feared every thing +which can render life desirable at stake.</p> + +<p>"We are determined to stand or fall by the parent country, and to defend +the crown and dignity of our revered sovereign, our families and our +properties, with the last drop of our blood. We know that justice is on our +side, and we trust that the God of battles will continue to favour our +cause as he has hitherto done. Indeed we do not allow ourselves to +entertain the smallest doubt of a glorious termination of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxi" id="Page_lxi">[Pg lxi]</a></span> the contest +under your Excellency's government and Heaven's protection.</p> + +<p> +"<i>Glengary, March 8, 1813.</i>"</p> + + +<h3>No. XXII.</h3> + +<p><i>Official Report of Col. Baynes, p. 81.</i></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Extract of a Letter from Lieut.-General Sir George +Prevost to Earl Bathurst, dated Head-Quarters, +Kingston, June 1, 1813.</p></div> + +<p>"Although as your Lordship will perceive by the report of Colonel Baynes, +which I have the honour herewith to transmit, the expedition has not been +attended with the complete success which was expected from it, I have great +satisfaction in informing your Lordship that the courage and patience of +the small band of troops employed on this occasion, under circumstances of +peculiar hardship and privation, have been exceeded only by their intrepid +conduct in the field, forcing a passage at the point of the bayonet through +a thickly wooded country, affording constant shelter and strong positions +to the enemy; but not a single spot of cleared ground favourable to the +operations of disciplined soldiers."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Kingston, May 30, 1813.</i> +</p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"I have the honour to report to your Excellency, that in conformity to an +arranged plan of operations with Commodore Sir James Yeo, the fleet of +boats assembled astern of his ship, at 10 o'clock in the night of the 28th +inst., with the troops placed under my command, and led by a gun-boat under +the direction of Captain Mulcaster, Royal Navy, proceeded towards Sackett's +Harbour in the order prescribed to the troops, in case the detachment was +obliged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxii" id="Page_lxii">[Pg lxii]</a></span> to march in column, viz. the Grenadier Company, 100th, with one +section of the Royal Scots, two Companies of the 8th, or King's, four of +the 104th, two of the Canadian Voltigeurs. Two six-pounders, with their +gunners, and a Company of Glengary Light Infantry, were embarked on board a +light schooner, which was proposed to be towed under the direction of +Officers of the Navy, so as to insure the guns being landed in time to +support the advance of the troops. Although the night was dark with rain, +the boats assembled in the vicinity of Sackett's Harbour, by one o'clock, +in compact and regular order; and in this position it was intended to +remain until the day broke, in the hope of effecting a landing before the +enemy could be prepared to line the woods with troops which surround the +coast; but unfortunately, a strong current drifted the boats considerably, +while the darkness of the night and ignorance of the coast, prevented them +from recovering the proper station until the day dawned, when the whole +pulled for the point of debarkation. It was my intention to have landed in +the cove formed by Horse Island, but on approaching it, we discovered that +the enemy were fully prepared by a very heavy fire of musketry, from the +surrounding woods which were filled with Infantry, supported with a +field-piece. I directed the boats to pull round to the other side of the +Island, where a landing was effected in good order and with little loss, +although executed in the face of a corps formed with a field-piece in the +wood, and under the enfilade of a heavy gun of the enemy's principal +battery. The advance was led by the Grenadiers of the 100th regiment, with +undaunted gallantry which no obstacle could arrest; a narrow causeway, in +many places under water, not more than four feet wide, and about four +hundred paces in length, which connected the Island with the mainland, was +occupied by the enemy in great force with a six-pounder. It was forced and +carried in the most spirited manner, and the gun taken before a second +discharge could be made from it: a tumbril, with a few rounds of +ammunition<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxiii" id="Page_lxiii">[Pg lxiii]</a></span> was found; but, unfortunately, the artillerymen were still +behind, the schooner not having been able to get up in time: and the troops +were exposed to so heavy and galling a fire, from a numerous but almost +invisible foe, as to render it impossible to halt for the artillery to come +up. At this spot two paths led in opposite directions round the hill. I +directed Colonel Young, of the King's regiment, with half of the detachment +to penetrate by the left, and Major Drummond, of the 104th, to force the +path by the right, which proved to be more open and was less occupied by +the enemy. On the left the wood was very thick, and was most obstinately +maintained by the enemy. The gun-boat which had covered our landing, +afforded material aid by firing into the woods; but the American soldier, +secure behind a tree, was only to be dislodged by the bayonet. The spirited +advance of a section produced the flight of hundreds; from this observation +all firing was directed to cease, and the detachment being formed in as +regular order as the nature of the ground would admit, pushed forward +through the wood upon the enemy, who although greatly superior in numbers, +and supported by field-pieces, and a heavy fire from their fort, fled with +precipitation to their block-house and fort, abandoning one of their guns. +The division under Colonel Young was joined in the charge by that under +Major Drummond, which was executed with such spirit and promptness, that +many of the enemy fell in their inclosed barracks, which were set on fire +by our troops. At this point the further energies of the troops became +unavailing. Their block-house and stockaded battery could not be carried by +assault, nor reduced by field-pieces, had we been provided with them—the +fire of the gun-boats proved inefficient to attain that end—light and +adverse winds continued, and our large vessels were still far off. The +enemy turned the heavy ordnance of the battery to the interior defence of +his post. He had set fire to the store-house in the vicinity of the fort. +Seeing no object within our reach to attain that could compensate for the +loss we were momentarily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxiv" id="Page_lxiv">[Pg lxiv]</a></span> sustaining, from the heavy fire of the enemy's +cannon, I directed the troops to take up the position on the crest of the +hill we had charged from. From this position we were ordered to reimbark, +which was performed at our leisure, and in perfect order, the enemy not +presuming to show a single soldier without the limit of his fortress. Your +Excellency having been a witness of the zeal and ardent courage of every +soldier in the field, it is unnecessary in me to assure your Excellency +that but one sentiment animated every breast—that of discharging to the +utmost of their power their duty to their King and country; but one +sentiment of regret and mortification prevailed, in being obliged to quit a +beaten enemy, whom a small band of British soldiers had driven before them +for three hours, through a country abounding in strong positions of +defence, but not offering a single spot of cleared ground favourable for +the operation of disciplined troops, without having fully accomplished the +duty we were ordered to perform. The two divisions of the detachment were +ably commanded by Colonel Young, of the King's, and Major Drummond of the +104th. The detachment of the King's and Major Evans nobly sustained the +high and established character of that distinguished corps; and Captain +Burke availed himself of the ample field afforded him in leading the +advance to display the intrepidity of British Grenadiers. The detachment of +the 104th, under Major Moodie, Captain M'Pherson's company of Glengary +Light Infantry, and two companies of Canadian Voltigeurs, under Major +Herriot, all of them levies of the British Provinces of North America, +evinced most striking proofs of their loyalty, steadiness, and courage. The +detachment of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment behaved with great gallantry. +Your Excellency will lament the loss of that active and intelligent +officer, Captain Gray, acting Deputy-Quarter-Master-General, who fell close +to the enemy's work while reconnoitring it, in the hope to discover some +opening to favour an assault. Commodore Sir James Yeo conducted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxv" id="Page_lxv">[Pg lxv]</a></span> the fleet +of boats in the attack, and accompanying the advance of the troops directed +the co-operation of the gun-boats. I feel most grateful for your +Excellency's kind consideration in allowing your Aids-de-Camp, Majors Coore +and Fulton, to accompany me in the field; and to these officers for the +able assistance they afforded me.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I have the honour to be, &c. &c.<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">Edward Baynes.</span><br /> +<br /> +"Colonel Glengary Light Infantry<br /> +Commanding."<br /> +<br /> +"<i>To His Excellency Lieut.-General<br /> +Sir George Prevost, Bart., &c.</i>"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>Return of killed, wounded, and missing, in an attack on Sackett's Harbour, +on the 29th of May.</i></p> + +<p>Total.—1 General Staff, 3 Serjeants, 44 Rank and File killed. 3 Majors, 3 +Captains, 5 Lieutenants, 1 Ensign, 7 Serjeants, 2 Drummers, 172 Rank and +File, 2 Gunners wounded. 2 Captains, 1 Ensign, 13 Rank and File wounded and +missing.</p> + + +<h3>No. XXIII.</h3> + +<p><i>Extracts of Letters from Sir George Prevost to Brigadier-General Procter, +p. 92.</i></p> + +<p>(Private.)</p> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Castle of St. Lewis, Quebec,<br /> +9th February, 1813</i>. +</p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"I have received your despatch of the 26th ult. addressed to Major-General +Sheaffe, reporting the glorious result of an attack, you had very +judiciously deemed it expedient to make on the 22d, on a division of +General Harrison's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxvi" id="Page_lxvi">[Pg lxvi]</a></span> army advancing from the river Raisin, upon Sandwich, +commanded by Brigadier-General Winchester.</p> + +<p>"In congratulating you upon so honourable an event, and in expressing my +entire approbation of the zeal and spirit which you have evinced on the +arduous command committed to you, I cannot fail to notice the intrepidity +manifested by Colonel St. George, and the other officers and men, regulars +and militia, serving under your immediate command.</p> + +<p>"Your singular judgment and decisive conduct in the affair of French Town, +shall be pourtrayed for the gracious consideration of His Royal Highness +the Prince Regent, and I will not fail in repeating your warm +recommendation of Lieutenant M'Lean, who is acting as your Brigade-Major.</p> + +<p>"I earnestly recommend upon all occasions a strict adherence to the control +and restraint of our allies the Indians, that we may be enabled to repel +the charges which have not unfrequently, though always falsely, been +brought against our Government for resorting to the employment of them.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I have the honour to be, &c.<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">George Prevost.</span>"<br /> +<br /> +"<i>To Brigadier-General Procter, Detroit.</i>"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Kingston, 14th June, 1813.</i></p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"I have had the honour of your different letters, of the 14th of May, by +Lieut.-Colonel Boucherville, containing the report of your successful +resistance to the attack of the enemy, on the 5th of that month, and must +heartily congratulate you upon the skill and bravery so invariably +displayed by yourself and the troops under your command, and which have led +to so fortunate a result; I have also to acknowledge the receipt of your +letter, of the 10th inst. and beg leave to assure you that I have not been +unmindful of your situation and wants. Brigadier-General Vincent has +received directions, and I have reason to think he has already adopted +measures for supplying them as far as lies in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxvii" id="Page_lxvii">[Pg lxvii]</a></span> power. And whenever the +Indian goods, which are now on their way from Quebec, shall have reached +this post, they shall be forwarded to you without delay. As you have not +acknowledged the receipt of my instructions, transmitted to you by desire, +by Major-General Sheaffe, to avail yourself of any favourable opportunity +of retaliating upon the enemy for the attack upon York, by endeavouring to +annoy their settlements upon Lake Erie, I fear his letter has not reached +you. The arrival of Captain Barclay, who, I trust, with a small +reinforcement of seamen, is with you long before this, will, I hope, enable +you to place your Marine on such a footing as to check any attempts of the +enemy, to gain a superiority on Lake Erie. I am very solicitous to receive +from you a correct statement of the whole of your Marine establishment, and +what is wanted to render it complete.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I have, &c.<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">George Prevost.</span>"<br /> +<br /> +"<i>To Brigadier-General Procter, Detroit.</i>"</p> + + +<h3>No. XXIV.</h3> + +<p><i>Sentence of the Court-martial on Captain Barclay, p. 112.</i></p> + +<p>That the capture of His Majesty's late squadron was caused by the very +defective means Captain Barclay possessed to equip them on Lake Erie; the +want of a sufficient number of able seamen, whom he had repeatedly and +earnestly requested of Sir James Yeo to be sent to him; the very great +superiority of the enemy to the British squadron; and the unfortunate early +fall of the superior officers in the action. That it appeared that the +greatest exertions had been made by Captain Barclay, in equipping and +getting into order the vessels under his command; that he was fully +justified, under the existing circumstances, in bringing the enemy to +action; that the judgment and gallantry of Captain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxviii" id="Page_lxviii">[Pg lxviii]</a></span> Barclay in taking his +squadron into action, and during the contest, were highly conspicuous, and +entitled him to the highest praise; and that the whole of the other +officers and men of His Majesty's late squadron conducted themselves in the +most gallant manner; and did adjudge the said Captain Robert Heriot +Barclay, his surviving officers and men, to be most fully and honourably +acquitted.—Rear-Admiral Foote, President.</p> + + +<h3>No. XXV.<a name="FNanchor_106_106" id="FNanchor_106_106"></a><a href="#Footnote_106_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a></h3> + +<p><i>Court-martial on General Procter, p. 113.</i></p> + +<p class="date"> +<i>Horse Guards, 9th September, 1815.</i></p> + +<p>At a General Court-martial, held at <i>Montreal</i>, in Upper Canada, on the +21st December, 1814, and continued by adjournments to the 28th January, +1815, <i>Major-General Henry Procter</i>, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 41st +Regiment, was arraigned upon the undermentioned charges, viz.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxix" id="Page_lxix">[Pg lxix]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>1st, "That the said</i> Major-General Procter, <i>being entrusted with the +Command of the Right Division of the Army serving in the Canadas, and the +retreat of the said Division from the Western Parts of Upper Canada having +become unavoidable from the loss of the Fleet on Lake Erie, on the 10th +September, 1813, did not, immediately after the loss of the Fleet was known +by him, make the Military arrangements best calculated for promptly +effecting such retreat, and unnecessarily delayed to commence the same +until the Evening of the 27th of the said Month, on which Day the Enemy had +landed in considerable force within a short distance of Sandwich, the +Head-Quarters of the said Division, such Conduct on the part of the said</i> +Major-General Procter, <i>endangering the safety of the Troops under his +Command, by exposing them to be attacked by a force far superior to them, +being contrary to his Duty as an Officer, prejudicial to good Order and +Military Discipline, and contrary to the Articles of War</i>."</p> + +<p><i>2d. "That the said</i> Major-General Procter, <i>after commencing the retreat +of the said Division on the said 27th September, although he had reason to +believe that the Enemy would immediately follow it with very superior +numbers, and endeavour to harass and impede its March, did not use due +expedition, or take the proper<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxx" id="Page_lxx">[Pg lxx]</a></span> measures for conducting the said Retreat, +having encumbered the said Division with large quantities of useless +Baggage, having unnecessarily halted the Troops for several whole Days, and +having omitted to destroy the Bridges over which the Enemy would be obliged +to pass, thereby affording them the opportunity to come up with the said +Division, such conduct betraying great professional incapacity on the part +of the said</i> Major-General Procter, <i>being contrary to his Duty as an +Officer, prejudicial to good Order and Military Discipline, and contrary to +the Articles of War</i>."</p> + +<p><i>3d. "That the said</i> Major-General Procter <i>did not take the necessary +measures for affording security to the Boats, Waggons, and Carts, laden +with the Ammunition, Stores, and Provisions, required for the Troops on +their retreat, and allowed the said Boats, Waggons, and Carts, on the 4th +and 5th October, 1813, to remain in the rear of the said Division, whereby +the whole, or the greater part of the said Ammunition, Stores, and +Provisions, either fell into the Enemy's hands, or were destroyed to +prevent their capture, and the Troops were without Provisions for a whole +day previous to their being attacked on the said 5th of October; such +conduct on the part of the said</i> Major-General Procter <i>being contrary to +his duty as an Officer, prejudicial to good Order and Military Discipline, +and contrary to the Articles of War</i>."</p> + +<p><i>4th. "That the said</i> Major-General Procter <i>having assured the Indian +Chiefs in Council at Amherstburgh, as an inducement to them and their +Warriors to accompany the said Division on its retreat, that on their +arrival at Chatham, they should find the Forks of the Thames fortified, did +nevertheless neglect fortify the same; that he also neglected to occupy +the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxi" id="Page_lxxi">[Pg lxxi]</a></span> Heights above the Moravian Village, although he had previously removed +his Ordnance, with the exception of one six-pounder, to that position, +where, by throwing up works he might have awaited the attack of the Enemy +and engaged them to great advantage; and that after the intelligence had +reached him of the approach of the Enemy on the Morning of the said 5th of +October, he halted the said Division, notwithstanding it was within two +miles of the said Village, and formed it in a situation highly unfavourable +for receiving the Attack which afterwards took place, such conduct +manifesting great professional incapacity on the part of the said</i> +Major-General Procter, <i>being contrary to his Duty as an Officer, +prejudicial to Good Order and Military Discipline, and contrary to the +Articles of War</i>."</p> + +<p><i>5th. "That the said</i> Major-General Procter <i>did not on the said 5th day of +October, either prior to, or subsequent to, the Attack by the Enemy on the +said Division on that day make the Military dispositions best adapted to +meet or to resist the said Attack, and that during the Action, and after +the Troops had given way, he did not make any effectual attempt in his own +person, or otherwise, to rally or encourage them, or to co-operate with and +support the Indians who were engaged with the enemy on the right, the said</i> +Major-General Procter <i>having quitted the Field soon after the Action +commenced, such Conduct on the part of</i> Major-General Procter <i>betraying +great professional incapacity, tending to the defeat and dishonour of His +Majesty's Arms, to the sacrifice of the Division of the Army committed to +his charge, being in violation of his Duty, and unbecoming and disgraceful +to his Character as an Officer, prejudicial to good Order and Military +Discipline, and contrary to the Articles of War</i>."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxii" id="Page_lxxii">[Pg lxxii]</a></span></p> + +<p>Upon which Charges the Court came to the following decision:—</p> + +<p>"The Court having duly weighed and considered the evidence adduced, as well +in support of the Charges, as in support of the Defence, is of Opinion."</p> + +<p>"That the Prisoner, <i>Major-General Henry Procter</i>, Lieutenant-Colonel of +the 41st Regiment, is <i>not Guilty</i> of any part of the <i>First</i> Charge; and +the Court doth therefore <i>wholly acquit</i> him, the said <i>Major-General +Procter</i>, of the same."</p> + +<p>"On the <i>Second</i> Charge, the Court is of opinion, that the said +<i>Major-General Procter</i> is <i>Guilty</i> of the following part thereof, <i>that he +did not take the proper measures for conducting the Retreat</i>; but the Court +is of Opinion, that the said <i>Major-General Procter</i> is <i>Not Guilty</i> of any +other part of the said Charge, and doth therefore <i>acquit</i> him of the +same."</p> + +<p>"On the <i>Third</i> Charge the Court is of opinion, that the said +<i>Major-General Procter</i> is <i>Guilty</i> of that part thereof in which it is +charged, <i>that the said Major General Procter did not take the necessary +measures for affording security to the Boats, Waggons, and Carts, laden +with the Ammunition, Stores, and Provisions, required for the Troops on +their retreat</i>; but the Court is of opinion, that the said <i>Major-General +Procter</i> is <i>Not Guilty</i> of any part of the remainder of the said Charge, +and doth therefore <i>acquit</i> him of the remainder thereof."</p> + +<p>"On the <i>Fourth</i> Charge the Court is of opinion, that the said +<i>Major-General Procter</i> is <i>Guilty</i> of that part thereof, in which it is +charged <i>that he neglected to occupy the heights above the Moravian +Village, although he had previously removed his Ordnance, with the +exception of one Six Pounder, to that position, where, by throwing up Works +he might have awaited the attack of the Enemy, and engaged them to great +advantage;—and that after the intelligence had reached him of the approach +of the Enemy on the Morning of the said 5th October, he halted the said +Division, notwithstanding it was within two miles of the said Village, and +formed it in a situation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxiii" id="Page_lxxiii">[Pg lxxiii]</a></span> highly unfavourable for receiving the attack, +which afterwards took place</i>;—but the Court is of opinion, that the said +<i>Major-General Procter</i> is <i>Not Guilty</i> of any part of the remainder of the +said charge, and doth therefore <i>acquit</i> him of the remainder thereof."</p> + +<p>"On the <i>Fifth</i> Charge the Court is of opinion, that the said +<i>Major-General Procter</i> is <i>Guilty</i> of that part thereof, in which it is +charged <i>that he did not on the said 5th day of October, either prior to or +subsequent to, the attack by the Enemy on the said Division on that day, +make the Military dispositions best adapted to meet or to resist the said +attack</i>; but the Court is of opinion, that that part thereof, in which it +is charged <i>that during the Action, and after the Troops had given way, he +did not make any effectual attempt in his own person or otherwise, to rally +or encourage them, or to co-operate with and support the Indians who were +engaged with the Enemy on the right</i>, has not been proved, and the Court +doth therefore <i>acquit</i> him, the said <i>Major-General Procter</i> of the +same;—and the Court is of opinion, that the said <i>Major-General Procter</i> +is <i>Not Guilty</i> of any part of the remainder of the said Charge, and doth +therefore <i>fully</i> and <i>honourably acquit</i> him of the same."</p> + +<p>"Upon the whole, the Court is of opinion, that the prisoner, <i>Major-General +Procter</i>, has in many instances during the retreat, and in the disposition +of the Force under his Command, been erroneous in judgment, and in some, +deficient in those energetic and active exertions, which the extraordinary +difficulties of his situation so particularly required."</p> + +<p>"The Court doth therefore adjudge him, the said <i>Major-General Procter, to +be publicly reprimanded, and to be suspended from Rank and Pay, for the +period of Six Calendar Months</i>."</p> + +<p>"But as to any defect or reproach, with regard to the personal conduct of +<i>Major-General Procter</i>, during the action on the 5th of October, the Court +<i>most fully</i> and <i>honourably acquits</i> the said <i>Major-General Procter</i>."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxiv" id="Page_lxxiv">[Pg lxxiv]</a></span></p> + +<p>His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has been pleased, in the name and on +the behalf of His Majesty, to confirm the Finding of the Court, on the 1st, +3d, 4th, and 5th Charges.</p> + +<p>With respect to the <i>Second Charge</i> it appeared to His Royal Highness to be +a matter of surprise that the Court should find the prisoner <i>Guilty</i> of +the offence alleged against him, while they at the same time <i>Acquit</i> him +of all the facts upon which that Charge is founded;—and yet, that in the +summing up of their Finding upon the whole of the Charges, they should +ascribe the offences of which the prisoner has been found Guilty, to Error +in Judgment, and pass a Sentence totally inapplicable to their own finding +of Guilt, which can alone be ascribed to the Court having been induced, by +a reference to the general good character and conduct of <i>Major-General +Procter</i>, to forget, through a humane, but mistaken lenity, what was due +from them to the Service.</p> + +<p>Under all the circumstances of the case, however, and particularly those +which render it impossible to have recourse to the otherwise expedient +measure of re-assembling the Court, for the revival of their proceedings, +the Prince Regent has been pleased to acquiesce in, and confirm so much of +the Sentence as adjudges the prisoner to be <i>publicly reprimanded</i>, and in +carrying the same into execution, His Royal Highness has directed the +General Officer commanding in Canada, to convey to <i>Major-General Procter</i>, +His Royal Highness's high disapprobation of his conduct, together with the +expression of His Royal Highness's regret, that any officer of the length +of service, and of the exalted rank which he has attained, should be so +extremely wanting in professional knowledge, and so deficient in those +active and energetic qualities, which must be required of every officer, +but especially of one in the responsible situation in which the +<i>Major-General</i> was placed.</p> + +<p>His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief directs that the foregoing +Charges preferred against <i>Major-General Procter</i>,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxv" id="Page_lxxv">[Pg lxxv]</a></span> together with the +Finding and Sentence of the Court, and the Prince Regent's pleasure +thereon, shall be entered in the General Order Book, and read at the Head +of every Regiment in His Majesty's Service.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +By Command of His Royal Highness,<br /> +<br /> +The Commander-in-chief,<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Harry Calvert</span>,<br /> +<br /> +Adjutant-General.</p> + + +<h3>No. XXVI.</h3> + +<h4><i>p. 122.</i></h4> + +<p class="date"> +<i>Adjutant-General's Office,<br /> +Head Quarters, Quebec, 26th March, 1814.</i></p> + +<p>General Orders,</p> + +<p>His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief and Commander of the Forces feels the +highest gratification in obeying the Commands of His Royal Highness the +Prince Regent, transmitted in a letter from the Right Hon. the Earl +Bathurst, one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, of which the +following is a Copy, and which His Excellency directs to be published in +General Orders, and read at the Head of all Corps in this Command:</p> + +<p>"His Royal Highness has observed with the greatest satisfaction the skill +and gallantry so conspicuously displayed by the officers and men who +composed the detachment of troops opposed to General Hampton's army. By the +resistance which they successfully made to an enemy so vastly +disproportionate, the confidence of the enemy has been lowered, their plans +disconcerted, and the safety of that part of the Canadian frontier ensured. +It gives His Royal Highness peculiar pleasure to find, that His Majesty's +Canadian subjects have at length had the opportunity (which His Royal +Highness has been long anxious should be afforded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxvi" id="Page_lxxvi">[Pg lxxvi]</a></span> them) of refuting, by +their own brilliant exertions in defence of their country, that calumnious +charge of disaffection and disloyalty with which the enemy prefaced his +first invasion of the Province.</p> + +<p>"To Lieut.-Colonel De Salaberry, in particular, and to all the officers and +men under his command in general, you will not fail to express His Royal +Highness's Most Gracious Approbation of their meritorious and distinguished +services. His Royal Highness has commanded me to forward to you by the +first safe opportunity, the Colours which you have solicited for the +embodied Battalions of the Militia, feeling that they have evinced an +ability and disposition to secure them from insult, which gives them the +best title to such a mark of distinction.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"By His Excellency's Command,<br /> +<span class="smcap">Edward Baynes</span>,<br /> +Adjutant-General, N. A."</p> + + +<h3>No. XXVII.</h3> + +<p><i>Extract from Sir George Prevost's Despatch to Earl Bathurst, dated 18th +May, 1814, p. 135.</i></p> + +<p>"The principal objects in the attack upon Oswego, being to cripple the +resources of the enemy, in fitting out their squadron, and particularly +their new ship at Sackett's Harbour, their guns and stores of every +description being drawn from the former post, and thus to delay, if not +altogether to prevent, the sailing of the fleet, I determined to pursue the +same policy on Lake Champlain, and therefore directed Captain Pring to +proceed with his squadron, on board of which I had placed a strong +detachment of the 1st battalion of the marines, towards Vergennes, for the +purpose, if practicable, of destroying the new vessels lately launched +there, and of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxvii" id="Page_lxxvii">[Pg lxxvii]</a></span> intercepting and capturing the stores and supplies for their +armament and equipment. Captain Pring accordingly sailed on the 9th, and +with the force mentioned in the margin, having been prevented by contrary +winds from reaching his destination until the 14th instant, he found, on +arriving off Otter Creek, the enemy so fully prepared to receive him, their +vessels so strongly defended by batteries, and a considerable body of +troops, that after a cannonading with some effect from his gun-boats, he +judged it most advisable to abandon his intended plan of attacking them, +and return to Isle aux Noix.</p> + +<p>"The appearance of our squadron on the Lake has been productive of great +confusion and alarm at Burlington, and other places, along its shores, and +the whole of the population appeared to be turned out for their defence."</p> + + +<h3>No. XXVIII.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Extract of a Letter from Major-General Sir James Kempt +to Sir George Prevost, respecting the intended Attack +upon Sackett's Harbour, dated</i></p></div> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Kingston, 18th Sept. 1814.</i></p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"With all due deference to your Excellency's superior judgment, it appears +to me, that an operation of this magnitude, and <i>probable duration</i>, should +not be undertaken without the most ample means, and at the very best season +of the year; that not less than 8,000 infantry, with a strong efficient +corps of artillery and engineers, should be employed on this service; that +Watertown and Brownville should be occupied in force by strong corps of +observation, capable of covering the operations; that there should be an +intermediate rendezvous for the assembly of the troops and stores, between +this and the place of debarkation; and, that above<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxviii" id="Page_lxxviii">[Pg lxxviii]</a></span> all, we should have the +<i>decided superiority</i> on the Lake, before the service is undertaken.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I have the honour to be, with great respect,<br /> +<br /> +"Your Excellency's most obedient<br /> +<br /> +"And most humble servant,<br /> +<br /> +"<span class="smcap">James Kempt</span>.<br /> +Lieut.-Gen."</p> + + +<h3>No. XXIX.</h3> + +<p><i>Extract of a Letter from Sir J. L. Yeo to Sir George Prevost, dated 29th +Aug. 1814, p. 141.</i></p> + +<p>"I have this day received a correct statement of all the officers and men +belonging to the establishment on Lake Champlain.</p> + +<p>"I enclose your Excellency a scale of the complement of each vessel, +agreeable to the Admiralty order, by which you will perceive that, after +each complement is complete, there will remain 97 seamen over and above. +Your Excellency must be aware, that when this squadron proceeds up the +Lake, I shall be under the necessity of taking the seamen out of the +gun-boats; neither will the number of seamen we have in this country, +afford a sufficient number of men to man the gun-boats on Lake Champlain, +independent of the ships."</p> + + +<h3>No. XXX.</h3> + +<p><i>Correspondence between Sir George Prevost and Capt. Downie, p. 145.</i></p> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Head-Quarters, Plattsburg,<br /> +Wednesday, 7 a. m. 7th Sept. 1814.</i></p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"The enemy's force in the Bay consists of a ship, inferior to the +Confiance, a brig, a large schooner, a sloop, and seven or eight gun-boats. +When the gun-boats are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxix" id="Page_lxxix">[Pg lxxix]</a></span> manned, the remaining craft appear to have but few +men left on board. If you feel that the vessels under your command are +equal to a contest with those I have described, you will find the present +moment offers many advantages which may not again occur.</p> + +<p>"As my ulterior movements depend on your decision, you will have the +goodness to favour me with it, with all possible promptitude.</p> + +<p>"In the event of your coming forward immediately, you will furnish +conveyance for the two 8-inch mortars, ordered from Isle aux Noix, with +their stores, provided you can do so, without delaying the sailing of your +squadron.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I have the honour to be, &c.<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">G. Prevost.</span>"<br /> +<br /> +"<i>To Captain Downie, &c.</i>"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>H. M. S. Confiance, off La Cole,<br /> +7th Sept. 4 p. m. 1814.</i></p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"I have the honour of your Excellency's letter of this morning.</p> + +<p>"I am aware of the comparative force of the two squadrons, and am thus far +on my way to find the enemy, conceiving that the moment I can put this ship +into a state for action, I shall be able to meet them.</p> + +<p>"The Confiance at this moment is in such a state, as to require at least a +day<a name="FNanchor_107_107" id="FNanchor_107_107"></a><a href="#Footnote_107_107" class="fnanchor">[107]</a> or two to make her efficient before the enemy; but with all the +exertion I can use, it will probably be that time at least, before it will +be possible to get her up to Chazy, where I shall be happy to receive any +further communication from your Excellency.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I have the honour to be, Sir,<br /> +<br /> +"Your most obedient servant,<br /> +<br /> +"<span class="smcap">Geo. Downie</span>."<br /> +<br /> +"<i>His Excellency Lieut.-Gen.<br /> +Sir G. Prevost, Bart. &c. &c.</i>"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxx" id="Page_lxxx">[Pg lxxx]</a></span></p> +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Head-Quarters, Plattsburg,<br /> +Thursday Morning, 8th Sept. 1814.</i></p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"I have just received your reply to my communication of yesterday.</p> + +<p>"As it is of the highest importance the ship, vessels, and gun-boats, under +your command, should commence a co-operation with the division of the army, +now occupying Plattsburg, I have sent my Aid-de-Camp, Major Coore, with +this letter, in order that you may obtain from him correct information of +the disposition made by the enemy of his naval force in this bay.</p> + +<p>"I only wait for your arrival to proceed against General Macomb's last +position, on the south bank of the Saranac. Your share in the operation, in +the first instance, will be to destroy or capture the enemy's squadron, if +it should wait for a contest, and afterwards co-operate with this division +of the army; but if it should run away, or get out of your reach, we must +meet here to consult on ulterior movements.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I have the honour to be, &c.<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">G. Prevost.</span>"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>H. M. S. Confiance, off Point au Fer,<br /> +8th Sept. 1814.</i></p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"I have the honour of your Excellency's letter of this day; and have to +state, that I am advancing with the squadron to Chazy as fast as the wind +and weather will allow.</p> + +<p>"In the letter I did myself the honour to address to you yesterday, I +stated to your Excellency, that this ship was not ready—she is not ready +now; and until she is ready, it is my duty not to hazard the squadron +before an enemy, who will even then be considerably superior in force.</p> + +<p>"I purpose remaining at Chazy until I find myself enabled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxxi" id="Page_lxxxi">[Pg lxxxi]</a></span> to move, which I +trust will be very shortly, it depending on my guns being ready.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I have the honour to be, Sir,<br /> +<br /> +"Your most obedient servant,<br /> +<br /> +"<span class="smcap">Geo. Downie</span>."<br /> +<br /> +"<i>His Excellency Sir Geo. Prevost,<br /> +Bart. &c. &c. &c.</i>"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Head-Quarters, Plattsburg,<br /> +Friday, 9th Sept. 1814.</i></p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"In consequence of your communication of yesterday's date, I have postponed +moving on the enemy's position, on the south bank of the Saranac, until +your squadron is in a sufficient state of preparation to co-operate with +this division of the army.</p> + +<p>"I need not dwell, with you, on the evils resulting to both services from +delay, as I am well convinced you have done every thing that was in your +power to accelerate the armament and equipment of your squadron, and I am +also satisfied nothing will prevent its coming off Plattsburg the moment it +is ready.</p> + +<p>"I am happy to inform you, that I find from deserters, who have come over +from the enemy, that the American fleet is inefficiently manned, and that a +few days ago, after the arrival of the new brig, they sent on shore for the +prisoners of all descriptions, in charge of the Prevost, to make up a crew +for that vessel.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I have the honor to be, &c.<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">G. Prevost.</span>"</p> + +<p>"P.S. Captain Watson, of the Provincial Cavalry, is desired to remain at +Little Chazy until you are preparing to get under weigh, when he is +instantly to return to this place with the intelligence."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxxii" id="Page_lxxxii">[Pg lxxxii]</a></span></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>H.M.S. Confiance, off Chazy,<br /> +9th Sept. 1814</i>.</p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"I have the honour to communicate to your Excellency, that it is my +intention to weigh and proceed with the squadron, from this anchorage, +about midnight, in the expectation of rounding into the bay of Plattsburg +about dawn of day, and commencing an immediate attack on the enemy's +squadron, if they shall be found anchored in a position that will afford +any chance of success.</p> + +<p>"I rely on any assistance it may be in your power to give.</p> + +<p>"In manning the flotilla and ships, we are many short. I have made +application to the officer commanding at Chazy, for a company of the 39th +regiment to make up.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I have the honour to be, Sir,<br /> +<br /> +"Your most obedient servant,<br /> +<br /> +"<span class="smcap">Geo. Downie</span>."<br /> +<br /> +"<i>His Excellency Sir Geo. Prevost,<br /> +Bart. &c. &c. &c.</i>"</p> + +<p>"P. S. I have just this moment received your letter of this day, to which +the preceding is, I think, a sufficient answer.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"G. D." +</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Head-Quarters, Plattsburg,<br /> +Saturday Morning, 10th Sept. 1814.</i></p> + +<p>"Sir,</p> + +<p>"I received, at twelve last night, your letter, acquainting me with your +determination to get under weigh, about that time, in the expectation of +rounding Cumberland Head at dawn of day; in consequence, the troops have +been held in readiness, since six o'clock this morning, to storm the +enemy's works at nearly the same moment as the naval action should commence +in the bay. I ascribe the disappointment I have experienced to the +unfortunate change of wind,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxxiii" id="Page_lxxxiii">[Pg lxxxiii]</a></span> and I shall rejoice to learn from you, that my +expectations have been frustrated by no other cause.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I have the honour to be, &c.<br /> +<br /> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">G. Prevost.</span>"<br /> +<br /> +"<i>To Capt. Downie, &c. &c. &c.</i>"</p> + + +<h3>No. XXXI.</h3> + +<p><i>Extract from Vermont Paper, dated Burlington, Sept. 1814, p. 168.</i></p> + +<p>"The articles in your paper of last week, republished from the Montreal +papers, are interesting, as they evince the spirit of our Canada +neighbours, and the high hopes they had entertained from their late +expedition.</p> + +<p>"That the result is not such as they could have wished we believe, but that +its failure should be ascribed entirely to the misconduct of Gov. Prevost +is wholly unaccountable. It is not our business or desire to shield Gov. +Prevost from the censure of his subjects, but after the decision of the +contest between the hostile fleets, we can perceive no object of national +importance which could have justified the further operations of the army.</p> + +<p>"It is possible that an army of 12,000 men might have carried the works at +Plattsburg, but the positive assertions on this subject betray great +ignorance of our resources, and the spirit of our people. Grant, that after +much hard fighting, and the loss of many valuable lives, they had succeeded +in taking the forts, do they suppose they could have retained them against +all the forces we can bring against them? If they do, we can only say, that +they are grossly mistaken.</p> + +<p>"Do they suppose that an army of 12,000 men can march through a country, +every county of which contains more than that number of souls; or do they +suppose their progress would not be obstructed?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxxiv" id="Page_lxxxiv">[Pg lxxxiv]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A large proportion of our citizens are opposed to the present war, and +from principles the most noble and virtuous. They will not, under existing +circumstances, consent to aid in offensive operations against their +neighbours. But let no one suppose their love of peace will destroy their +love of country, and that they can make war upon us without danger. We will +not willingly molest them, but they must not disturb us. He is unworthy any +country who would not protect his own from invasion; and we are happy to +know that this country is inhabited by men who need no additional +inducement to protect their rights and privileges at every hazard.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"<span class="smcap">People.</span>"<br /> +<br /> +"<i>Messrs. Hinckley and Fish.</i>"</p> + + +<h3>No. XXXII.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>An Extract from the Address of the House of Assembly, +at the opening of the Session, 30th Jan. 1815, to His +Excellency Sir George Prevost, p. 176.</i></p></div> + +<p>"The operations contemplated on the shores of Lake Champlain, we are led to +believe, by our confidence in your Excellency's judgment, were planned in +consequence of wise combinations, and our proximity to the scene of action +has enabled us to acquire a perfect conviction, that they were frustrated +by causes beyond your Excellency's control. We are equally convinced that +the failure of our naval means rendered necessary at the very onset, an +immediate abandonment of the enterprize.</p> + +<p>"The protecting hand of His Majesty's government has been agreeably felt in +the reinforcements received by your Excellency, for the diminution of the +pressure of the war on the inhabitants of this province. The testimony +which your Excellency is pleased to bear to the zeal and alacrity with +which their services have been rendered, cannot but be more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxxv" id="Page_lxxxv">[Pg lxxxv]</a></span> flattering to +their feelings and demands through their representatives, their warmest +acknowledgments. It is under your Excellency's wise and just administration +that their character and conduct have been justly appreciated; and whatever +merit their services may be entitled to, a large portion of it is +unquestionably due to your Excellency, whose well founded confidence in +them, has enabled them, by those services, to testify their faithful, +loyal, and patriotic adherence to His Majesty: of which, under your +Excellency's administration, they hope many opportunities, during a long +time to come, will be afforded them to give additional proofs."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>Extract from an Address from the House of Assembly of Lower Canada, to Sir +Geo. Prevost, 20th March, 1815.</i></p> + +<p>"We take this opportunity of repeating the expression of our sentiments of +gratitude to your Excellency, for having, by your prudence, by the wisdom +of your measures, and by your ability, preserved to the empire these +important provinces, and for the paternal solicitude with which your +Excellency has watched over the welfare of His Majesty's subjects, and to +pray your Excellency to rest assured, that those benefits will ever remain +deeply engraven on the hearts of the Canadians."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>Extract from the Resolutions of the House of Assembly of Lower Canada, +21st March, 1815.</i></p> + +<p>"According to order, the resolutions of the Committee of the whole House, +to consider whether it would be expedient to give to his Excellency the +Governor-in-Chief, some mark of gratitude for his distinguished services in +this province, were reported to the House, agreed to, and ordered to be +engrossed.</p> + +<p>"The said resolutions are as follows:</p> + +<p>"Resolved,</p> + +<p>"That this House entertains the highest veneration and respect, for the +character of his Excellency Sir George<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxxvi" id="Page_lxxxvi">[Pg lxxxvi]</a></span> Prevost, Governor-in-Chief, whose +administration, under circumstances of peculiar novelty and difficulty, +stands highly distinguished for energy, wisdom, and ability.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Resolved,</p> + +<p>"That this House, representing the people of this province, anxiously +desirous of expressing their gratitude to his Excellency, for having, under +Providence, rescued us from the danger of subjugation to our late foe, +have, and do hereby, give and grant a service of plate not exceeding five +thousand pounds, sterling, to his Excellency, as a testimonial of the high +sense this House entertains of his Excellency's distinguished talents, +wisdom, and abilities.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Resolved,</p> + +<p>"That for the better carrying into execution the object this House has in +view, for the purchase of the service of plate for his Excellency, the +Speaker of this House be authorized to give directions to such persons, in +England, as may be best able to execute the same, and that when so +completed, the said service be presented to his Excellency the +Governor-in-Chief, in the name and on the behalf of the Commons of His +Majesty's province of Lower Canada.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"Resolved,</p> + +<p>"That an humble address be presented to his Excellency the +Governor-in-Chief, to communicate the above resolutions, humbly praying +that his Excellency will be graciously pleased to advance a sum not +exceeding five thousand pounds sterling, to the order of the Speaker of +this House, for the object stated in the above resolutions; and that this +House doth engage, and hereby pledges itself to make good the said advance +the next ensuing session of this provincial parliament."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxxvii" id="Page_lxxxvii">[Pg lxxxvii]</a></span></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Extract from the Speech of the Speaker of the House of +Assembly, on presenting the Money Bills to the +Governor-in-Chief, 23rd March, 1815.</i></p></div> + +<p>"Superior to prejudices which had but too generally prevailed, your +Excellency has derived from the devotion of that brave and loyal, yet +unjustly calumniated people, resources sufficient for disconcerting the +plans of conquest, devised by a foe at once numerous and elate with +confidence. Reinforcements were subsequently received; and the blood of the +sons of Canada has flowed mingled with that of the brave soldiers sent to +its defence. Multiplied proofs of the efficacious and powerful protection +of the mother country, and of the inviolable loyalty of the people of this +province, strengthen their claim to the preservation and free exercise of +all the benefits which are secured to them by their existing constitution +and laws."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>Addresses to Sir Geo. Prevost, from the Inhabitants of Quebec and +Montreal, 31st March.</i></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>To His Excellency Sir George Prevost, Bart. +Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief, in and over the +Provinces of Lower Canada, &c. &c. &c.</i></p></div> + +<p>"May it please your Excellency,</p> + +<p>"We the inhabitants of the city of Quebec, most respectfully approach your +Excellency, at the moment of your departure for England, to express the +sentiments which we entertain, of a most profound regard for your +Excellency's person and character, and a lively gratitude for the benefits, +which, in common with our fellow subjects throughout the province, we have +derived from your Excellency's administration.</p> + +<p>"At the period of your Excellency's arrival in this country, on the eve of +a war with America, you found the majority of its inhabitants irritated by +the unfortunate effects of misunderstandings of a long duration. Your +Excellency, consulting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxxviii" id="Page_lxxxviii">[Pg lxxxviii]</a></span> only the general welfare by a strict adherence to +justice and a well-timed confidence, soon allayed every discontent, and +rallied the whole population for the common defence. Under the happy +influence of harmony thus restored, the militia was assembled and trained, +and an exhausted treasury replenished. The additional means which you +thereby derived from the colony committed to your particular care, enabled +your Excellency to extend the handful of British troops at your disposal, +to the most distant parts of the Upper Province, where the long meditated +attacks of the enemy were met at the onset, and his forces repeatedly +overthrown with disgrace—the happy precursor of the fate which awaited all +his attempts on this province.</p> + +<p>"If the smallness of the regular army with which your Excellency was left +to withstand the whole efforts of the United States for two years, and the +insufficiency of the naval force on the Lakes, have exposed His Majesty's +arms to some reverses, it is nevertheless, true, that under the auspices of +your Excellency, the British arms have acquired new laurels, amidst +circumstances of extraordinary difficulty, unprecedented in European +warfare; the name of the people of this country has been rendered +illustrious, and a vast extent of territory protected from the ravages of +war and preserved to the empire.</p> + +<p>"Your Excellency's name and services will ever be held in veneration and +grateful remembrance by the inhabitants of Quebec. The whole province has +assured you of its gratitude; and the imperishable evidences of your +Excellency's merits, though they could not appease, will easily overcome +your enemies.</p> + +<p>"May your Excellency's voyage be prosperous, and its results correspond +with your wishes. The citizens of Quebec will hail the day of your +Excellency's return to your government, rewarded with the full approbation +of a gracious Prince, as one of the happiest in the annals of Canada.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +[Signed by 1420 persons.]<br /> +<br /> +"<i>Quebec, 31st March, 1815.</i>" +</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_lxxxix" id="Page_lxxxix">[Pg lxxxix]</a></span>To which his Excellency was pleased to return the following Answer:</p> + +<p><i>To the Inhabitants of the City of Quebec.</i></p> + +<p>"Gentlemen,</p> + +<p>"I thank you for those sentiments of kindness which now, as at all times, I +have had the gratification to receive from the inhabitants of the city of +Quebec. It is at the moment of separation that such expressions appeal most +forcibly to the heart.</p> + +<p>"If under the authority which His Majesty has deemed proper to place in my +hands, you have been prosperous and happy, the objects of all my exertions, +and my most earnest solicitude has been attained.</p> + +<p>"The time I have spent in your society has taught me at once to appreciate +its worth, and to regret the loss of it; and, be assured, the testimony of +regard you have now given me, will be treasured up among recollections the +most grateful to my feelings."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>On Monday last, at twelve o'clock, the Address of the Citizens of Montreal +was presented to his Excellency Sir George Prevost, by their Deputies, J. +M. Mondelêt and John M'Donald, Esquires, which Address is as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>To his Excellency Sir George Prevost, Bart. +Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief, in and over the +Province of Lower Canada, Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, +New Brunswick and their Dependencies, Vice-Admiral of +the same, Lieutenant-General and Commander of all His +Majesty's Forces in the said Provinces, and in the +Islands of Newfoundland, Prince Edward, Cape Breton, +and Bermuda, &c. &c. &c.</i></p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>"May it please your Excellency,</p> + +<p>"We His Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, inhabitants of the city of +Montreal and the neighbouring Parishes,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xc" id="Page_xc">[Pg xc]</a></span> have learnt with extreme regret +that your Excellency is unexpectedly about to leave this province.</p> + +<p>"We hasten, before your Excellency separates yourself from us, to convey to +your Excellency the expression of our sorrow for your departure, of our +gratitude for the benefits conferred on us, in common with our fellow +subjects, by your Excellency's administration, and our ardent wish that +your Excellency's absence from this province may be of short duration.</p> + +<p>"These sentiments are naturally produced in our minds by the recollection +of the public and private virtues which have been displayed by your +Excellency in your exalted station, and by the advantages we have +experienced from your Excellency's wisdom and justice in peace, and your +protecting care in war.</p> + +<p>"In your Excellency's civil administration, we have seen conspicuously +evinced an anxious desire to dispense equal justice to His Majesty's +subjects, to obliterate unjust and impolitic distinctions between the +inhabitants of this province, of different origin, and to unite them as +members of one community with the same rights and interests, for the +promotion of their common welfare. Influenced by this wise and just policy, +your Excellency has been enabled to form a correct estimate of the +character and disposition of the population of Canada: and, by reposing in +the loyalty and bravery of His Majesty's Canadian subjects that confidence +which they fully merited, your Excellency has afforded practical evidence +of their devoted attachment to His Majesty's government, and their capacity +to yield it effectual support.</p> + +<p>"While exposed to the pressure of the late unjust and unprovoked war waged +by the United States of America against His Majesty, we experienced the +security derived from your Excellency's indefatigable exertions for the +defence of this Province, and have reason to ascribe its preservation, as +well as that of the Upper Province, to the judicious distribution<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xci" id="Page_xci">[Pg xci]</a></span> and +arrangement of the Public Force made by your Excellency, by which the +attempts of the enemy were frustrated, and the honourable character, with +the rights and advantages of British subjects has been secured to the +Inhabitants of the Canadas.</p> + +<p>"Having the greatest confidence in the skill and judgment of your +Excellency, and being fully convinced of the ability and prudence with +which your Excellency has discharged the military as well as civil duties +of your high office, we anticipate, from the investigation for which your +Excellency is preparing, a result honourable to your Excellency's +character, by which your well-earned reputation will be confirmed, the +voice of calumny and detraction silenced, and your Excellency's merits +conclusively established. We persuade ourselves also that the important +services rendered in this country by your Excellency to His Majesty's +Government will be duly appreciated by His Royal Highness the Prince +Regent, of whose discernment and justice we have had so many proofs, and +will procure for your Excellency deserved approbation, and the high rewards +reserved for distinguished merit.</p> + +<p>"We shall not cease to take the warmest interest in the fortunes of your +Excellency; and in expressing our ardent wishes for your prosperity and +that of your family, we join in the general sentiment of the country, whose +affection and unalterable attachment your Excellency will carry with you, +and whose greatest felicity would be experienced in the speedy return of +your Excellency to resume the reins of Government."</p> + +<p class="sig"> +(Signed by 1510 persons.)</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xcii" id="Page_xcii">[Pg xcii]</a></span></p><hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>His Excellency was pleased to make the following answer:</p> + +<p><i>To the Inhabitants of the City of Montreal, and the neighbouring +Parishes.</i></p> + +<p>"Gentlemen,</p> + +<p>"The alacrity with which you have hastened to prevent the distance of your +residence from being an obstacle to the expression of your kind wishes on +my sudden and unexpected departure, gives to them all the additional value +of eager sincerity.</p> + +<p>"Your good will is to me a most acceptable offering: and as I am now +content if your good opinion of my services during my Administration is +proportioned to my desire to promote your welfare, so shall I ever be +ambitious that your estimate of my exertions may be found as correct as the +favourable judgment which I early formed of His Majesty's subjects in +Canada, which experience has now fully justified."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>Letter from M. de Salaberry to Sir George Prevost.</i></p> + +<p>A son Excellence Sir George Prevost, &c. &c.</p> + +<p>Qu'il plaise à votre Excellence,</p> + +<p>Me permettre d'écrire, puisque je ne peux sortir. J'en suis empêché par une +maladie opîniâtre et apparemment dangereuse, puisqu'encore hier j'ai tombé +sans connaissance sur le plancher. Je suis bien peiné d'être privé par les +accidens d'aller vous rendre mes respects, avant que vous vous laissiez.</p> + +<p>Sir George, vous portez pour vous justifier—Quoi! une justification de +vous! Qui pouvait s'y attendre? Mais s'il en faut une, la voici d'un mot: +<span class="smcap">Le Canada est encore a l'Angleterre.</span> Cela repond à tout. Le résultat est +tout, il est frappant, il est grand. Voilà <i>un fait</i>, celui-là: on ne peut +le nier. Devant lui doivent disparaitre les vaines paroles, les accusations +sophistiques; sous lui doivent succomber les efforts de la malveillance, +l'envie, les passions haineuses;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xciii" id="Page_xciii">[Pg xciii]</a></span> mais le mérite et la vertu sont sujets à +la persécution. Vous en triompherez glorieusement: j'ôse vous le prédire +avec assûrance, et je la souhaite du profond de mon cœur, comme je +souhaite aussi tous les bonheurs pour vous, Sir George, et pour ce qui vous +est chér. Avec ces vrais sentimens, et ceux du plus grand respect, j'ai +l'honneur de me souscrire,</p> + +<p class="sig"> +Mon Général,<br /> +De votre Excellence,<br /> +Le trés-humble, très-obéissant<br /> +Et très devoué serviteur,<br /> +L. de <span class="smcap">Salaberry</span>, Col. M. Quebec.<br /> +<i>A Beauport, 28 Mars, 1815.</i></p> + +<p>P. S. Oui, les Canadas sont encore à l'Angleterre, mais n'y serraient plus +sans un effort perséverant de prudence, d'activité, de patience courageuse, +et d'habilité consommée, dans un commandement et un genre de guerre aussi +difficiles, dont la conduite éxige un art tant particulier. Voilà ce +qu'avoueront tous ceux qui ont de vraies connaissances de la nature de ces +pays de situations si extraordinaires, à des prodigieuses distances, à +travers des forêts immenses.</p> + +<p>Ce ne sont pas des guerres <i>d'Europe</i>, où sous un beau ciel et dans des +riches plaines cultivées, toutes les parties d'armées se touchent, où sont +toujours à-portée, de se donner la main, dans des localités rapprochées et +dont les communications sont si faciles. Daignez, mon Général, traiter mes +reflexions avec indulgence, puis qu'elles viennent d'un vieux et loyal +soldat, qui a commencé à faire la guerre il y a précisement quarante ans +cette année.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xciv" id="Page_xciv">[Pg xciv]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>No. XXXIII.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Extract from Christie's Memoirs of the Administration +of the Colonial Government of Lower Canada, by Sir +James Henry Craig, and Sir George Prevost.</i></p></div> + +<p>"The administration of the Civil Government of Lower Canada under Sir +George Prevost, was mild, equitable, and unquestionably popular among the +entire mass of the Canadian population, in whose loyalty from the +commencement, he placed the most implicit confidence. To their fidelity, +and to the prudent and conciliating policy of this Governor, Great Britain +is indebted for the preservation of the Canadas, unavoidably left destitute +of money and troops at the outset of hostilities with America, by reason of +the urgent demands of the war in Spain. The Provincial Legislature, by +giving a currency to Army Bills and guaranteeing their redemption, +effectually removed all apprehensions of a deficiency in the financial +resources of the Colonial Government. The organization of a respectable +force of embodied Militia, and the power delegated to the Governor, of +turning out the whole of the effective male population of the Province, in +cases of emergency, enabled him to withstand the efforts of the United +States, during two successive campaigns, with scarcely any other resources +than those derived from the Colony. They who had been partial to the +preceding Administration, and who probably may have been instrumental in +the arbitrary measures with which it is reproached, were, as might be +expected, adverse to the policy of the present Governor, and spared no +pains to represent in England the affairs of the Colony in the falsest +colours. The disappointments experienced at Sackett's Harbour and +Plattsburg, gave occasion to his enemies to discredit his military +character: but whatever may have been his capacity as a general, (which we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xcv" id="Page_xcv">[Pg xcv]</a></span> +leave to the judgment of military men) it must be admitted, that as a civil +governor, at the head of a people irritated by arbitrary measures under the +preceding Administration, he judiciously explored his way through a period +of unprecedented embarrassments and danger, without a recurrence to Martial +Law, or the least exertion of arbitrary power. His manners are represented +by those who were familiarly acquainted with him as unassuming and social. +His public speeches or addresses partook of even classical elegance. His +smooth and easy temper placed him beyond the ordinary passions of men in +power, and though aware of the intrigues of unprincipled and implacable +enemies labouring at his destruction, and loaded with the obloquy of the +press, he is known to have harboured no resentment against the former, and +to have reasoned with that coolness and unconcern with respect to the +latter, which can only spring from a virtuous and ingenuous mind."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p><i>Extract from Bouchette's Topographical Account of Lower Canada, p. 121.</i></p> + +<p>"At a time when the military resources of the Province were so greatly +curtailed by the most arduous continental warfare that ever Great Britain +was engaged in, it is a matter of surprise that so much could have been +effected with such slender means. An enemy, emboldened by possessing an +ample force, and inspired by the prospect of obtaining a fertile country, +long the object of inordinate desire, could only be successfully opposed by +a union of the greatest energy with the most active measures; that such was +presented to him is incontrovertible, and the credit of having brought them +into action by unceasing perseverance, will attach to the judicious +dispositions of the Governor-General, Sir George Prevost, and for his +strenuous efforts in turning the enthusiasm of the people into a bulwark +stronger, and more impenetrable than entrenchments or fortresses against an +invader."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xcvi" id="Page_xcvi">[Pg xcvi]</a></span></p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The following Extract from James's Naval Memoirs, p. +411, shewing the opinion of the American Naval +Commander, as to the result of the action on Lake +Champlain, was intended to form a note to page 175.</i></p></div> + +<p>"Commodore Macdonough, taking Lieutenant Robertson, when presenting his +sword, for the British Commanding Officer, spoke to him as follows:—'You +owe it, Sir, to the shameful conduct of your gun-boats and cutters, that +you are performing this office to me; for, had they done their duty, you +must have perceived, from the situation of the Saratoga, that I could hold +out no longer: and indeed, nothing induced me to keep up her colours, but +seeing, from the united fire of all the rest of my squadron on the +Confiance, and her unsupported situation, that she must ultimately +surrender.'—Here is an acknowledgment, candid and honourable in the +extreme."</p> + + +<h3>No. XXXIV.</h3> + +<p><i>Inscription on the Monument erected to the Memory of Sir George Prevost in +Winchester Cathedral, p. 177.</i></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i17">Sacred to the Memory<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Baronet,<br /></span> +<span class="i13">of Belmont, in this County,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of the British<br /></span> +<span class="i15">Forces in North America;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In which command, by his wise and energetic measures,<br /></span> +<span class="i11">And with a very inferior force,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">He preserved the Canadas to the British Crown,<br /></span> +<span class="i3">From the repeated invasions of a powerful Enemy.<br /></span> +<span class="i11">His Constitution at length sunk<br /></span> +<span class="i5">Under incessant bodily and mental exertions,<br /></span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xcvii" id="Page_xcvii">[Pg xcvii]</a></span> +<span class="i7">In discharging the duties of that arduous station,<br /></span> +<span class="i17">And having returned to England,<br /></span> +<span class="i3">He died shortly afterwards in London, on the 5th Jan. 1816,<br /></span> +<span class="i21">Aged forty-eight years;<br /></span> +<span class="i14">Thirty-four of which had been devoted<br /></span> +<span class="i17">To the service of his Country.<br /></span> +<span class="i9">He was interred near the remains of his Father,<br /></span> +<span class="i17">Major-General Augustin Prevost,<br /></span> +<span class="i16">At East Barnet, in Middlesex.<br /></span> +<span class="i14">His Royal Highness the Prince Regent,<br /></span> +<span class="i4">To evince in an especial manner the sense he entertained<br /></span> +<span class="i11">Of his distinguished conduct and services,<br /></span> +<span class="i7">During a long period of constant active employment,<br /></span> +<span class="i5">In situations of great trust, both military and civil,<br /></span> +<span class="i21">Was pleased to ordain,<br /></span> +<span class="i6">As a lasting memorial of His Majesty's Royal favour,<br /></span> +<span class="i16">That the names of the Countries,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where his courage and abilities had been most signally displayed,<br /></span> +<span class="i19">The West Indies and Canada,<br /></span> +<span class="i6">Should be inscribed on the banners of the supporters,<br /></span> +<span class="i5">Granted to be borne by his Family and his descendants.<br /></span> +<span class="i15">In Testimony of his private worth,<br /></span> +<span class="i13">His piety, integrity, and benevolence,<br /></span> +<span class="i13">And all those tender, domestic virtues<br /></span> +<span class="i23">Which endeared him<br /></span> +<span class="i4">To his Family, his Children, his Friends and Dependants,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">As well as to prove her unfeigned love, gratitude and respect,<br /></span> +<span class="i21">Catharine Ann Prevost,<br /></span> +<span class="i22">His afflicted Widow,<br /></span> +<span class="i15">caused this Monument to be erected,<br /></span> +<span class="i23">Anno Domini, 1818.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h3>No. XXXV.</h3><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xcviii" id="Page_xcviii">[Pg xcviii]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Private Despatch from Sir George Prevost to Earl Bathurst, p. 179.</i></p> + +<p>(Private.)</p> + +<p class="date"> +"<i>Montreal, 21st Sept. 1814.</i></p> + +<p>"My Lord,</p> + +<p>"In my despatch from Plattsburg, of the 11th inst. I reported to your +Lordship the unfortunate event which induced me to withdraw the troops with +which I had advanced into the enemy's territory. My reasons for that +measure I can more fully explain to your Lordship in a private +communication than it might be proper to do in a public letter.</p> + +<p>"Your Lordship must have been aware from my previous despatches, that no +offensive operations could be carried on, within the enemy's territory, for +the destruction of his Naval Establishments, without naval support. Having +ascertained that our flotilla was in every respect equal to the enemy's, +and having received from Captain Downie the assurance, not only of his +readiness, but of his ability to co-operate with the army, I did not +hesitate in advancing to Plattsburg, and confidently relying upon the +successful exertions of the squadron, I made my arrangements for the +assault of the enemy's works the moment it should appear.</p> + +<p>"The disastrous and unlooked for result of the naval contest, by depriving +me of the only means by which I could avail myself of any advantage I might +gain, rendered a perseverance in the attack of the enemy's position highly +imprudent, as well as hazardous. From the state of the roads, each day's +delay at Plattsburg rendered my retreat more difficult. The enemy's Militia +was raising <i>en masse</i> around me, desertion increasing, and our supply of +provisions scanty.</p> + +<p>"Excluded from the use of water communication, and that by roads passing +through woods and over swamps,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xcix" id="Page_xcix">[Pg xcix]</a></span> becoming, from the state of the weather, as +well as from the obstructions made by the enemy, nearly impassable—under +these circumstances, I had to determine whether I should consider my own +fame, by gratifying the order of the troops in persevering in the attack, +or consult the more substantial interests of my country, by withdrawing the +army which was yet uncrippled, for the security of these provinces; in +adopting the latter measure, I feel that I have accorded with the views of +His Majesty's Government, and that a contrary conduct would have been +attended with immediate and imminent danger to this Province.</p> + +<p>"The most ample success on shore, after the loss of the fleet, could not +have justified the sacrifice I must have made to obtain it. Had I failed, +and such an event was possible, after the American army had been cheared by +the sight of a naval victory, the destruction of a great part of our troops +must have been the consequence, and with the remainder I should have had to +make a precipitate and embarrassed retreat, one very different from that +which I have made.</p> + +<p>"These are considerations which, without doubt, will have their due weight +with your Lordship, and induce you, I trust, to view the measures I have +adopted as those best calculated to promote, as well the honour of His +Majesty's arms, as the safety of this part of his dominions.</p> + +<p>"I herewith transmit a comparative state of the force of the two squadrons, +in order that your Lordship may be satisfied with my reasons for not +discouraging a Naval Engagement, in which, if all had done their duty, I +should have had a very different report to make.</p> + +<p class="sig"> +"I have the honour to be," &c.<br /> +<br /> +"<i>The Right Hon. Earl Bathurst</i>."</p> + +<h4> +J. M'Creery, Printer,<br /> +Tooks Court, Chancery Lane.<br /> +</h4> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_99_99" id="Footnote_99_99"></a><a href="#FNanchor_99_99"><span class="label">[99]</span></a> Captain Watson of the Tweed; Tate of the Nancy; and Higgins +of the Betsey.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_100_100" id="Footnote_100_100"></a><a href="#FNanchor_100_100"><span class="label">[100]</span></a> Compte O'Duin's own expression.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_101_101" id="Footnote_101_101"></a><a href="#FNanchor_101_101"><span class="label">[101]</span></a> Gordon, Author of the History of the American Revolution, +vol. iii. p. 328, &c.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_102_102" id="Footnote_102_102"></a><a href="#FNanchor_102_102"><span class="label">[102]</span></a> "On the 9th January, 1808, died General Naguês, first +Aid-de-Camp, &c. &c. His loss was strongly felt. This General had +conciliated the esteem of the public by his inclination to do good, his +attention to his duty, and his strict probity. Before he entered into the +service of Holland, he had been Governor of St. Lucie, which he had +defended as a brave soldier, and where he acquired the affection of the +Planters."—<i>Historical Documents and Reflections on the Government of +Holland, by Louis Bonaparte</i>, vol. ii. p. 214.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_103_103" id="Footnote_103_103"></a><a href="#FNanchor_103_103"><span class="label">[103]</span></a> From Toulon and Rochefort.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_104_104" id="Footnote_104_104"></a><a href="#FNanchor_104_104"><span class="label">[104]</span></a> A French Squadron was in the West Indies.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_105_105" id="Footnote_105_105"></a><a href="#FNanchor_105_105"><span class="label">[105]</span></a> These addresses are extracted from a work, entitled, "the +Canadian Inspector," published at Montreal, in 1815, for the express +purpose of noticing and confuting the assertions made by the author of the +letters under the signature of Veritas, respecting the measures of Sir +George Prevost, in the prosecution of the war. Upon the authority of these +letters the Quarterly Reviewer has mainly relied, and has had the boldness +to declare, that "<i>no reply was ever attempted to be made to the statements +contained in them, or doubt ever expressed in the Provinces of their +correctness</i>."—Review, p. 408.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_106_106" id="Footnote_106_106"></a><a href="#FNanchor_106_106"><span class="label">[106]</span></a> Since this work went to press, a positive contradiction to +the Reviewer's assertion, <i>that Sir George Prevost attempted to affix a +stigma upon the personal character of General Procter, which he was +afterwards obliged to abandon, with a declaration of regret that it was +ever made</i>, has been received from the Judge-Advocate who officiated at the +above trial, and who is now resident in Canada. From this information it +appears, that so far from the fifth charge being abandoned, the +Judge-Advocate in his reply, although he adverted to the partial failure of +the proof in support of that charge, still asserted that there came out in +evidence strong grounds for making it. In answer to the Reviewer's +misrepresentations as to the delay in assembling the Court-martial, it +appears from the same information that such delay was unavoidable. General +Procter's letter, in explanation of the retreat of the right division, was +not received until late in November, 1813. It was, of course, transmitted +to England, that His Majesty's Government might judge of the necessity of +an investigation. When General Procter applied for this investigation, he +was told that this was the case; and also, what he must have known, that at +all events, no such investigation could then take place, as the principal +witnesses, both for and against him, were then prisoners in the state of +Kentucky. The first orders of the Government for the assembling of the +Court-martial were not received in Canada until the 28th of May, 1814. They +were immediately notified to General Procter. The officers of the 41st were +still prisoners, though they were shortly to be exchanged, but the +exigencies of the war gave such employment to all the officers of proper +rank to form such a Court-martial, as well as to many material witnesses, +that it was impossible, without sacrificing the interests of the service to +comply with General Procter's applications for the assembling of the +Court.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_107_107" id="Footnote_107_107"></a><a href="#FNanchor_107_107"><span class="label">[107]</span></a> The action was fought on the 11th.</p></div> + +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Some Account of the Public Life of the +Late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart., by E. B. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Some Account of the Public Life of the Late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart. + Particularly of his Services in the Canadas, including a + reply to the strictures on his Military Character, Contained + in an Article in The Quareterly Review + +Author: E. B. Brenton + +Release Date: October 9, 2011 [EBook #37674] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOME ACCOUNT OF THE PUBLIC *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Josephine Paolucci and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. +(This book was produced from scanned images of public +domain material from the Google Print project.) + + + + + + + +SOME ACCOUNT OF THE PUBLIC LIFE OF THE LATE LIEUTENANT-GENERAL + +SIR GEORGE PREVOST, BART. + +PARTICULARLY OF HIS SERVICES + +IN + +THE CANADAS; + +INCLUDING + +A REPLY TO THE STRICTURES ON HIS MILITARY CHARACTER, + +CONTAINED + +IN AN ARTICLE IN THE QUARTERLY REVIEW FOR OCTOBER, 1822. + + "Either this is envy in you, folly, or mistaking; the + very stream of his life, and the business he hath + helmed, must upon a warranted need give him a better + proclamation. Let him be but testimonied in his own + bringings forth, and he shall appear a statesman and a + soldier. Therefore you speak unskilfully; or if your + knowledge be more, it is much darkened in your malice." + + MEASURE FOR MEASURE. + +LONDON: + +PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, STRAND; + +AND + +T. EGERTON, WHITEHALL. + +1823. + + +J. M'Creery, Printer, +Tooks Court, Chancery Lane. + + + + +SOME ACCOUNT + +OF + +THE PUBLIC LIFE OF THE LATE LIEUT.-GENERAL + +SIR GEORGE PREVOST, BART. + +_&c. &c._ + + +The character and conduct of individuals in high and responsible +situations, will naturally and necessarily be the subject of free and open +discussion. The conduct of a soldier is more particularly exposed to this +scrutiny. His success or his failure is a matter of such powerful interest +to his country, that he generally receives even more than his full measure +of approbation or of blame. Notwithstanding all the difficulties of forming +a correct judgment on the merits of military operations, there is perhaps +no subject upon which public opinion expresses itself so quickly and so +decidedly. Disappointed in the sanguine hopes which they had entertained, +and mortified by the consciousness of defeat, the public too frequently +imagine cause for censure, and without a competent knowledge of the facts +necessary to enable them to form a sound and satisfactory judgment, +unhesitatingly condemn those who have perhaps passed in their service a +long life of anxiety and labour. But while, in the moment of irritation, +they are thus disposed to impugn the conduct of their military servants, +they are no less ready, on more deliberate inquiry, and a fuller +understanding of the facts, to grant them a candid and generous acquittal. +These observations are peculiarly applicable to the case of the late +Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, who, after having devoted to his +country thirty-five of the best years of his life; after having +distinguished himself in many gallant actions; and after having preserved +to the crown of Great Britain some of its most valuable foreign +possessions, was called upon, at the close of his honourable career, to +answer charges which vitally affected his reputation, and which he was +prevented by death from fully and clearly refuting. + +Painful as it was to the friends of Sir George Prevost to allow a single +stain to rest upon the memory of so brave and distinguished a soldier, more +especially when they possessed the means of removing every doubt as to his +conduct, they yet considered an appeal to the candour and justice of his +country as unnecessary. The violent prejudices which at one period existed +against the late Commander of the Forces in the Canadas were gradually +wearing away; his memory had been honored by a just tribute of his +Sovereign's regret and approbation; and the scenes in which he had been so +conspicuous an actor, had ceased to be a matter of general interest. Under +these circumstances, the relatives of Sir George Prevost would confidently +have entrusted his reputation to the unprejudiced judgment of posterity, +had they not seen, with equal regret and indignation, a late attempt to +revive the almost exploded calumnies and misrepresentations of which he had +been the victim. That the Quarterly Review[1] should have lent its pages to +an attack like this, will, upon the perusal of the present volume, excite +the surprise of every candid person; and it is chiefly for the purpose of +correcting the mis-statements into which the Reviewer has been led, that +the following pages are presented to the public. + +Before entering more particularly upon the subject of Sir George Prevost's +conduct, so wantonly attacked in the article above alluded to, it may not +be thought improper briefly to advert to his father's services and to his +own early history. From his military career, previous to his appointment to +the chief command in British North America, it will clearly appear that he +was not without reason selected by his Majesty's Government for the +discharge of that important trust. + +Major-General Augustin Prevost, the father of the late Sir George Prevost, +was by birth a citizen of Geneva: he entered the British service as a +Cornet in the Earl of Albemarle's regiment of Horse Guards, and was present +at the battle of Fontenoy, where he was wounded. + +Having attained the rank of Major in the 60th regiment in 1759, he had the +honor of serving under General Wolfe, and received a severe wound in the +head, whilst gallantly forcing a landing, twenty miles above Quebec, under +the immediate command of General Carleton, afterwards Lord Dorchester. Upon +the reduction of Canada, Major Prevost was promoted to the rank of +Lieutenant-Colonel, and served with reputation at the capture of Martinique +and the Havannah. In 1775, he was appointed to the command in East Florida, +and, in 1778, he eminently distinguished himself by his defence of +Savannah, against the attack of a very superior force of French and +Americans, under the Comte d'Estaing and General Lincoln. The garrison +consisted of only 2,300 men, while the force of the besiegers amounted to +8,000, supported by a fleet of twenty-two sail of the line. Such, however, +was the determined energy of Major-General Prevost, and of the British +soldiers and sailors under his command, that the enemy were compelled to +abandon the enterprize, after thirty-three days' close siege.[2] + +In 1780, Major-General Prevost, after having served twenty-two years in +North America and the West Indies, returned to England, to enjoy the +pleasing consciousness of having always discharged his duty with zeal and +effect. His health was much impaired by a long residence in climates +unfavorable to an European constitution, and, on the 6th May, 1786, he +died, at Greenhill Grove, near Barnet, in the sixty-third year of his age. + +In 1765, Major-General Prevost married, at Lausanne, a daughter of M. +Grand, of that place;[3] and, on her husband's departure to America, Mrs. +Prevost accompanied him thither. George, their eldest son, was born while +General Prevost was stationed in the province of New Jersey, on the 19th +May, 1767. Being designed by his father for the military profession, he +was placed with that view at Lochee's academy, at Chelsea, and his +education was finished at Colmar, on the continent. He obtained his first +commission in the 60th regiment, and being removed upon promotion to the +28th foot, he joined that corps at Gibraltar in 1784. He obtained his +majority in 1790, and early in 1791, he took the command of the 3d +battalion of the 60th regiment at Antigua. In March, 1794, he was promoted +to a Lieutenant-Colonelcy in the 60th, and, in 1795, he proceeded to +Demerara, and from thence to St. Vincent's, at that time attacked by the +French. He was there actively employed in suppressing the Carib +insurrection, and in resisting the French invasion, and at the storming of +the Vigie he commanded a column. In October, 1795, he was ordered to +Dominica, to relieve Lieutenant-Colonel Madden in the command of the troops +in that island; but in January, 1796, he resumed the command of the 3d +battalion of the 60th regiment at St. Vincent's, where he was twice +severely wounded in successfully resisting the enemy's progress towards the +capital of the colony, after the defeat of Major-General Stewart at +Colonary. In consequence of his wounds, Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost obtained +leave to return to England. The sense which the inhabitants of St. +Vincent's entertained of his services was warmly expressed in an address +from the Council and House of Representatives in that island.[4] + +On his arrival in England, Lieutenant-Colonel Provost was appointed +Inspecting Field Officer. In January, 1798, he obtained the rank of +Colonel, and proceeded in the same year to the West Indies as +Brigadier-General. In 1798, he was removed from the command of the troops +at Barbadoes to St. Lucie, as Commandant, where he was afterwards appointed +Lieutenant-Governor, in compliance with a request from the inhabitants.[5] + +Brigadier-General Prevost continued to perform the duties of Governor of +St. Lucie until the peace of 1802, when that colony was restored to the +French. The address which he received from the inhabitants of the island on +his departure, fully evinces the popularity which he had acquired;[6] while +the letters addressed to him, and to Colonel Brownrigg, Secretary to H.R.H. +the Commander in Chief, by Sir Thomas Trigge, at that time Commander of the +Forces in the West Indies, satisfactorily prove that he merited the +confidence reposed in him by Government.[7] + +In July, Brigadier-General Prevost arrived in England, when the government +of Dominica was immediately offered to him by Lord Hobart. Having accepted +the appointment, he embarked for that island in the following November, and +landed there on the 25th of December, 1802. + +In the following year, he volunteered his services on the expedition +against St. Lucie and Tobago, and served as second in command under +Lieutenant-General Grenfield, who in his general order, after the capture +of Morne Fortunee, thus mentions his conduct upon that occasion:-- + +"To the cool and determined conduct of Brigadier-general Prevost and +Brigadier-General Brereton, who led the two columns of attack, may be +attributed the success of the action; but to Brigadier-General Prevost it +must be acknowledged, that to his counsel and arrangements the Commander of +the forces attributes the glory of the day."[8] + +The important services of Brigadier-General Prevost upon this expedition, +received numerous tributes of approbation from distinguished military +characters;[9] and even the French Commander could not refrain from +expressing the esteem and admiration with which he regarded his generous +enemy.[10] Upon the successful termination of this affair, +Brigadier-General Prevost returned to his Government at Dominica, where +nothing worthy of notice occurred until the 22d February, 1805, when an +unexpected attack was made by a French squadron from Rochefort. The result +of that attack was highly creditable to the valour and military talents of +the Governor, who after having, with the few troops under his command, +disputed inch by inch the landing of the French force, amounting to 4,000 +men, and covered by an overwhelming fire from the ships, succeeded in +effecting a retreat to the fort of Prince Rupert. The French Commander in +Chief, after vainly summoning him to surrender, reimbarked the whole of his +troops, and sailed to Guadaloupe.[11] + +The terms in which H. R. H. the Commander in Chief was pleased to express +his sense of General Prevost's conduct upon this occasion, were highly +gratifying to his feelings.[12] In consequence of his gallant and +successful defence of the Colony, General Prevost received a communication +from the Speaker of the House of Assembly,[13] conveying to him the thanks +of that body, and informing him that a Thousand Guineas had been voted by +them for the purchase of a sword and a service of plate, to be presented to +him in testimony of their gratitude and approbation.[14] A similar +testimonial to the conduct of General Prevost upon this occasion was given +by the Patriotic Fund, who voted him a sword of the value of one hundred +pounds, and a piece of plate, of the value of two hundred pounds, "for the +distinguished gallantry and military talents which he had displayed."[15] +From the West India Planters and Merchants General Prevost likewise +received a piece of plate to the value of three hundred guineas.[16] + +In July, 1805, General Prevost returned to England.[17] Soon after his +arrival he was created a Baronet, and was subsequently appointed +Lieutenant-Governor of Portsmouth. + +In February, 1808, he was selected to command a brigade destined to +reinforce Nova Scotia, where he succeeded Sir John Wentworth as Governor, +and in December, 1808, he left Halifax, in order to assist in the reduction +of Martinique. The expedition sailed from Barbadoes on the 28th of January, +1809, and on the 30th, the troops were landed on the island of Martinique. +Sir George Prevost was second in command under General Sir George Beckwith, +and to him the management of all the active operations was confided. The +result of this expedition was, that the French troops were driven into Fort +Bourbon, where they held out until the 24th of February, when the surrender +of that fort completed the conquest of the island.[18] + +Upon the conclusion of this short but brilliant campaign, Sir George +Prevost passed a few days at Dominica, where he was received with many +demonstrations of joy. Addresses were upon this occasion presented to him +by the House of Assembly of Dominica, and by the merchants and inhabitants +of St. Christophers.[19] + +In the month of April the army returned to Halifax, and from this period +until his appointment to the chief civil and military command in British +North America, in 1811, upon the resignation of Sir James Craig, Sir George +Prevost remained in Nova Scotia, esteemed and beloved by all ranks of the +inhabitants. On his departure for his new government, he received the most +gratifying addresses from the inhabitants of Halifax,[20] and from the +clergy of Nova Scotia, &c. &c.[21] + +Upon the arrival of Sir George Prevost at Quebec in 1811, he found much +dissatisfaction and discontent existing in the Lower Province. The +inhabitants were divided into two parties, termed the English and the +Canadian, and the feelings of hostility with which they viewed each other, +had unfortunately not been allayed by the policy which the late Governor in +Chief, Sir James Craig, had thought it necessary to adopt during his +administration. To such a degree had this party spirit been carried, and so +doubtful had he been of the disposition of the Canadians, that it had been +thought inexpedient to call out the militia, lest they should make an +improper use of the arms to be intrusted to them. Under these +circumstances, it was evidently the duty of Sir George Prevost to +conciliate, by every means in his power, the confidence and affection of +the Canadians, more particularly as in case of hostilities with America, +it would have been impossible to preserve Lower Canada without the cordial +support of its inhabitants. Sir George Prevost therefore did not hesitate +to adopt a system which the true interest of the Province seemed so +imperiously to require. He anxiously endeavoured to unite the two adverse +parties, and to soothe the irritation which not only threatened the +tranquillity of his government, but even the safety of the colony itself. +In the distribution of the patronage which he enjoyed, he resolved to be +guided solely by a consideration of the public good, and when offices +became vacant, he bestowed them, with a due regard to the merits of the +individuals, indifferently upon the English and the Canadians. + +The beneficial effects of these measures became every day more apparent. +The Governor in Chief speedily acquired the confidence of all ranks of +people, who submitted with cheerfulness to the privations and sacrifices +which they were soon afterwards called upon to endure. In numerous +instances he received from the inhabitants, both collectively and +individually, the strongest proofs of their zeal; and he had the +satisfaction of seeing them united in their attachment to his government, +at a time when the preservation of the colony depended upon such feelings. + +Having thus given a brief sketch of the situation in which the Governor in +Chief found the Province of Lower Canada upon his arrival, and of the views +and objects which he entertained respecting it, we shall proceed to point +out the conduct which he pursued, when, from the aspect of affairs, it +became evident that hostilities with America could not be long delayed. No +sooner had Sir George Prevost assumed the chief command of the Canadas, +than he became sensible of the necessity of placing those provinces in the +most efficient state of defence; and he therefore applied himself with the +utmost vigour and vigilance to call forth all their resources. It is +difficult to believe that the unwearied exertions of Sir George Prevost, +with a view to this important object, should have been altogether unknown +to the writer in the Quarterly Review. But supposing him to have been +ignorant of them, yet without access to the private and confidential +correspondence which took place between Sir George Prevost and his +Majesty's Government, or to the communications which passed between him and +the officers under his command, it was impossible that the Reviewer could +form a correct opinion upon the subject. And yet he has not hesitated +boldly to assert, that, "in the winters of 1811 and 1812, although the +designs upon the Canadas were openly avowed in the American Congress, +except the embodying of the militia of the Lower Province, Sir George +Prevost made _not the slightest preparation for defence_."[22] The +following statement will show the degree of credit to which this assertion +of the Reviewer is entitled. + +In the month of September, 1811, Sir George Prevost arrived in Canada, and +in the same month, proceeding from Quebec to the district of Montreal, he +inspected the different forts and military positions in that neighbourhood, +and on the American frontier. Soon after his return to Quebec in the +November following, he communicated confidentially with the +Adjutant-General of the forces in England, upon the apprehended hostilities +with America. In December he proposed to Lord Liverpool, then Secretary of +State for the Colonies, the raising a corps of Fencibles, from the +Glengarry settlement in Upper Canada; and in his correspondence with +Admiral Sawyer, who commanded on the Halifax station, he requested that a +ship of war might be sent, on the opening of the navigation, to the St. +Lawrence. In the month of February, 1812, another communication was made to +the Secretary of State's Office, in which Sir George Prevost expressed a +hope, that the proceedings in Washington would justify him, in making +preparations to repel the threatened attack. Those preparations had been +commenced as early as November, 1811, by forwarding arms and ammunition to +the Upper Province. During the winter of 1811 and 1812, and the spring of +the latter year, frequent communications passed between the Commander of +the forces and Major-General Brock, who commanded in Upper Canada, +respecting the preparations which would be necessary in the event of a war. +It was proposed to reinforce Amherstburgh, and Fort George; and supplies of +provisions, cavalry-arms, accoutrements and money, were directed to be +conveyed to Upper Canada. Accoutrements and clothing for the militia in the +Canadas, were requested from the British Government. Another schooner was +directed to be built, to increase our marine on Lake Erie. Captain Gray, +Deputy Assistant-Quarter-Master-General, was despatched to the Upper +Province, in order to assist in forwarding these defensive preparations; +and Captain Dixon, of the Royal Engineers, was directed to proceed to +Amherstburgh, to inspect the works of that fort, which the Commander of the +forces had ordered to be put in a tenable state. The propriety of +strengthening and fortifying York was submitted to Government; and the +commanding engineer was directed to make the repairs, which his report on +the different forts and posts in Upper Canada, had stated to be necessary. +In addition to these measures, a reinforcement from the 41st regiment, and +five companies of the Newfoundland Fencibles, left Quebec in the month of +May for the Upper Province. + +On the 31st March, Sir George Prevost addressed a private and confidential +letter to Major-General Brock, in which his sentiments respecting the +approaching war, and the policy to be adopted in meeting it, were clearly +detailed. One passage in this letter merits a more particular notice, since +it is highly important, not only as repelling the accusation of the +Reviewer respecting the want of preparation for the war, but also as +containing an answer to another charge, which will afterwards be noticed. +The paragraph in the letter is as follows: "You are nevertheless to +persevere in your preparations for defence, and in such arrangements as +may, upon a change in the state of affairs, enable you to employ any +disposeable part of your force _offensively_ against the common enemy." + +Independently of all these various communications with the officer +commanding in Upper Canada, respecting the measures to be pursued in the +event of war, and of the supplies of men, arms, money, stores, and +provisions, which, with a view to that event, had been afforded to Upper +Canada; much correspondence had previously taken place, and many +difficulties had been removed with regard to the supply and transport of +the Indian presents to the Upper Province, upon the due furnishing of which +very materially depended the support which we might expect to receive from +the Indians, in case of a rupture with America. + +From this statement, drawn from the original correspondence, and from +official documents, it is evident, that even in contemplation of +hostilities, an event by no means certain, and which the British Government +were so far from thinking probable, that they discouraged any measure of +extraordinary expense to meet it, the Commander of the forces did, as far +as rested with him, during the winter of 1811 and 1812, and for months +prior to the declaration of war, make every preparation for defence, +consistent with the means which he possessed. All the requisitions of +Major-General Brock which the Commander of the forces had the power to +grant, were promptly complied with; nor was the slightest intimation ever +given by that invaluable officer, that any measure, either suggested by +himself or which ought to have occurred to the Commander of the forces, for +the preservation of the Upper Province, in the event of its being attacked, +had been overlooked or neglected. The same vigilant foresight will be found +to mark the conduct of Sir George Prevost in the Lower Province. One of the +first measures of his government, in contemplation of war, was an +application to the legislature of Lower Canada, in February, 1812, for an +act to new model the militia laws, and which might enable him to call forth +a proportion of the population into active service. Averse as the Canadians +had hitherto been to grant any power of this description to former +Governors, and repugnant as many of the clauses which it was intended to +introduce into the bill, were to the habits and feelings of the people, +such was the deserved popularity acquired by Sir George Prevost, from the +conciliatory policy, which, as before stated, he had adopted towards the +Canadians, immediately upon his arrival amongst them, that he obtained from +the Legislature nearly all that he had required. Before the end of May, +1812, a sum exceeding 60,000_l._ was placed at his disposal for the militia +service; and he was authorized to embody 2,000 Bachelors, between the age +of eighteen and twenty-five years, for three months in the year; and in +case of invasion, or imminent danger of it, to retain them for a year. In +case of war, he was empowered to embody if necessary, the whole militia of +the Province. Under that law, a force of 2,000 men, from the finest and +most efficient class of the militia, was embodied on the 13th May, so to +remain for three months, unless the then state of affairs should render it +expedient to retain them longer. A corps of Canadian voltigeurs, under the +command of Major De Salaberry, of the 60th regiment, consisting of between +300 and 400 men, had likewise, been raised and disciplined; and 400 +recruits for the Glengarry Fencibles, had, before the 1st June, been +assembled at Three Rivers, in Lower Canada. The advantages arising from +thus embodying the militia prior to the war, were incalculable, and it may +be confidently asserted, materially contributed to the preservation of the +Canadas. + +The American Government, deceived by the erroneous information which they +had received respecting the disaffection of the Canadian population to +Great Britain, had calculated upon meeting with considerable support from +the people in their invasion of the Province. They had been told, and they +believed, that the militia would not serve, or, if embodied, would be worse +than useless. The embodying, arming, and training of 2,000 of the most +active portion of the population, for several weeks before the war was +declared, was a severe disappointment to the American Government; and was +one of the causes of that determined resistance, which they afterwards +experienced in every attempt to penetrate into that Province. This militia +force also enabled the Commander of the forces to detach a larger portion +of the regular troops, than he could otherwise have been justified in +parting with, to the Upper Province; while, at the same time, it afforded +him the means, on the breaking out of the war, of guarding the different +passes and roads into Lower Canada, with a description of men perfectly +well acquainted with the nature of the country, and with the mode of +warfare necessary for its defence. The line of frontier in the Lower +Province was thus most effectually guarded by Sir George Prevost's able +disposition of this new force, together with the assistance of the regular +troops; and every prudent precaution consistent with his means, and with +the instructions he was constantly receiving from England, to avoid all +unnecessary expense, was taken. The precautionary measures which were +pursued upon this occasion, by the Commander of the forces, met with the +full approbation of His Majesty's Government, expressed in a despatch from +Lord Bathurst, of the 6th November, 1812, in which his Lordship informed +Sir George Prevost, that "the preparations for defence which he had made +upon _the first intimation_ of eventual hostility with America, and which +he had since so vigorously continued, had met with the Prince Regent's +entire approbation." + +After charging Sir George Prevost with negligence, in not preparing to meet +the threatened hostilities, the Reviewer proceeds to hazard an opinion, +that the occupation and fortifying of Coteau du Lac, and Isle aux Noix, +which he terms the keys of Lower Canada, was a measure which Sir George +Prevost ought to have adopted, in preference to all others; but which he +entirely overlooked and neglected.[23] The fact is, that the occupation of +Coteau du Lac, as is well known to every military man acquainted with the +Canadas, could only be useful as against the enemy advancing from Lake +Ontario, or the shores of the St. Lawrence, above Montreal. No such force +could be expected to descend the river from the lake, so long as we had the +command of it, as we undoubtedly had, not only at the commencement of the +war, but for several months afterwards; and as little was it to be +apprehended as collecting on the shores of the river. The information which +the Commander of the forces was constantly receiving of the intended +movements of the enemy, and of the real and immediate object of their +attack, was too correct to leave him in any doubt as to their attempting +the Lower Province in that direction, or to induce him to diminish the +small means he possessed, for the defence of more important points, by the +occupation of posts which at that period could afford him no additional +security. Coteau du Lac, was not therefore occupied as a post, either +before the war or for several months afterwards, but its real importance +was neither overlooked nor disregarded, as the Reviewer has stated. It was +examined and reported upon by different officers, sent to inspect the line +of frontier extending from Lower Canada to Lake Ontario, immediately after +the declaration of war, and particularly by Colonel Lethbridge, who was +afterwards in command there. In possession of Kingston, and commanding the +waters of the lake, and with the knowledge possessed by Sir George Prevost, +of the force and designs of the enemy, no military man in the Canadas, +would have thought it necessary, in the then state of affairs, that Coteau +du Lac should be occupied. When subsequent events clearly shewed the +intentions of the enemy to invade Lower Canada from Lake Ontario, and when +the means of Sir George Prevost were better adapted for defending the whole +line of that frontier, Coteau du Lac was _occupied and fortified_; and had +it not been for the defeat which part of General Dearborn's army met with +from Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison's division in descending the St. Lawrence, +that post would have presented a formidable obstacle to the advance of the +enemy. + +The importance of Isle aux Noix, as a post, has been considerably +lessened[24] since the defence of the Canadas by the French, in consequence +of the facility with which Lower Canada may now be entered by the various +routes which the intercourse between that Province and the United States +has created. Isle aux Noix had long ceased to be either the only, or +principal barrier between the two countries. The occupation of this post +was not therefore deemed necessary as a precautionary measure before the +war; nor was it until some time afterwards that Sir George Prevost was +enabled to put it in a state of defence. As soon, however, as the +reinforcements and supplies from England gave him the means of more +effectually guarding all the avenues to the Lower Province, Isle aux Noix +became the object of his consideration. In consequence of the condition in +which it was then placed, and of the force stationed there, two armed +schooners of the enemy fell into our possession, and laid the foundation of +the marine which was afterwards formed for carrying forward the operations +on Lake Champlain. There cannot be a stronger proof of the little +importance which the enemy themselves attached to this post in the early +part of the contest, than their never making the slightest attempt to +obtain possession of it. + +Having thus stated what Sir George Prevost did _not_ do, by way of +preparation for the defence of the Canadas before the war, the Reviewer +proceeds to point out what _was_ done by him after the commencement of +hostilities. And here we find the same want of candour which distinguishes +the remarks to which we have already adverted.[25] + +In order to form a correct opinion of Sir George Prevost's conduct at this +period, it will be necessary to advert to the system which he adopted on +the commencement of the war, and to the motives which induced him to pursue +it. + +The declaration of war by the United States of America, it is well known, +was finally carried in Congress, after long debate, and a most violent +opposition, by a comparatively small majority. The northern and eastern +states, whose interests, it was acknowledged, were most affected by the +British orders in council, the ostensible and avowed cause of the war, were +constantly and strenuously opposed to hostile measures. It was apparent to +every person at all conversant with what was passing in the United States +at this time, that a contest undertaken in opposition to the sentiments and +wishes of so considerable a portion of the Union, and for an object which +Great Britain might, without any sacrifice of national honor, so easily +concede, as she was, in fact, about to do, at that very period, must +necessarily be of short duration. This was the opinion entertained by the +most sensible and well informed men in the northern and eastern states, as +well as in the Canadas, and in that opinion Sir George Prevost concurred. +It will likewise be seen, that the sentiments of His Majesty's Government +on this head were in unison with those of the Commander of the forces. +Under these circumstances, and with these impressions, it became the +obvious policy of Sir George Prevost, upon the breaking out of the war, to +avoid whatever might tend to widen the breach between the two countries, +and to pursue a line of conduct, which, while it should effectually tend to +defeat the object of the American Government in their attack upon the +Canadas, should also serve still further to increase the dislike and +opposition of the northern and eastern states, to those measures of +aggression against the British Provinces, which they had constantly +predicted would be attended with discomfiture and disgrace. In his +adherence to this defensive system, Sir George Prevost was encouraged and +supported, as it will speedily be shewn, not only by the approbation of the +British Government, but likewise by the concurrence of those who were best +qualified by their knowledge and situation to form a correct judgment on +the propriety of the measures which he was pursuing. This policy was also +the more necessary, in consequence of the inadequacy of the means possessed +by the Commander of the forces to repel the threatened attack of the +Americans at the commencement of the contest. The whole of the regular +force at that time in the Canadas did not amount to 5,000 men; the law for +embodying the militia had only been recently passed; and the population, +which had been previously considered as not well affected, had neither been +armed nor accustomed to discipline for many years. The military chest was +exhausted, and there was little prospect, that for some months at least, +considering the exertions which Great Britain was then called upon to make +in Europe, any supplies either of men or money could be afforded for the +defence of her Dominions in North America. These difficulties neither +depressed nor discouraged the ardent and active spirit of Sir George +Prevost. Although he fully coincided in opinion with that able and +judicious officer Sir James Craig, that in the event of a war with America, +Quebec should be the object of primary consideration; yet the defence of +the whole line of frontier between the Canadas and the United States, +occupied his early and serious consideration. That frontier comprehended a +distance of more than 900 miles, every part of which he determined to +dispute inch by inch, and to defend by every means in his power. + +It was in pursuance of the defensive line of policy which had been so +wisely determined upon, as well with reference to his own resources, and +the character of the enemy with whom he had to contend, as to the views and +instructions of the British Government, that the Commander of the forces +immediately after the commencement of the war, gave general instructions to +those in command under him, to abstain from any unnecessary and uncalled +for act of hostility upon the American territory. Notwithstanding these +general instructions, much was of course left to the discretion of those +who received them, in availing themselves of any fair opportunity of +retaliating upon the enemy the aggressive warfare they might attempt, by +attacking, wherever it might be done with any reasonable prospect of +success, the contiguous forts and possessions of the Americans. + +The private letter of 31st March, 1812, to Major-General Brock, from which +an extract has already been made, evidently shews, that Sir George Prevost +never meant to restrain the officers in command under him from acting upon +the offensive, whenever circumstances were such as would justify their +departure from the defensive system. Of these circumstances they were the +best judges. That this was the light in which Sir George Prevost's +instructions were viewed by Major-General Brock, appears by the following +extract from a letter addressed by him to the Commander of the forces, on +the 3rd July, 1812, at which time he was fully aware of the defensive line +of policy which had been adopted: + +"The account received, first through a mercantile channel, and soon after +repeated from various quarters, of war having been declared by the United +States against Great Britain, would have justified, in my opinion, +offensive operations. But the reflexion, that at Detroit and St. Joseph's, +the weak state of the garrisons would prevent the Commanders from +attempting any essential service connected in any degree with their future +security, and that my only means of annoyance on this communication, was +limited to the reduction of Fort Niagara, which could be battered at any +future period, I relinquished my original intentions, and attended only to +defensive measures." + +That Captain Roberts, the commanding officer at Fort St. Joseph's, acted +from a sense of this discretion thus entrusted to him, there cannot be a +doubt, as in his official letter to the Adjutant-General, announcing the +capture of Michilimachinac, he does not allude in the slightest degree to +his having acted contrary to his orders. The approval of his conduct in +general orders is likewise a convincing proof that Sir George Prevost +considered that he had acted up to the spirit of his instructions whatever +they might have been, and that he had used a sound discretion respecting +them. + +It however clearly appears by the above letter, that Captain Roberts acted +altogether from the orders he received from Major-General Brock, who was +fully aware, as it has been already shewn, of the sentiments of Sir George +Prevost, and who did not hesitate to give Captain Roberts the discretionary +order, which led to the attack and capture of the fort. + +It will be seen from the preceding pages, that the approaching hostilities +with America had been the subject of frequent communication between Sir +George Prevost and Major-General Brock, for several months _prior to the +commencement_ of the war; and that, in more than one letter to which +reference has been made, the precautions necessary to be taken, and the +system and line of defence to be adopted in the event of war, had been +clearly and distinctly pointed out. Possessed then, as Sir George Prevost +knew General Brock to be, of his sentiments on this subject, and aware that +he would receive from the North West company, from whom he had himself +derived the information, the earliest intelligence of the actual +declaration of war, an immediate further communication of his sentiments +was unnecessary. On the day, however, on which the intelligence of that +event reached Quebec, the 25th June, 1812, a letter was despatched to +Major-General Brock from the Adjutant-General, communicating the +information; and as soon as the important arrangements respecting the Lower +Province, and particularly those for the defence of Quebec had been +completed, Sir George Prevost proceeded to Montreal. Upon his receiving at +that place a despatch from Mr. Foster, our late minister at Washington, +with an official notification of the war, he immediately afterwards, (on +7th July,) and within a fortnight after the first intelligence of it had +reached him at Quebec, sent off his first despatch to Major-General Brock. +This was followed by another on the 10th of the same month by Colonel +Lethbridge, who was sent to take the command at Kingston; and in both these +letters every instruction and information which Sir George Prevost's +situation afforded, or enabled him to give, were sent to the Major-General. +That these despatches did not reach General Brock until the 29th of the +month was owing to circumstances over which Sir George Prevost had no +control. It must be observed, however, that General Brock received the +despatches several days before he set off to join the army opposed to +General Hull, although the Reviewer[26] gives his readers to understand +that it did not arrive until after General Hull's capture. + +The above statement will afford a full and satisfactory answer to the +misrepresentations of the Quarterly Reviewer,[27] and to the unwarrantable +insinuation by which they are accompanied, if indeed any answer were +wanting to assertions in which the writer has directly contradicted +himself. The Reviewer states, "that Sir George Prevost sent no instructions +whatever to General Brock for some weeks after he received intimation of +the war:"--and further, "that he, General Brock, was only restrained from +the measure of attacking Fort Niagara, _by the perplexity of his situation, +in being left without orders_." It is singular that the writer should have +forgotten, that only five pages before, he had stated[28] that "_on the +receipt_ of the intelligence of the American declaration of war, +Major-General Brock, who commanded the troops in the Upper Province +_immediately_ despatched DISCRETIONARY orders to the British officer in +charge of Fort St. Joseph's, to act either _offensively_ or otherwise +against the enemy at Michilimachinac, as he should find advisable." If +General Brock was justified in giving these discretionary orders to act +offensively as circumstances might require, it follows that he must have +considered a similar line of conduct open to himself; and yet, in the face +of this statement, the Reviewer gravely endeavours to persuade his readers, +that General Brock was in perplexity with regard to the measures which he +should pursue. + +The Reviewer's insinuation, that Sir G. Prevost sent no instructions to +General Brock for some weeks after he received intimation of the war, with +the intention of leaving that officer to act on his own responsibility, +cannot be passed over in silence. It has been already proved, by +incontrovertible facts, that the contemptible motives thus attributed to +the Commander of the forces, could not possibly have existed in his mind; +and the attempt to impute to him a conduct so dishonorable ought therefore +to be marked with the severest reprobation. No two persons could more +sincerely respect and esteem each other than these gallant and high-minded +individuals. Sir George Prevost had early evinced his opinion of General +Brock's merits and talents, in a private communication to him of the 22d +Jan. 1812, several months before the war; and the reply of General Brock to +that communication, was sufficient evidence of the sentiments he +entertained towards the Commander, under whom he expressed himself to be so +desirous of serving. Indeed, the utmost confidence and cordiality +prevailed between these officers, as is amply manifested in the +correspondence before referred to; and wherever a difference of opinion did +exist, General Brock never hesitated to yield to what he expressed and +considered the superior knowledge and experience of the Commander in Chief. + +The conduct of Sir George Prevost in his communications with General Brock, +after receiving intelligence of the war, was not attended with any of those +consequences which the Reviewer has asserted. Upon this head General +Brock's correspondence with the Commander of the forces is conclusive. + +The first letter from that officer, after the receipt of the intelligence +of the war, is dated the 3d July, at Fort George; the extract from which, +already given, is a convincing proof, that whatever might have been his +intention in moving from York to Fort George, he was not restrained from +the measure of attacking Fort Niagara by any deficiency of instructions +from the Commander of the Forces. + +The next letter from General Brock is from Fort George, dated 12th July, +and states that the enemy were constructing batteries at the different +points of the frontier; that he was making exertions to counteract their +views; and that the arrival, that morning, of the Royal George and the +vessels under convoy, bringing various pieces of ordnance, would give him a +decided superiority. Not a single word is said in this despatch of any wish +or intention on the part of the Major-General to invade the American +territory. Major-General Brock's next letter of the 20th July states, that +the enemy had evidently diminished his force, and appeared to have no +intention of making an immediate attack. This letter also communicated the +intelligence of General Hull's invasion of the Province. It likewise +contained details of General Brock's means of defensive warfare, and +expressed some apprehension for the fate of the troops under his command, +should the communication be cut off between Kingston and Montreal; which +apprehension was entertained by him on the supposition, as he stated, that +"the _slender means possessed by Sir G. Prevost would not admit of +diminution, and consequently that he could not look for reinforcements_." +The same letter acknowledged the receipt of the Adjutant General's +communication from Quebec, of 25th June, of the declaration of war. In the +succeeding despatch from General Brock to Sir G. Prevost, dated 26th July, +from Fort George, that officer writes as follows: "I have not deemed it of +sufficient importance to commence active operations on this line by an +attack on Fort Niagara; it can be demolished, when found necessary, in +half an hour, and _there my means of annoyance would cease. To enable the +militia to acquire some degree of discipline, without interruption, is of +far greater consequence than such a conquest_." + +The next letter from the Major-General, dated from York, the 28th July, +principally relates to the approaching meeting of the legislature, and +mentions his intention of detaching a force for the relief of Amherstburg. +A letter from the same place, written on the following day, communicates +the surrender of Michilimachinac, and particularly acknowledges the receipt +of Sir George Prevost's despatches of the 7th and 10th July, written _after +the declaration of war_, and before alluded to. General Brock also states +his intention of embarking immediately in the Prince Regent, (the vessel +which had been built and equipped since the month of March preceding), for +Fort George, from whence he should speedily return to York. On the 4th +August, a short letter was addressed by General Brock to Sir G. Prevost, +from York, principally upon the proceeding of the legislature, regarding +the militia laws, and on the following day he set off for Amherstburg, from +whence he did not return until after the glorious termination of Hull's +invasion. It was, therefore, from a consideration of the nature of his +resources, and of the necessity of maturing and husbanding them, and from +a conviction that Niagara would easily fall whenever he should be inclined +to attack it, and not from any doubt arising from want of instructions, +that General Brock abandoned the attempt. + +It was in further pursuance of the line of policy adopted at the +commencement of the war, that Sir George Prevost, upon the receipt of +despatches from Mr. Foster, acquainting him with the proposed repeal of the +Orders in Council by the British Government, immediately opened a +communication with Major-General Dearborn, commanding the American forces +on the frontier of Lower Canada, for the purpose of concluding an +armistice, until the Congress should determine upon the proposals +transmitted to them by Mr. Foster. An armistice of about three weeks did +accordingly take place; and whatever might be the advantage arising from it +to the American commanders and their troops, from the time and opportunity +it afforded them of increasing their means of attacking the Canadas, it is +obvious that the cessation of hostilities was of far more importance to Sir +George Prevost, by enabling him to mature his preparations for defence. In +fact, at the very time the armistice was negotiating, a regiment had +arrived in the river from the West Indies; and after the conclusion, and +during the continuance of it, considerable reinforcements of men and +supplies were forwarded to Upper Canada, where they armed before the +resuming of hostilities, and materially contributed towards defeating the +attempts which the enemy afterwards made to invade that province. + +Intelligence of the conclusion of the armistice was despatched to General +Brock on the 12th August, by Brigade-Major Sheckleton, and must have +reached him at Amherstburg before he left that place for Fort George, where +he arrived the 6th September; but, whatever may have been General Brock's +opinion of the policy of the measure, we do not find in his letter of the +7th September to Sir George Prevost, that the receipt of that intelligence +had at all interfered with any intention he had previously entertained of +"sweeping" (according to the Reviewer's assertion) "the Niagara line of the +American garrisons, which he knew were then unprepared for vigorous +resistance."[29] In fact, as that letter states, the armistice was to +terminate the _next day_; and so far was General Brock from being in a +situation to act offensively, that he states his expectation of an almost +immediate attack, and of his having sent to Amherstburg to Colonel Proctor, +as well as to Colonel Vincent at Kingston, for reinforcements, to enable +him to meet it; expressing at the same time his hope, that if he could +continue to maintain his position for six weeks longer, the campaign would +terminate in a manner little expected in the United States. + +Upon the expiration of the armistice, Sir George Prevost resolved to +continue, for a time at least, and until his resources would better enable +him to pursue a contrary line of conduct, the same defensive system which +he had previously determined upon; and which he had been originally induced +to adopt, in consequence of the peculiar circumstances in which he was +placed at the commencement of hostilities, and of the war having been +undertaken, on the part of the United States, so much in opposition to the +opinions and wishes of a considerable portion of its population. In a +private letter from Sir George Prevost to General Brock, of the 2d August, +1812, upon the subject of the proposed armistice, he particularly refers to +the opinion of Mr. Foster, respecting the policy of the defensive system. +"Mr. Foster," he says, "submits the propriety of our abstaining from an +invasion of the United States' territory, _as only in such event could the +American government be empowered to order the militia out of the States_." +As a further ground for this line of conduct, and a confirmation of the +propriety of his own opinion in adopting it, he quotes in a subsequent +communication to General Brock, of 30th August, 1812, the opinion of his +Majesty's Government on the subject. "The King's Government having most +unequivocally expressed to me their desire to preserve peace with the +United States, that they might uninterruptedly pursue, with the whole +disposeable force of the country, the great interests committed to them in +Europe, I have endeavoured to be instrumental in the accomplishment of +those views; but I consider it most fortunate to have been enabled to do so +without interfering with your operations on the Detroit. I have sent you +_men, money, and stores of every kind_." It cannot be matter of surprise +that Sir George Prevost should persevere in his defensive system, even +after the termination of the armistice, and when from the manner in which +the Government of the United States had received the communication of the +repeal of the Orders in Council, it was evident that they meant to continue +the war for other objects; for it ought to be considered, that up to that +period, the only reinforcements of troops received by him were the 103d, +nearly a boy-regiment, and the first battalion of the Royals from the West +Indies, the latter incomplete, from the capture of part of their numbers, +on board of one of the transports, by an American frigate. In consequence, +however, of this addition to the force in the Lower Province, Sir George +Prevost was enabled immediately to strengthen the army in Upper Canada, by +detachments from the 49th regiment, Royal Newfoundland Fencibles, and Royal +Veterans; but it must be evident that the total accession of strength in +both Provinces was not sufficient to warrant a departure from a system, +which had been adopted after the fullest deliberation, and upon a just +calculation of the means necessary to meet the American warfare. The +grounds of Sir George Prevost's opinion on this head had been stated to +General Brock, in his letters to him of the 7th and 10th July, before +referred to; and as a further confirmation of the necessity of adhering to +it, in his communication to General Brock, of the 17th September, Sir +George Prevost acquaints him, that in his last despatches from Lord +Bathurst, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated 4th July, 1812, he +is told by him, "That his Majesty's Government trusts he will be enabled to +suspend, with perfect safety, all extraordinary preparations for defence, +which he may have been induced to make, in consequence of the precarious +state of the relations between Great Britain and the United States."--As +this opinion of the British Government was evidently founded upon their +belief, that the revocation of the Orders in Council would either prevent +war, if not declared, or lead to an immediate peace, had hostilities +commenced, it was plain that no further reinforcements could be expected to +be even ordered from England, until accounts should arrive there of the +reception which the intelligence of the revocation of the Orders in Council +had met with from the Government of the United States. As this could not +well be before the end of September, there was not the slightest prospect +of any addition being afforded to the force in the Canadas before the +ensuing year; and it was therefore certain, that the Commander of the +forces would until that period be completely left to his own resources for +the defence of those Provinces. + +To husband those resources became, under these circumstances, his imperious +duty. The posture of affairs in Lower Canada, as he had stated to General +Brock, in his letter of the 17th September, particularly on the frontier of +Montreal, required every soldier in that Province, and no further +reinforcements could be sent by him to the other. Not aware of any +advantage which could arise from offensive operations against America, to +compensate for the loss they might occasion, and for the consequent +insecurity to the Provinces which he was defending, Sir George Prevost +continued to urge upon General Brock, and after his death, upon his +successor, General Sheaffe, the necessity of adhering to a defensive +system; nor does it appear from any part of the correspondence between +these officers and Sir George Prevost, that they had any particular object +in view, which that policy restrained them from pursuing. Previous to the +armistice, and to the capture of Hull's army at Detroit, General Brock had +in his letters of 3d and 26th July, 1812, before referred to, given his +reasons, which were evidently independent of the consideration of any +instructions from Sir George Prevost, why he did not meditate offensive +operations against the American frontier; and subsequent to the capture of +Detroit, and after his arrival at Fort George in September, it has been +clearly shewn, that his situation and means precluded him from such +measures, except at a great risk, and for the accomplishment of inadequate +objects. + +The correctness of this statement appears from a letter addressed by +General Brock, to Sir George Prevost, on the 13th September, 1812, from +Fort George; in which he says, "that although he had learnt from deserters, +(but which information he had reason afterwards to think, as he +acknowledged, was not altogether correct), that great dissatisfaction +prevailed amongst the American troops on the Niagara frontier, and that +therefore much might be effected against such a body at that moment; that +keeping in mind his excellency's instructions, and _aware of the policy of +permitting such a force to dwindle away by it's own inefficient means, he +did not_ CONTEMPLATE _any_ IMMEDIATE ATTACK." Two strong inferences +naturally arise from this letter--the one, that General Brock must have +considered the instructions received from Sir George Prevost, as to +defensive measures not _positive_, as the Reviewer has thought fit to state +them to have been, but _discretionary_; the other, that General Brock +himself, was convinced of the policy of abstaining from offensive +operations against an enemy circumstanced as the Americans then were. That +this policy was a wise one, was manifest from the result. Had any attack +been made on Fort Niagara, or had that general sweeping of the American +garrisons on the frontier, (which the critic seems to think so easy an +achievement) been attempted, there cannot be a doubt but that this invasion +of the American territory, before the enemy had made an attack upon our own +frontier, would have united the whole population, not only of the states +bordering upon that line, but of every other part of the union, in the +prosecution of the war. The militia already assembled upon that frontier, +and who were known to be dissatisfied, and anxious to return to their +homes, would in the event of an attack upon their territory, not only have +cheerfully remained to repel the aggression, but would have been further +obliged to pass the frontier, for the invasion of Canada; which, without +such an attack on our part, they could not have been compelled to do. Aware +of this circumstance, it was the policy of the American Government, to hold +out lures to our officers, commanding on the frontiers, to induce them to +commence an offensive warfare. Sir George Prevost, however, saw through +their design, and fortunately disappointed it. The consequence was, that +finding their militia could no longer be kept together, and that the season +was fast approaching, when all offensive operations must cease, the +American commanders urged the troops on that line, to that ill-concerted +expedition, which ended in the battle of Queenstown, and which, though +attended with the irreparable loss to the British forces of their gallant +Commander, terminated in the disgrace and defeat of the American army; and +was thus the means of preserving, at least for that campaign, the Province +of Upper Canada. Brilliant as had been the success of our arms at the +battle of Queenstown, and complete as had been the overthrow of the enemy, +they still remained in sufficient force on the opposite territory, to make +an immediate attack upon their frontier, notwithstanding the dismay with +which the critic seems to think the Americans were filled,[30] something +more than hazardous. Out of the small force of less than 900 regular troops +which we had on the field that day, nearly 100 of them were killed or +wounded, and many were necessarily engaged in guarding the prisoners, whose +numbers amounted to more than our own regular force. The enemy had received +reinforcements in their line during the day of the action, and others were +constantly arriving. Under these circumstances is it to be wondered at, +that Major-General Sheaffe should not have listened to the suggestions of +any of his officers, if such were made, and the fact is more than doubtful, +to cross over immediately after the action, when according to the +Reviewer's sagacious opinion, "Fort Niagara might have been taken, and the +whole of the Niagara line cleared of the American troops!" + +Such an attempt might indeed have averted the insinuation levelled by the +critic against General Sheaffe and Sir George Prevost as _lovers of +armistices_, but would have evinced great want of military judgment and +prudence in General Sheaffe, and have hazarded all the advantages gained by +the gallant and able conduct of his lamented predecessor, and strengthened +and confirmed at Queenstown by himself. General Sheaffe was, therefore, +wisely contented with having foiled a second attempt of a superior force to +invade the Province; and, anxious to secure its future preservation, he +willingly acceded to a proposal for an armistice, which he knew, under the +circumstances of his situation, would be of incalculably more benefit to +himself than to the enemy. It must be evident to every one at all +conversant with military subjects, that to those who are carrying on a +defensive warfare, which their inferiority of force and means of every +description has obliged them to adopt, a suspension of hostilities must be +infinitely more beneficial than to the opposite party. General Sheaffe was +fully aware of the importance of this measure to the safety of the +province, which on the death of General Brock was entrusted to him, since +he was in daily expectation of receiving supplies of clothing, and other +articles which were indispensable for the militia, who had become much +dissatisfied from the want of those articles. Reinforcements of troops were +also on their way to him; and, in fact, these supplies and reinforcements +did arrive during the continuance of the armistice, and materially +contributed to foil the further efforts of the enemy to invade the +Province. It may also be added, that the armistice was further expedient in +the first instance, when its duration was limited to three days, for the +purpose of affording time for carrying into effect the proposed exchange +of prisoners, the removal of those that were wounded, and the passing over +to the enemy's side the militia paroles. Some portion of time was also +necessary for performing, without any hostile interruption, the last +tribute of respect to the memory of the gallant Commander who had then +lately fallen. The subsequent prolongation of the armistice to an +indefinite period, although it was in the power of either party to +terminate the same by thirty hours notice, perfectly coincided with +Major-General Sheaffe's system of defensive warfare, and permitted him to +leave Fort George for a short time, and proceed to York, where his presence +was indispensable for the purpose of being sworn in, and assuming the civil +government. + +It has been thought necessary to say thus much in vindication of this +measure, from a sense of justice to a gallant and meritorious officer, +although it was adopted without any reference to, and without the consent +or approbation of Sir George Prevost. The Reviewer has indeed thought fit +to characterize the armistice[31] as one for which no reason, civil or +military, was ever assigned; whereas it was notorious to the army employed +on the Niagara line that General Sheaffe was influenced in this step by +the motives and circumstances already stated, all of which were immediately +communicated by him to Sir George Prevost. If any thing further were +necessary to be adduced in vindication of the policy of the defensive +system, of which these armistices formed a part, and which the Reviewer has +thought fit so groundlessly to denominate short-sighted and ill-judged, +although attended with results so favourable to the safety of both +Provinces, it will be found in the complete approbation expressed by his +Majesty's Government. In Lord Bathurst's despatch to Sir George Prevost, of +the 4th July, 1812, written before the intelligence of the declaration of +war, by America, had reached England, his Lordship says, "The instructions +given by you to Major-General Brock and Sir John Sherbrooke, cautioning +them against any premature measures of hostility, or any deviation from a +line of conduct strictly defensive, meets with the full approbation of his +Royal Highness the Prince Regent." + +In a subsequent despatch of the 10th Aug., Lord Bathurst approves of the +general principles upon which Sir George Prevost intended to conduct the +operations of the war, by making the defence of Quebec paramount to every +other consideration, in the event of invasion. In a later despatch of the +date of the 1st October, 1812, his Lordship says, "I have it in command +from his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, to convey to you his most +unqualified approbation of the measures which you have adopted for +defending the Provinces under your charge, and of those to which you have +had recourse for deferring, if not altogether preventing, any resort to +actual hostility." On the subject of the armistice, he adds, "The desire +which you have unceasingly manifested to avoid hostilities, with the +subjects of the United States, is not more in conformity with your own +feelings, than with the wishes and intentions of his Majesty's Government, +and therefore your correspondence with General Dearborn cannot fail to +receive their cordial concurrence." + +In a further despatch from Lord Bathurst, dated the 10th October, 1812, +acknowledging the receipt of the letter from Sir George Prevost, which +announced the surrender of General Hull, with his army, to General Brock, +and communicating his Royal Highness the Prince Regent's approbation of the +conduct of General Brock, his officers and troops, on that occasion, his +Lordship adds--"I am further commanded by his Royal Highness to say, that +in giving every credit to Major-General Brock, and the army under his +command, he is fully sensible how much your exertions and arrangements have +contributed to the fortunate conclusion of the campaign in Upper Canada." +In Lord Bathurst's despatch of the 16th November following, he says, "The +measures which you have taken for obstructing the navigation of the +Richelieu, by the erection of works on the Isle Aux Noix, appear well +calculated to impede the advance of the enemy in that quarter." + +Testimonials like these, so highly honorable to the zeal and ability +displayed by Sir George Prevost, are sufficient of themselves to afford a +complete answer to the Reviewer's assertions. That writer's remark, with +regard to "the practical illustration of the tendency"[32] of Sir George +Prevost's defensive system, is directly in opposition to the facts, both as +respects the conduct of Colonel Procter, in consequence of his orders, and +the effect produced by that conduct upon the minds of the Indians. In proof +of this assertion, it is only necessary to advert to the two expeditions, +of Captain Muir to Fort Wayne, in September, 1812, and of Lieutenant Dewar +to the Fort of the Rapids of the Miami, in October following. The former of +these expeditions tended, for some time at least, to retard the +preparations which the enemy were making for their second advance to the +Detroit frontier, which terminated in the defeat and capture of General +Winchester and his army, while both expeditions afforded to the Indians a +strong proof of our desire to co-operate with them, as far as was +consistent with the security of our own Provinces, and of the Michigan +territory. Neither of these expeditions would have been undertaken, had not +Colonel Procter's orders been _discretionary_ instead of _positive_. It is +certainly true, that Sir George Prevost did wish to discourage the +employment of the regular troops under Colonel Procter, in offensive +operations jointly with the Indians; because such a course of proceeding +was neither consistent with the instructions he had received from his +Majesty's Government, nor compatible with the military resources of his +command. At the same time he merely recommended to Colonel Procter a +cautious line of conduct, chiefly directed to the preservation of the +district committed to his charge; and it is evident that Colonel Procter's +use of the discretion thus entrusted to him, had the effect of retaining +the willing services of the Indians during the whole period of our +remaining in possession of the Michigan territory, and up to the time of +the unfortunate retreat and consequent capture of Colonel Procter's +detachment at the Moravian village. + +Having thus briefly adverted to the principal occurrences of the first +campaign in Upper Canada, it becomes necessary to say a few words with +regard to those of the Lower Province, during the same period; and which, +being under the _immediate direction of Sir George Prevost_, the Reviewer +has thought proper to characterize as _utterly insignificant_.[33] Almost +immediately after intelligence of the war had arrived at Quebec, Sir George +Prevost repaired to Montreal, for the purpose of providing for the defence +of that frontier; and having established a cordon of troops in the +situations most exposed to attack, between the St. Lawrence and the +Richelieu rivers, consisting of all the flank companies of the 49th and +100th regiments, together with three battalions of embodied militia, and +one of Canadian voltigeurs, which last four corps had been raised and +disciplined previous to the war, he returned to Quebec, in order to meet +the Provincial Parliament. The legislature had been summoned, principally, +for the purpose of obtaining from them an act authorizing the circulation +of army bills, a measure to which from his deserved popularity with that +body, they did not hesitate to accede, and without which, from the want of +specie, it would scarcely have been possible to carry on the public +service. To many of the arrangements and measures of Sir George Prevost, +for reinforcing and strengthening Upper Canada, as well as for guarding +the approaches to the Lower Province, reference has already been made. The +whole summer had been unceasingly employed in these important objects, and +the greatest exertions had been made to transport and convey to Kingston, +by the tedious route of the St. Lawrence, against the current, and along a +frontier much exposed to the enemy, the various supplies which the +exigencies of the Upper Province demanded; all of which, by the judicious +and able arrangements made by him for that purpose, arrived safe and +without loss, or with very inconsiderable molestation. + +In the month of August Sir George Prevost again repaired to Montreal, in +order that he might be ready to take the field, should the movements of +General Dearborn, who commanded the enemy's forces on that frontier, +indicate any intention of attacking our line of defence, which had been +entrusted to the charge of Major-General de Rottenburg. General Dearborn +having, on the 16th November, advanced from Plattsburg to Champlain town, +close upon our frontier line, thereby threatening the front of +Major-General de Rottenburg's position, Sir George Prevost, upon the +receipt of this intelligence, crossed the St. Lawrence with a considerable +proportion of the force then at Montreal, in order to strengthen the point +thus threatened, and established his head-quarters at Chambly, where he +remained for several weeks. Whether this movement on the part of General +Dearborn was made in the expectation of finding that no effectual +resistance would be offered by the Canadian population to his further +advance into the Province, or with the view of preventing the sending of +reinforcements from the Lower to the Upper Province, he was equally +disappointed in both these objects. The able measures adopted by Sir George +Prevost in the disposition of the regular troops, as well as of the +militia, who displayed the most ardent spirit of loyalty, and the most +resolute determination to repel every attempt of the enemy to invade the +Colony, induced the American Commander in Chief to abandon any further +intention of advancing. After pushing forward a few reconnoitring parties +which were invariably forced to retreat without effecting their object, he +was ultimately compelled, by the advanced season of the year, to close the +campaign, and to put the army into winter quarters. + +The result of the first campaign was highly honorable to the military +talents of the Commander of the forces. The enemy, notwithstanding their +superior resources, were foiled in every attempt which they made to invade +the Provinces, with the loss in one instance of the whole of their army, +together with the Commander; while, in the other, their troops suffered a +total defeat, attended with the capture of a General Officer, and upwards +of 700 men. + +But while thus engaged in his military duties, Sir George Prevost was not +unmindful of the importance of our naval superiority upon the Lakes, though +in this as in every other part of his conduct, he has fallen under the +indiscriminate censure of the Quarterly Reviewer,[34] who has accused him +of neglecting to preserve the naval ascendancy which we enjoyed on Lakes +Erie and Ontario, at the commencement of the contest. + +As early as the month of December, 1811, as appears from a letter addressed +by Sir George Prevost to General Brock, he had directed his attention +towards our marine on Lake Erie, and had given directions for the building +of a schooner at Amherstburg. Our force on the Lake, at that period, +consisted of the ship Queen Charlotte, and Hunter schooner, both of which +were armed and actually employed. The Americans possessed at the same +period a brig, the Detroit, and a sloop, the former a very fine vessel, and +in readiness for any service, although then laid up at Presque Isle. During +the whole of the campaign of 1812, our vessels navigated the Lake without +any attempt on the part of the enemy to interrupt them, and materially +contributed to the success of our arms in that quarter, by the countenance +and protection afforded by them to the garrison at Amherstburg, and by the +transportation from Fort Erie of such stores, provisions, and supplies as +were indispensable for the security of the former post. In direct variance +with the Reviewer's assertion,[35] that "_not one effort_ was made by Sir +George Prevost to increase our marine at that period;" it is a remarkable +fact that the schooner, Lady Prevost, which he had ordered to be built in +_December_, 1811, was launched and fitted out, and was actually employed on +the Lake within a month after the declaration of war, and essentially +assisted in the transport of the arms, provisions, &c. before mentioned, +during nearly the whole of the first campaign. Of the force which the enemy +then possessed on this Lake, consisting of the Detroit and a schooner, the +former fell into our possession upon the surrender of General Hull with his +army; and, although she was recaptured in the October following, under +circumstances which, considering the superiority of the enemy, reflected no +discredit upon the officer commanding her, and the men under him, she made +no accession to their strength, as she was burnt the day afterwards by our +troops, and the Caledonia, a private vessel, captured with her, was +rendered a mere wreck by the fire from our fort and batteries. On Lake +Erie, therefore, during the whole of the campaign of 1812, our naval +ascendancy was decisive; to strengthen and preserve which, the efforts of +Sir George Prevost materially contributed. On Lake Ontario, our +superiority, as well at the commencement of hostilities, as long prior and +subsequent to that period, was still more apparent and efficient. In March, +1812, our force on that Lake consisted of the Royal George ship of 24 guns, +the brig Moira of 16 guns, and two schooners; whilst that of the enemy was +composed of a single brig laid up at Sackett's Harbour. But the importance +of maintaining this great superiority over the enemy was not lost sight of +by Sir George Prevost. As early as January, 1812, Captain Gray, an able +officer of the Quarter-Master-General's department, under which the marine +was placed, was despatched to York for the purpose, amongst other services, +of consulting with Major-General Brock, upon the best means of preserving +the ascendancy which we possessed upon Lake Ontario. In consequence of +Captain Gray's suggestion, the building of a very fine schooner, called the +Prince Regent, was commenced at York in the following March, which was +launched, equipped, and employed upon the Lake in conveying supplies of +great importance on the 3d July, immediately after notice of the +declaration of war had been received in Upper Canada. This fact furnishes a +full contradiction to the assertion of the Reviewer,[36] that "after +slumbering away the summer and autumn without one effort to increase our +marine in amount or efficiency, Sir George Prevost suddenly awoke, in the +depth of winter, to a sense of the condition to which his supineness had +reduced the British cause, and the building of two frigates commenced with +convulsive activity." That Sir George Prevost, with so decided a naval +ascendancy on both lakes at the commencement of the war, should not have +thought himself justified in any extraordinary exertions to increase that +ascendancy, is not to be wondered, at when it is considered, that for every +purpose of the defensive system which he had adopted, the British force +upon the Lakes was amply sufficient, and that Government would not have +approved, in the then state of affairs, of the expense which such a measure +must unavoidably have occasioned. Aware, however, as Sir George Prevost was +of the important advantages which the dominion of the Lakes afforded for +the preservation of the Canadas, he had, both long before, and immediately +after the commencement of the war, called the attention of His Majesty's +Government to that subject. He had also in his communication with General +Brock, and particularly by the Deputy Assistant Quarter-Master-General, +invited his consideration of the same matter. It certainly affords a strong +proof of the conviction of that gallant and able officer, that our force on +those waters needed no extraordinary exertion at that time to increase it +beyond what had been already made; that, excepting in his letter before +referred to, of 2d December, 1811, he never once mentioned the subject of +our marine in his various different communications with Sir George Prevost, +respecting the means of defending the Upper Province, until in his despatch +of the 11th October, 1812, he acquainted the Commander of the forces with +the recapture of the brig Detroit by the enemy. Previous, however, to this +period, and as soon as Sir George Prevost had reason to suppose from the +refusal of the American Government to accede to the Armistice, or to +consider the revocation of the Orders in Council a sufficient ground for +pacification, that the war would be continued, and that renewed efforts +would be made for the invasion of the Canadas, he had strongly represented +to His Majesty's Government the absolute necessity of experienced officers +and able seamen being sent to him, to enable him to preserve the ascendancy +which our marine then enjoyed. In a letter addressed to General Brock, on +the 19th October, 1812, he authorized that officer to take whatever +measures he might deem necessary for the accomplishment of the same object, +without further reference to himself. It was not ascertained, until towards +the end of October, that any extraordinary exertions were making by the +enemy to equip and fit out a squadron at Sackett's Harbour. The arrival of +Commodore Chauncey, with a number of shipwrights and seamen, making their +intentions evident, Captain Gray, of the Quarter-Master-General's +department, was sent to Kingston, to direct the laying down of the keels of +two frigates, the one at that place, and the other at York; and in the +month of December, more than 120 shipwrights, together with 30 seamen, +engaged at Quebec, arrived in the Upper Province, and the building of the +two frigates immediately commenced. In the same month, directions were +given for the building of a ship, of the dimensions and tonnage of the +Queen Charlotte, together with several gun-boats at Amherstburg, on Lake +Erie. During the whole of the summer after the declaration of war, the +superiority of our fleet on Lake Ontario, had enabled us uninterruptedly to +transport from Kingston to York and Fort George, all the supplies of +stores, provisions, and reinforcements of men, necessary for the defence of +Upper Canada; nor was it until the month of November, when those services +had been completed, and our vessels were on the point of being laid up for +the winter, that with all the great advantages which they derived from the +immediate vicinity of their resources, particularly of officers and men, +seconded by the strenuous exertions which they made, the Americans were +able to do more than to fit out the Oneida, a vessel perfectly ready for +any service at the commencement of the war, and six small schooners, +carrying one or two heavy guns each. With this force they ventured out for +the first time on the Lake in the beginning of November, under the command +of Commodore Chauncey; and availing themselves of the absence of the Moira +brig, and our three schooners, at the head of the Lake, to make on the 11th +an ineffectual attack upon the Royal George, under the batteries of +Kingston, they retired to Sackett's Harbour, without attempting to +interrupt our vessels on their return to Kingston; nor did they again shew +themselves upon the Lake until the following year. Up to the month of +November, therefore, which may be called the conclusion of the first +campaign, as far as respected our means of defending the Province, our +ascendancy on Lake Ontario had been preserved. To this object, the measures +adopted by Sir George Prevost, by the building of the Prince Regent, and +the supply of officers and men furnished to our marine after the +commencement of the war, essentially contributed. The superior advantages +enjoyed by the enemy, in being able to obtain shipwrights and seamen to an +unlimited amount, together with the proximity of all their means for the +building and equipment of vessels, had enabled them to launch a frigate at +Sackett's Harbour, before the end of the year 1812, and to fit out a +squadron, which at the commencement of 1813, gave them a temporary +ascendancy on Lake Ontario, before officers and seamen could be sent to +Canada from England. This ascendancy on their part was, however, of short +duration, for we shall find in pursuing this subject, that the measures +planned by Sir George Prevost during the summer of 1812, and carried into +effect during the autumn and winter, were such as in their consequence +secured to us a full equality, and occasionally the superiority on that +Lake, during the two remaining campaigns. Of the nature and extent of the +exertions thus made by Sir George Prevost to increase our marine on Lake +Ontario, the Reviewer has himself furnished the most abundant proof. +"Such," he says, "were the zeal and exertions of Sir James Yeo and his +followers on their arrival at Kingston, that before the end of May they +were prepared to take the Lake with the British fleet,[37] now composed of +two ships of 24 and 22 guns, a brig of 14, and two schooners of 12 and 10 +guns." + +Sir James Yeo did not arrive at Quebec with his seamen, until the 5th May, +and it was not until after the 16th that he reached Kingston; to which +place Sir George Prevost had accompanied him from Montreal. The state of +forwardness in which he then found the fleet was such, that he was enabled +to complete its equipment, and actually to set sail on the 27th of the same +month, within little more than a week after his arrival at Kingston. The +previous exertion requisite to accomplish the building of the Wolfe, a ship +carrying 24 guns, the altering and refitting the brig Moira, and the making +of the various repairs and alterations in the other vessels, while at the +same time a ship of a large class had been built at York, and was nearly +ready to be launched in April, and a ship and several gun-boats were in a +state of great forwardness at Amherstburg, may be easily conjectured; +particularly, when it is considered that the stores and supplies of almost +every description, necessary for the armament and equipment of these +vessels, had been transported to the Upper Province from Quebec and +Montreal, the greater part of them during the winter, and through roads +before deemed impassable for many of the heavy articles required. These +difficulties were, however, soon surmounted by the energetic measures of +Sir George Prevost; and he had the satisfaction to find on his arrival at +Kingston, that the important object of having a fleet ready to take the +Lake as early as it was probable that officers and seamen could be sent +from England to command and man it, had been accomplished. Upon Sir James +Yeo's arrival, as already mentioned, not more than ten days were requisite +to put the squadron into a complete state of equipment, and from the period +of its appearance on the Lake, the enemy ceased to enjoy the temporary +ascendancy which their superior resources of men and supplies had enabled +them, during the preceding month, to acquire. The Reviewer has confidently +asserted, that these exertions to increase our marine ought to have been +earlier made; and that had they been so made, our ascendancy on the Lake +would have been retained, and York, together with the ship which was there +building, might have been saved. The answer to this has already been partly +given. Any extraordinary exertions to increase a marine so decidedly +superior to that of the enemy, before the probable continuation of the war +was clearly ascertained, and before any steps were taken by the Americans +to rival us in that respect, would not have been justified, by the +circumstances in which Sir George Prevost was then placed. It was not until +the beginning of September, that the termination of the armistice +manifested the intention of the American Government to continue the war; +nor were any effectual steps taken by them for a material increase of their +naval forces at Sackett's Harbour, until the month of October following, +when Commodore Chauncey and his seamen arrived at that place. It is +evident, therefore, that except in the construction of new vessels, and the +forwarding of the supplies necessary for their equipment, nothing further +could have been done at that period, to enable us to keep pace with the +exertions of the enemy; and that without officers and men, who could not be +expected before the spring, any number or description of vessels must have +been useless. + +Sir George Prevost, soon after the declaration of war, had called the +attention of Government, as well as that of the Admiral on the Halifax +station, to this subject. He had, therefore, every reason to expect that +either from England or from Halifax, he should early in the year receive +officers and seamen sufficient to fit out and man a fleet equal at least, +if not superior, to any that the enemy might at that time be able to +prepare. In this expectation Sir George Prevost was not disappointed; and +although the Admiral on the Halifax station had only been able to afford to +his strong solicitations on this head, Lieutenants Barclay and Fennis, to +act as captains, and four petty officers for lieutenants, who arrived over +land from New Brunswick at the end of April, this small supply of able and +spirited officers being immediately despatched to Kingston, materially +contributed, by their active services, to put the Fleet into the forward +condition in which it was found by Sir James Yeo on his arrival. + +Notwithstanding the active measures which were thus taken by Sir George +Prevost to maintain our ascendancy upon the Lakes, the Quarterly Reviewer +has thought proper to observe, that it is perfectly inconceivable how any +man, in Sir George Prevost's situation, could have been so infatuated, as +to disregard the importance of maintaining his superiority. The gross +injustice of this charge will be best proved by citing the words of Sir +George Prevost himself, in a letter of the 3rd February, 1813, addressed to +General Sheaffe. "The extreme anxiety I experienced respecting the naval +force to be employed on Lake Ontario, in the spring of this year, has +rendered the proceedings in the dock-yards at Kingston and York, subjects +highly interesting to me. You may therefore suppose I shall expect to find +the exertions at both these places to have fully corresponded with the +magnitude of the object and the difficulties surmounted in forwarding from +hence the numerous supplies required for that service." + +Much has been said by the Reviewer upon the incompetency of the person +commanding, and of the other officers belonging to our Provincial marine on +Lake Ontario.[38] Whatever might have been the want of energy and +enterprise on the part of Earle, in the instance to which the critic has +alluded, and the circumstances of which he has greatly exaggerated, Sir +George Prevost did not think it incumbent upon him, on that account, to +deprive himself of the services of that officer, who was acknowledged to be +a tried and skilful navigator of the Lake, at a period when those services +were particularly required for the transport of the various supplies +destined for the upper parts of the Province. He was, therefore, retained +in the command, not only as being highly useful for the purposes for which +he was wanted, but because no person could then be found adequate to supply +his place. That the captain of the Tartarus sloop of war, then at Quebec, +needed but a hint from Sir George Prevost[39] to proceed with his crew to +Lake Ontario, and supersede Earle and his feeble followers, may well be +doubted, when we consider the state of the squadron to which he belonged, +and the services required from it at the commencement of the war. Whether +such a plan was beyond Sir George's _capacity_,[40] may be left for the +reader to determine. Had he, however, adopted it, he would certainly have +evinced a great want of consistency and judgment. He was, at that period, +in the act of negociating with General Dearborn for the armistice, which +afterwards took place, with the reasonable expectation that the revocation +of the Orders in Council would lead to a return of peace between Great +Britain and America. Our force at that time on Lake Ontario was so +decidedly superior, not only to what the enemy possessed on those waters, +but to any which they could hope for several months to fit out, that an +addition, either to its amount or efficiency, seemed to be uncalled for and +unnecessary. Offensive operations of any description, on our part, were not +in contemplation; and to every purpose of defensive warfare our means on +the Lake were amply competent. To have deprived the Admiral, on the Halifax +station, of the services of the Tartarus, when every ship was required by +him for the protection of our trade from the numerous cruizers of the +enemy, without any adequate object in view, would have been altogether +unjustifiable on the part of Sir George Prevost. Whether, if the captain +and seamen of the Tartarus had been sent to Lake Ontario, the enemy's +flotilla, preparing at Sackett's Harbour,[41] could have been destroyed; +or whether, if ship-carpenters had, at the commencement of the war, been +sent to Kingston, we could have built as rapidly as the enemy, cannot be +proved, as neither course was attempted: nor is it material to the present +discussion that it should be proved; the only question being, whether Sir +George Prevost, in the then state of affairs, ought to have adopted either +measure. From the preceding statement, it appears that he would not have +been warranted in so doing. The observation of the Reviewer,[42] that the +common-place attempt to hire, at Quebec, sailors for the Lake at one-half +the wages which merchants were giving at the same moment, was the only +exertion used to strengthen our flotilla, would not merit notice, if it +were not for the purpose of exposing the writer's disingenuousness and want +of candour. He must have known, when he made the assertion, that the +merchants at Quebec hire their sailors for what is called the run-home (to +England), and that for this purpose double and triple the amount of the +common wages is frequently given; one-half, therefore, of that amount for a +permanency, and on the Lake establishment, which held out many advantages +to the men, was, as it proved, a sufficient inducement for them to enter +into that service, and as many of the description required as could be +found at Quebec, were procured by active and intelligent officers sent for +that purpose. To these were added some valuable and experienced seamen from +two transports then in the river St. Lawrence; and this supply of seamen, +together with an additional number of shipwrights and other workmen, was +during the winter forwarded to Kingston and York. + +The situation of York for the building of one of the frigates laid down in +December, as before stated, has been censured by the Reviewer,[43] as +holding out to the enemy an invitation to destroy it, from the defenceless +state of that fort. Long before the first certain intelligence had been +received by Sir George Prevost, of the building of a new ship at Sackett's +Harbour, or of the fitting out of their flotilla there, Captain Gray, as +already mentioned, one of the most intelligent officers of the +Quarter-Master-General's department, had been sent to the Upper Province, +to ascertain the fittest situation for the construction of new vessels, +whenever such a measure should become necessary. It was in consequence of +the communication which that officer had with Major-General Brock, who had +the highest confidence in his abilities, that it was decided that one ship +should be built at York and the other at Kingston. Both places were alike +exposed to attack from their unfortified state. York was certainly the +weakest, although General Brock had recommended that place as the fittest +and most secure, if strengthened, for a naval dock-yard on Lake Ontario. In +determining to build at both places, it was thought most prudent not to run +the hazard of losing both vessels from the possibility of a successful +attempt of the enemy to destroy them, should they both be constructed at +either of those places. The most effectual measures, on the part of Sir +George Prevost and of those acting under him in the Upper Province, were +taken to strengthen and fortify both York and Kingston, and it was expected +that the enemy would be repelled in any attack upon either. It was not +doubted, but that if York should be attacked and taken, the ship which was +building there, might be, as she in fact was, destroyed, and thus be +prevented from increasing the strength of the enemy, whilst Kingston might +in the mean time be made too strong to occasion any fear for the safety of +the fleet in that port. The result shewed the wisdom of this determination, +and the capture of York, which considering the overwhelming force of the +enemy, was not to be prevented, evidently preserved Kingston. + +The only advantage which the Americans derived in this attack, as respected +our marine, was the destruction of the new ship, and the capture of an +inconsiderable quantity of stores designed for her, together with the +Gloucester schooner, then lying a mere hulk, under repairs for a transport. +It may in this place be proper briefly to notice another assertion of the +Reviewer, respecting our marine--that the enemy commanded the waters of +Lake Champlain[44] with a flotilla, before the British Commander in Chief +had directed the construction of a single gun-boat to oppose them. That +this should have been the fact, will not appear at all remarkable, when it +is known that the waters of that Lake belong exclusively to the Americans, +who enjoyed the most abundant means and resources for fitting out a fleet, +from the number of vessels constantly navigating it for the purposes of +trade. It was only necessary to arm and equip some of the vessels of that +description, and their command of the water would be undisputed. At the +commencement of the war, and for some time afterwards, we neither did nor +could possess any force capable of meeting them; but that this subject was +not viewed with indifference by Sir George Prevost, notwithstanding the +variety of other and more important concerns which commanded his attention, +may be inferred from the fact, that in June, 1813, in less than twelve +months after the commencement of the war, our force of gun-boats on the +Richelieu river, communicating with Lake Champlain, was such, that in +conjunction with our troops at Isle aux Noix, they were sufficient for the +capture of two fine schooners of the enemy, each carrying 11 guns, and 45 +men. To have attempted to create any other force, except gun-boats, for the +purpose of defending the Richelieu, would, when no offensive operations +were contemplated, have been an useless waste of those means which were +required and employed for the increase of our marine on the other Lakes. + +These observations upon Sir George Prevost's conduct with respect to our +marine on the Lakes, may be concluded by a reference to the opinion of the +public bodies in Upper Canada, with regard to the exertions of the +Commander of the forces, in preserving our naval ascendancy on those +waters. + +These documents afford a strong proof of the sentiments almost universally +entertained on this head, by persons most capable, from their knowledge of, +and interest in the subject, of appreciating the merits of Sir George +Prevost's exertions. + +In the address of the House of Assembly of Upper Canada,[45] in answer to +the President's speech at the opening of the Provincial Parliament, 27th +February, 1813, they say, "We learn, with the highest satisfaction, that +the most vigorous measures have been adopted under the direction of the +Commander of the forces, and are now in operation, to strengthen the +Provincial Marine, and preserve the superiority of the Lakes so essential +to the prosperity of this Province." The same expressions occur in the +address of the Legislative Council, and in March following, on Sir George +Prevost's arrival in Upper Canada, the House of Assembly and town of York +addressed him in similar terms. + +The campaign of 1813 opened, on the part of the Americans, with the attack +and capture of York. The squadron under Commander Chauncey employed on this +expedition, after landing part of the force at the Niagara frontier, +returned to Sackett's Harbour, from whence it again sailed towards the end +of May, with another strong force collected from that place and its +neighbourhood, for the purpose of uniting with the troops on the Niagara +frontier, in an attack upon Fort George. In this attack, which took place +on the 27th May, the overwhelming numbers of the enemy prevailed, and the +small but gallant band of about 1,500 men, under Brigadier-General +Vincent, which had, for more than two hours, opposed nearly 5,000 of the +Americans, after evacuating Fort George, spiking the guns, and destroying +the ammunition, retreated towards the head of the Lake, General Vincent +having first called in all the detachments from the different Posts on that +frontier. + +The enemy, pursuing his advantages, pushed forwards a force of between +3,000 and 4,000 infantry and cavalry, with nine pieces of artillery, to +attack the position which General Vincent occupied at Burlington. Previous, +however, to their reaching that point, a well-concerted, daring, and +spirited attack was made upon their camp in the night, by a party of +General Vincent's force, and under his command, which proved completely +successful as a surprise, and Generals Winder and Chandler, the two senior +officers, together with 100 prisoners, and four field-pieces being taken, +the enemy, after destroying their stores and provisions, &c. precipitately +retreated, until they joined the main body of their army. While these +operations were proceeding, the most active measures were taking at +Kingston to fit out and equip a fleet which might be able to dispute with +the enemy the temporary ascendancy which they had gained on the Lake; but +whatever efforts might be made to construct vessels and prepare them for +service, it must be obvious that no advantage could be derived from any +number or description of vessels without officers and seamen. The only +reinforcement which up to this period, the end of April, Sir George Prevost +had been able to obtain from the Admiral commanding on the Halifax station, +consisted of the three lieutenants, and four petty officers, whose arrival +at Kingston has been already mentioned, and whose active services had very +much accelerated the equipment of our squadron before Sir James Yeo took +the command of it. Previous to the arrival of Sir George Prevost at that +place in May, his extreme anxiety respecting the naval force preparing on +both Lakes, had induced him, during the depth of winter, to proceed in the +month of February, from the Lower Province to Kingston, York, and Fort +George, where his presence must have essentially contributed to impart +increased activity to the preparations then making for the opening of the +next campaign. The zeal and energy thus displayed by him in his +indefatigable endeavours to promote the public service, although justly +appreciated by the inhabitants of both provinces, could not protect him +from the unfounded accusations of the Reviewer,[46] who informs his readers +that Sir George Prevost had excited the expectations of the Canadian +public, "that he had designed an attack upon Sackett's Harbour, where the +shipping was known to be very indifferently protected, by marching over the +ice, which was stronger at that time than had been known for many +years."--And that "the anxious inhabitants of the Provinces who had +witnessed his previous inactivity, with gloomy foreboding, were again +doomed to be disappointed." What the opinion of the inhabitants of the +Provinces was, with regard to Sir George Prevost's "_previous inactivity_," +has clearly been shewn from the different addresses presented to him at the +period alluded to. + +That Sackett's Harbour could at that time, or at any other period of the +winter, have been attacked with the smallest prospect of success, may be +confidently denied. So far from the shipping, which by the Reviewer's[47] +own showing, was a formidable squadron, commanded by an experienced +officer, and manned by more than 500 able seamen, being, as he has +asserted, indifferently protected, the enemy had constructed batteries for +their defence, and it was known that a very considerable force had been +assembled at that post, and in its neighbourhood, in order to be ready for +embarkation as soon as the season would permit the fleet to take the Lake. +To have attempted with the small force which then garrisoned Kingston, and +which was scarcely sufficient for its defence, an expedition against an +enemy's position, capable of a determined resistance, when it is considered +that the troops would have been obliged to march several miles over the ice +before they could reach the American territory, from whence they would +still have been 15 miles distant from the object of their attack, and +exposed during the whole of their approach to the concealed fire of the +enemy's troops in the woods, would have been, under the circumstances in +which Sir George Prevost was placed, with regard to his resources for +defending Kingston, the Key, as it has been termed, to the Lower Province, +little short of madness. Nothing but a determination to attach blame to the +conduct of Sir George Prevost could have induced the Reviewer to hazard so +groundless and unmilitary a stricture. That Sir George was alive to the +importance of attacking this place, and of destroying the means there +possessed by the enemy for increasing their marine, and for carrying on +from thence their offensive operations, will appear evident from the +measure which will be immediately adverted to, and which has drawn upon the +Commander of the forces the acrimonious censure of the Reviewer. + +In December, 1812, Sir George Prevost, aware of the importance of +strengthening himself against the threatened attempts upon the Canadas, in +the interval which would elapse before any reinforcements could by +possibility arrive from Europe, had directed Lieutenant-General Sir John +Sherbrooke, and Major-General Smyth, to make arrangements for forwarding to +him, during the winter, by land, the 104th regiment, then in New Brunswick. +This arduous march, which had not before been attempted, and which was +thought extremely hazardous, if not altogether impracticable, was effected +in the month of March without the loss of a single man, and by the end of +April six companies of that regiment arrived at Kingston. This accession to +the strength of that garrison enabled Sir George Prevost, who, as already +stated, reached Kingston with Sir James Yeo about the middle of May, to +avail himself of the opportunity afforded by the sailing of the American +fleet for the head of the Lake, to attempt a diversion in favour of the +points threatened by the enemy on the Niagara frontier. The expedition +against Sackett's Harbour was accordingly resolved upon, the moment the +absence of the enemy's squadron was ascertained. The circumstances which +attended this expedition, have been misrepresented in the most +extraordinary manner by the Quarterly Reviewer,[48] who, instead of +ascribing the failure of the enterprise to its real and natural causes, as +given in the official report of Colonel Baynes,[49] and which will now be +more particularly detailed, has not scrupled to attribute that failure to +the indecision and misconduct of the Commander of the forces. As the whole +force, which could be mustered for this service, hardly exceeded 700 men, +consisting of the greater part of the garrison of Kingston, it must be +obvious that means so inadequate could justify an attempt to carry +Sackett's Harbour only by surprise. This, in fact, was the sole object in +view; and the troops being embarked, together with two field-pieces, on +board of our squadron, sailed in the evening of the 27th May, under the +immediate command of Colonel, now Major-General Baynes. Sanguine hopes were +entertained of teaching the enemy's post in the course of the night, when +the surprise would have been complete, and our success infallible; but +owing to light and baffling winds, it was not until between 10 and 11 +o'clock on the following morning, the 28th, that our fleet was able to +approach within 12 or 15 miles of Sackett's Harbour. Previously to this, +and as soon as our squadron had been discovered from the port, alarm-guns +had been fired, and boats were seen filled with armed men, continually +passing down the shores of the Lake, from Oswego towards Sackett's Harbour, +to assist in its defence. In the mean time, the troops on board the fleet +were held in readiness for landing in the boats, as soon as the vessels +should have approached sufficiently near to the shore for that purpose, as +well as for insuring their co-operation in the attack. At this period, +unfortunately, the wind, which had been rather fair, though light, +altogether failed, and shortly afterwards the breeze came almost +immediately from the point which the fleet was endeavouring to approach. To +have attempted a landing in boats, at the distance of fifteen miles from +the object of attack, would have been a most tedious and hazardous +undertaking, exposed, as the men must have been, to the fire of musketry +and field-pieces from the shore, and to the direct _enfilade_ of all the +heavy cannon in the enemy's forts and batteries. The day was too far +advanced to leave any hope of completing the service before dark; and +without the efficient co-operation of the fleet, which, from the state of +the wind, could not be obtained, the most gallant exertions of the troops, +as was afterwards proved, would have been ineffectual. From these +circumstances, it was the unanimous opinion of the principal officers of +the expedition under Colonel Baynes, who, together with Sir James Yeo, had +been consulted by him as to the expediency of persevering in the +enterprise, that the attempt should be abandoned, and orders were +accordingly given for the return of the squadron to Kingston. The incident +of the surrender of the cavalry officer and his party, which is stated by +the Reviewer with his usual incorrectness, did certainly lead to the +determination, which was subsequently taken, of persisting in the +expedition; but it was the information obtained from those persons, with +regard to the force of the enemy, and their means of defence, which +principally influenced that determination. It appearing probable, from the +state of the wind, which towards evening again became favourable for +approaching Sackett's Harbour, that the men might be brought under cover of +the night to the point of attack, in which they would be supported by the +active co-operation of the fleet, it was resolved to make the attack at +day-break the following morning. In order to favour the belief that we had +abandoned the attempt, the ships' heads were kept towards Kingston until +the evening commenced, when the squadron stood in for the shore. The troops +were in the boats at ten o'clock, and confident hopes were indulged that, +on the approach to the landing at day-break, they would be assisted by the +artillery, and receive the effectual support and co-operation of the fleet, +which was judged most essential to the success of the undertaking. The +landing took place as was intended, nearly at day-break; and, considering +the local impediments, was effected in a style highly creditable to the +military skill of Colonel Baynes. Notwithstanding the want of our +artillery, which being on board of a schooner, towed by the boats of the +squadron, was still at a considerable distance, and the state of the wind, +which prevented the squadron from approaching the shore, our troops, after +landing and taking possession of one of their field-pieces and a tumbril, +had, by a spirited advance, driven the enemy before them, at the point of +the bayonet, through the woods, which were most obstinately maintained by +them, and had forced them to retire towards their works and loop-holed +barracks. But these works were found to be of such strength, as to render +it next to impossible for our small force, unprovided with heavy cannon, to +make any impression upon them. The men had been now engaged for several +hours, and had sustained a considerable loss. It was at this period that +Sir George Prevost, who had landed shortly after the troops, and who had +followed their course and progress, came up with the main body engaged with +the enemy; and it was then that he received from the officer commanding the +expedition, the report of the manner in which the enemy had been driven +towards their works and loop-holed barracks, and of the difficulty, if not +impossibility, of forcing them without the aid of our artillery and the +co-operation of our fleet. The former, with all the exertions made in +towing the schooner, had not been landed; and the latter, from the state of +the wind, could not approach sufficiently near for their guns to bear upon +the enemy's batteries. + +The Commander of the forces then, for the first time, interfered, so as to +give any orders respecting the expedition. Though there was scarcely a hope +of success, yet he determined not to abandon the enterprise whilst a +possibility of attaining his object remained. He accordingly directed +Colonel Baynes to concentrate his scattered force, and to advance upon the +enemy, who were posted in considerable numbers in front of and behind their +loop-holed barracks. Not more than from 300 to 400 men could be assembled +for this last attack. It was, however, made by this small band with +intrepid gallantry. The enemy, though superior in numbers, were driven from +their position, and forced to take shelter in the town; but in the further +attempt to approach the works, our troops were met by such a galling and +destructive fire of grape and musketry, both in front and flank, that they +were compelled to abandon a contest to which their numbers were so unequal. +The force of the enemy, at this period, consisted, by their own +acknowledgment, exclusive of their killed and wounded, of upwards of 1,100 +men, including 142 artillerymen. They were strongly posted in Fort +Tompkins, armed with heavy guns, and in their block-houses and loop-holed +barracks, the very situation which renders the youngest American recruit (a +marksman from his youth), more than a match for the most experienced +veteran. Our force was reduced to nearly one-third of its effective +strength from the casualties of the field, and from the absence of those +who had withdrawn to the rear with the wounded and prisoners. We possessed +not a single field-piece, the artillery not having yet been landed. Colonel +Young had retired from exhaustion, in consequence of previous illness. All +the other field-officers, one excepted, were wounded, together with most of +the captains and subalterns. Captain Mulcaster commanding the gun-boat, +made every exertion in his power; but there was no hope of assistance from +the fleet, in consequence of the state of the wind. Under such +circumstances, that so small a band, exhausted by previous exertion, should +have attacked and carried Fort Tompkins, the block-houses, and the +remaining loop-holed barracks of the enemy, so numerously defended as they +were, might probably be expected by such experienced warriors as the +Quarterly Reviewer, and those upon whose authority he relies; but it was +apparent to every officer and man who was present, that success was +impossible. Such being the conviction of the Commander of the forces, who +had witnessed with feelings of poignant regret the last gallant though +unavailing exertions of his troops, he reluctantly ordered their +re-embarkation, which was effected in the most perfect order, and without +the slightest precipitation, the enemy not attempting to offer the least +molestation. This expedition, though certainly attended with a considerable +loss on our part, was not unproductive of advantage to us, or of damage and +serious inconvenience to our adversaries. Their apprehensions of the result +of the last attack, ignorant as they were of the trifling force by which it +was made, induced them to set fire to their new ship and naval arsenal; and +although, afterwards, when their fear subsided, from a more perfect +knowledge of the state of our force, they succeeded in extinguishing the +fire on board the ship, before it had got to any height, yet, by their own +acknowledgment, they lost their arsenal, with a large quantity of valuable +stores; while one field-piece, and upwards of 200 prisoners were brought +away, together with some camp-equipage, and another field-piece was +rendered useless. Their loss, also, in killed and wounded was, by their own +admission, upwards of 150 men. From this detail of facts, to the truth of +which there are abundant living witnesses to vouch, it must be obvious +that the main object of the expedition failed principally from the +smallness of our numbers, compared with the superior force of the enemy; +from the want of our artillery, which could not be landed in time; and +particularly from the little assistance which, from the state of the wind, +the squadron could afford in taking off the fire of the forts. So far from +nearly _two days_ being lost, as the Reviewer has stated,[50] it is +notorious to every person who was employed in that expedition, that the +fleet sailed on the evening of the 27th May from Kingston, and did not +arrive at Sackett's Harbour until the morning of the 28th, when the +intended attack was prevented solely by the impossibility of approaching +the shore from the state of the wind, and that it did in fact take place on +the following morning, the 29th, within 24 hours after the fleet had +appeared off the place. It is a fact equally well known to every person +engaged in this enterprise, that Sir George Prevost did not take the +personal command of it, in the sense in which the Reviewer[51] would have +it understood. That he accompanied the expedition was never denied, or +attempted to be concealed. His zealous and anxious feelings prompted him to +that measure, to prevent any delay in the contemplated service, should a +reference to him become necessary. It is freely admitted, that when +present he could not divest himself of his authority, or responsibility as +Commander of the forces. But independently of its being contrary to all +military usage, for the Governor in Chief and Commander of the forces in +British North America, to assume the immediate command[52] of so +inconsiderable a force, no instance of his interference took place until +the period of the last attack, which certainly produced the greatest damage +that the enemy sustained. The order to retreat was neither precipitate,[53] +nor one which the gallant officers "believed with difficulty."[54] They +were all convinced, not excepting the naval commander, Sir James Yeo, that +it was impossible longer to contend with any prospect of success, and with +our diminished means, against the superior numbers and resources of the +enemy. It may indeed be confidently asserted, in direct opposition to the +Reviewer's statement, that although "the troops withdrew to their boats in +disappointment," at their not having been able to accomplish their object, +they felt no disgrace in retiring from a contest which they had so long and +so bravely supported; nor did either officers or men experience any +indignation or shame at a retreat which, after the most gallant, though +unavailing exertions, they knew to be indispensable for their own +preservation. It may here be observed, that the situation of our troops at +the time of the retreat was most critical. At that very period, a +reinforcement of 600 men, under Colonel Tuttle, reached Sackett's Harbour. +With the overwhelming superiority which this accession to their force gave +the enemy, it is obvious that with very moderate pretensions to either +skill or enterprise, they might have opposed most formidable obstacles to +our re-embarkation. A further perseverance in the attack on our part, or +the least delay in the retreat, would probably have ended in the capture or +destruction of the whole of our troops. Fortunately, the coolness and +deliberation with which that measure was executed, served to deceive the +enemy with regard to our numbers and losses; and the re-embarkation being +effected without opposition, the troops returned the same day to Kingston +with the field-piece, camp-equipage, and prisoners which they had taken. + +On the following morning the American squadron, which had been recalled +from the head of the Lake to the assistance of Sackett's Harbour, appeared +off Kingston, and it was a most fortunate circumstance that they did not +fall in with our fleet, encumbered as it was with troops and wounded men. +One material advantage immediately accrued from this expedition, by the +recal of the enemy's fleet to Sackett's Harbour. Sir George Prevost lost +not a moment in availing himself of the opportunity of their being in port, +to embark the 49th regiment on board the squadron, and to despatch it to +the head of the Lake to reinforce Brigadier-General Vincent, who was then +hard pressed by the enemy, and to whose small force that regiment proved an +important accession of strength at a very critical period. Sir James Yeo +accordingly sailed with, and safely landed them, and from that time our +full equality at least, if not our ascendancy, was established on Lake +Ontario. + +In reviewing the events that took place during the campaign of 1813, it +will be necessary to notice the operations on the Detroit frontier, and on +Lake Erie, more especially as the Commander of the forces has been accused +of neglecting the representations of Colonel Procter, who commanded in +that quarter. + +The battle of Frenchtown, in which the Americans were totally defeated, and +their General captured, was highly creditable to the talents of Colonel +Procter, who certainly, until the retreat from Amherstburgh, was entitled +to the reputation of a zealous and active officer. + +It is said by the Quarterly Reviewer, that at this period Colonel Procter +was positively restrained by Sir George Prevost from any offensive +operations. The nature of the instructions given by the Commander of the +forces to that officer has been already shewn; and will further appear by a +reference to the letters[55] of Sir George Prevost to Colonel, now become +Brigadier-General Procter, in answer to the despatches received from him, +announcing the different operations which had taken place in the Michigan +territory. These operations, though not always attended with success on the +part of General Procter, and though they occasioned a considerable +diminution of his small force from his repeated losses, were yet favourably +viewed by Sir George Prevost, who, as it appears from the correspondence +already referred to, was always disposed to give him full credit for his +exertions, and to put the most favourable construction upon his failures. +That Sir George Prevost was fully aware of the importance of General +Procter's position, and of the necessity of strengthening it by every means +in his power, will now be shewn by the testimony of General Procter +himself. + +The letters of that officer fully prove, in contradiction to the assertion +of the Reviewer, who has attributed to the Commander of the forces, the +neglect (if any took place) in forwarding to him the reinforcements which +he had so strongly solicited, that no such neglect is imputable to Sir +George Prevost. + +As early as the month of March, 1813, a confidential letter was addressed +by Sir George Prevost to General Procter, upon the subject of the +reinforcements he had solicited, and Captain M'Douall, one of the Commander +of the forces' Aids-de-camp, was sent for the purpose of ascertaining +General Procter's wants, and the best mode of relieving them. In the +correspondence between the Commander of the forces and General Vincent, the +situation of General Procter was constantly alluded to, and the former +officer was desired to pay his particular attention to the subject. On the +20th June, Sir George Prevost acquainted General Procter that General de +Rottenburg, who had been appointed to the command of the forces serving in +Upper Canada, had received his directions to push on the remainder of the +41st regiment, from the head of Lake Ontario to Amherstburgh. And in his +subsequent letters to General Procter, of the 11th and 12th July, after +stating that his wants of money, clothing, &c. had been supplied as far as +lay in the power of the Commander of the forces, and that those articles +were then on their passage to him, he informed him that the whole of the +41st regiment were either on their way, or would be with him before that +letter could arrive. This assurance was given by Sir George Prevost, in the +full confidence that the orders which he had sent to the officer commanding +in Upper Canada, for the immediate forwarding of the remainder of that +regiment to Amherstburgh, had been complied with. That they were not +complied with as early as Sir George Prevost intended they should be, was +owing to circumstances over which the Commander of the forces had no +control. The force under Major-General de Rottenburg, from which the 41st +regiment was to be detached, was then before an enemy greatly superior in +numbers and resources, and he was very unwilling to weaken it by sending +off the remainder of that regiment, until other reinforcements which were +on their way to him should arrive. It appears, however, by his letter to +Sir George Prevost, of 9th July, 1813, that he had, on the 6th of that +month, sent forward 120 men of that regiment to Long Point, in order that +thence they might be transported by means of the fleet to Amherstburgh, and +that it was his intention to send the remainder of the regiment to General +Procter, as soon as the Royals, then daily expected, should arrive. In a +subsequent letter from Sir George Prevost to Major-General de Rottenburg, +dated 23d July, 1813, in which his high opinion of General Procter's merits +and conduct is pointedly expressed, he says, "I trust the reinforcements +and supplies, which, in consequence of my orders to you, must be near him," +&c. + +From these letters it is evident that it was Sir George Prevost's intention +that General Procter should be reinforced to the extent he had required, +and that the commanding officers in Upper Canada, who from the peculiar +circumstances in which they were placed at the time, thought themselves +justified, as they really were, in so doing, were the persons who delayed +the forwarding of such reinforcements. + +That to this cause the delay was attributed by General Procter himself, is +unequivocally proved by his correspondence respecting it with the Commander +of the forces. The letter to Sir George Prevost, of the 4th July, 1813, to +which the Reviewer has referred,[56] commences in a way little to be +expected, from the extract which that writer has given from it. He says, "I +have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th ult. +and _am fully sensible_ that this district has received a due share of your +Excellency's attention. I beg to add, that _if I had received from the +Line_ the reinforcements _which you had directed should be sent_, I should +by this time," &c. + +It must not be forgotten that this letter was before the Reviewer, and that +he must therefore have designedly suppressed that portion of it, which +completely exonerates Sir George Prevost from any charge of neglect. + +In General Procter's next letter to the Commander of the forces, of the +11th July, he says, "I beg leave to add, that we are fully confident of +every _aid from your Excellency_, and of the fortunate result of the +contest, _if we are allowed the benefit of your consideration of us_; but I +am unfortunately so situated, that your best intentions towards me are of +no avail. If the means were afforded me, and which were no more than what +your Excellency has repeatedly directed, &c."--In his next letter to the +Commander of the forces, of the 13th July, he says, "The reinforcements +which have been reluctantly afforded me, _notwithstanding your Excellency's +intentions_, have been so sparingly and tardily sent me, as in a +considerable degree to defeat the purpose of their being sent. I have no +hopes of any aid from the _centre division_, where our situation is little +understood, or has ever been a secondary consideration."--These extracts +clearly shew that General Procter ascribed the delay in forwarding to him +the remainder of the 41st regiment, not to the Commander of the forces, but +to General de Rottenburg, who then commanded the centre division in Upper +Canada. + +Notwithstanding the Reviewer must have known this to have been the fact, +from the very correspondence he was quoting, he has had the hardihood to +say, "that although Sir George Prevost fully acknowledged, in his letter of +the 12th July, his immediate ability to grant the reinforcement General +Procter had asked for, in his letter of the 4th of that month, it will +scarcely be credited, that even after this, he should have suffered _above +five weeks_ to elapse before he _despatched_ the small amount of regular +troops, &c."[57] + +Now it appears from General de Rottenburg's letter, before referred to, +that 120 men of the 41st, _had been despatched_ to Amherstburgh on the 6th +July; and by a return made to the Military Secretary's Office, by Captain +Chambers, Deputy-Quarter-Master-General with General Procter's army, dated +Amherstburgh, 13th August, 1813, it further appears, that up to the _10th +August_, more than 300 rank and file of the 41st, and 41 rank and file of +the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, with nearly 50 officers and +non-commissioned officers, _had arrived at that post_, which was further +strengthened, within ten days afterwards, by a detachment of 50 provincial +dragoons. The cavalry and men of the Newfoundland Regiment were +particularly requested, by General Procter, in his correspondence with the +Commander of the forces, to be sent to him. + +It may here be observed, that General Procter appears to have attached by +far too much importance to his own command, and not to have made proper +allowances for the critical situation of the centre division, from which +his reinforcements were expected. Upon the safety of that division his own +altogether depended; for had they been defeated, or obliged to retire from +the Upper Province, he would have been cut off from all supplies and +assistance, and his capture would have been inevitable. Whereas, as +afterwards happened, a disaster to the force under General Procter, and the +capture of Amherstburgh, would not necessarily involve in it the safety of +the centre division. These reasons, without doubt, weighed with General de +Rottenburg, in retaining the remainder of the 41st regiment, until they +could be despatched to General Procter, without injury to the more +important service for which they were required on the Niagara frontier. + +Having thus proved that, as far as depended upon Sir George Prevost, +General Procter's requisitions, of every description, had been complied +with, we now proceed to shew that he did not neglect our marine on Lake +Erie. + +The Quarterly Reviewer, indeed, has not hesitated to say, "that in the +whole course of that vacillation and error, which unhappily distinguished +the administration of Sir George Prevost,[58] his imbecility of judgment +and action was most flagrant and palpable, in the circumstances which led +to the destruction of our marine on Lake Erie." These censures, unfounded +as they are, may perhaps be thought to require a more particular and +detailed reply. + +To the exertions made by Sir George Prevost, both before the war and after +its commencement, to preserve our naval ascendancy on Lake Erie, we have +already had occasion to refer. From these statements it will appear, that, +independently of the new schooner, Lady Prevost, launched, armed, equipped, +and upon the Lake, before the month of August, 1812, the Detroit, a ship to +carry 18 guns, which the Reviewer would have his readers believe was only +_laid down after Captain Barclay's arrival at Amherstburgh in June_,[59] +had been commenced building before the month of _March_ preceding, together +with several gun-boats. The latter were launched in April. The ship was, in +fact, in a state of considerable forwardness, when Captain Barclay assumed +the command on the Lake. Upon the declaration of war, we had only one ship +and a schooner on Lake Erie; and, within little more than a year +afterwards, our fleet there consisted of two ships, a brig, a schooner, and +two small vessels. In order properly to appreciate the efforts made for the +construction and armament of this squadron, it must be borne in mind that +the whole of the supplies necessary for that purpose, with the exception +perhaps of the timber alone, were to be transported from the Lower to the +Upper Province, by the St. Lawrence and Lake Ontario, and from thence to +Lake Erie, where the superiority of our marine enabled us to convey them to +Amherstburgh. As the efficiency of this squadron necessarily depended upon +the number and discipline of the crews with which it was manned, the +subject of a supply of able seamen, for that service, early engaged the +attention of Sir George Prevost. Upon Sir James Yeo's arrival at Kingston, +and the appointment by him of Captain Barclay, to take the naval command +on Lake Erie, the Commander of the forces urgently requested Sir James to +supply that officer with a greater number of seamen than he was disposed, +from his own wants, to allow him. As the obtaining the naval ascendancy, on +Lake Ontario, was a primary consideration, and as the seamen whom Sir James +Yeo brought with him were not sufficient adequately to man his own ships, +Captain Barclay was obliged to proceed with a very scanty supply of men. +The Commander of the forces was in hopes that there might be other +opportunities of increasing Captain Barclay's force, and that, in the mean +time, the reinforcements which he intended, and immediately afterwards +directed, should be sent to General Procter, would enable him to spare a +sufficient number of soldiers for the use of the squadron on Lake Erie, +until Captain Barclay's wants could be more efficiently supplied. The first +letter from Captain Barclay, upon the subject of these wants, was addressed +to Brigadier-General Vincent, who then commanded on the Niagara frontier, +and was dated 17th June, 1813. The principal object of that letter was to +obtain a reinforcement of troops for General Procter, in order to enable +him to co-operate with Captain Barclay, in an attack upon the enemy's naval +establishment at Presqu' isle, and in that letter he expressly states that +he was making an application for seamen to Sir James Yeo. This +communication was forwarded to the Commander of the forces by General +Vincent, with an intimation that he should immediately push forward the +remainder of the 41st regiment, (a company of the regiment having been sent +by him the preceding month) in order to assist in the proposed attack upon +the enemy's fleet. Before the above letter either was or could be received +by Sir George Prevost, he had appointed Major-General de Rottenburg to the +command of the forces in Upper Canada, and had given him particular +directions for supplying General Procter's wants, and for immediately +despatching to him the remainder of the 41st regiment. The Reviewer has +asserted,[60] that "Captain Barclay stated the wants of his squadron in +men, stores, and guns, with the same truth and earnestness as General +Procter had repeatedly expressed; but the _only reply_ of Sir George +Prevost, to his statements, was a cold and general promise, in a letter to +General Procter, that some petty officers and seamen, for Lake Erie, should +be sent forward on the first opportunity." + +Captain Barclay's wants were particularly detailed by him to the Commander +of the forces, in the only letter he addressed to him on the subject, dated +Long Point, 16th July, 1813. The receipt of this letter was acknowledged +by Sir George Prevost, on the 21st of the same month, he having the day +before sent an extract from it, with a strong letter of representation upon +the subject, to Lord Bathurst. In this letter to Captain Barclay, Sir +George Prevost states, that he is fully aware of all that officer's +difficulties, and that he should endeavour to relieve his wants, as far as +was in his power, explaining to him the reasons which prevented him from so +doing to the extent required. He repeats, also, what he had before said to +General Procter, that Captain Barclay must endeavour to obtain his naval +stores from the enemy, but that being satisfied that such a measure could +not be effected without an addition to his present strength, he had +strongly pressed upon Sir James Yeo the necessity of immediately sending +forward to him a supply of petty officers and seamen, and that he (Sir J. +Yeo), had assured the Commander of the forces that he would do so without +delay: that he had also given positive directions for the remainder of the +41st regiment to be sent to General Procter, and hoped that the arrival of +these reinforcements would afford the timely means of attempting something +against the enemy's flotilla, before it should be in a state to venture out +upon the Lake.--With this assurance from Sir James Yeo, that seamen and +officers should be supplied to Captain Barclay, and in the hope that his +repeated orders for the reinforcement of General Procter, with the +remainder of the 41st regiment, had been complied with, Sir George Prevost +might with justice point out to Captain Barclay the necessity of supplying +his further wants from the enemy's resources,[61] more especially as +General Procter had repeatedly declared that a supply of troops alone would +be sufficient to enable him to succeed in an attack upon Presqu'isle. + +Subsequent to Captain Barclay's letter to the Commander of the forces, of +the 16th July, all further representations respecting the supply of seamen +for Lake Erie, were made by General Procter, in his letters to Sir George +Prevost. The several answers to these representations the Reviewer has not +thought proper to notice, contenting himself with giving a partial and +immaterial extract from Sir George Prevost's letter to General Procter, of +the 22nd August, evidently for the purpose of introducing what he is +pleased to term a _taunt_, but which was in fact neither designed as such +by Sir George, nor so considered by the gallant Captain Barclay. After +stating that General Procter had, in his letter of the 18th August, 1813, +announced to the Commander of the forces, that the Detroit was launched, +and that, if he had seamen, a few hours would place that district in +security, the Reviewer adds, "but instead of replying to this application, +with _an immediate reinforcement of seamen_, the Commander-in-chief +answered it as usual, on the 22nd of August, with mere promises." + +Without dwelling upon the Reviewer's error in supposing that Sir George +Prevost, who had no control whatever over the seamen belonging to the +squadron on Lake Ontario, who were exclusively under the orders of Sir +James Yeo, could by any possibility immediately have sent forward to +Captain Barclay the reinforcement of seamen required, we shall shew that +Sir George Prevost's answer to the application was not one of _mere +promises_, but that the reinforcement required, and which had been +previously provided by him, was then actually on its way to its +destination. Within two days after the date of the letter of the Commander +of the forces to Captain Barclay before referred to, he acquainted General +Procter that Sir James Yeo had assured him, that as many petty officers and +seamen as could be spared, should be forwarded to Captain Barclay without +delay, but that he, Sir George Prevost, much feared they would, as to +numbers, fall short of his expectations. That he was, however, endeavouring +to obtain a further supply from Quebec, which he meant should be +exclusively appropriated for the service of Lake Erie. This letter, which +was an answer to that of General Procter, of the date of 13th July,[62] +referred to by the Reviewer, has been altogether suppressed by him, as well +as the material fact that almost immediately after the letter of 13th July +was written, General Procter relinquished the intended expedition against +Presqu'isle, although 120 men of the 41st had been sent forward to Long +Point, to be there taken on board by Captain Barclay for that purpose, and +employed the whole of his disposable force in an unsuccessful expedition to +Forts Meigs and Sandusky, by which proceeding that force was considerably +diminished. In his answer of the 22d to General Procter's letter of the +18th August, before referred to, an extract from which is given in the +note, Sir George Prevost expressed his opinion of that expedition, and +stated the measures he was taking to remedy the inconveniences which might +arise from it.[63] After mentioning the reinforcements which he intended +to send forward to General Procter, he informed him, that, of the three +troop-ships which had arrived at Quebec with De Meuron's regiment, two had +conveyed to Halifax 500 American prisoners of war, and the third, the +Dover, had been laid up _in consequence of his having directed +three-fourths of the officers and seamen to be landed and sent forward for +the naval service on the Lakes_; and that he had the satisfaction to inform +General Procter, that the first Lieutenant of that ship, with 50 or 60 +seamen, were then at Kingston, from whence they were to be forwarded, +without delay, to Amherstburgh. This circumstance Sir George Prevost +requested might be made known to Captain Barclay. This portion of the +letter, which so clearly shews the exertions Sir George Prevost had made, +and was then making, to send a supply of seamen to Lake Erie, the Reviewer, +with the whole letter before him, has thought proper to omit, and in lieu +of it, to insert as the only reply given by Sir George Prevost to General +Procter's request for further assistance, a passage in the letter[64] which +was evidently meant as a compliment to the bravery of General Procter's +troops, and an encouragement to him to persevere under the difficulties of +his situation, assured, as he must have been, that every endeavour was +making to relieve him. On the 26th August, four days after the date of the +last letter, the Military Secretary informed General Procter that Colonel +Talbot had been sent to the head of the Lake to await the arrival of the +seamen mentioned in his letter of the 25th, and to forward them to +Amherstburgh with all possible despatch. He was further informed, that 12 +24lb. carronades for the new ship, the Detroit, were expected in the fleet +at Burlington Bay, and General Procter was desired to request Captain +Barclay, on his arrival at Long Point, to send off an express to the +officer commanding at Burlington Heights, to say when he would be ready to +receive them on board. In this letter, the Military Secretary, Captain +Freer says, "His Excellency trusts, that upon the arrival of the seamen, +Captain Barclay will be able to make his appearance on the Lake to meet the +enemy." + +From all that has been stated upon this subject, it must satisfactorily +appear, that every exertion in the power of Sir George Prevost was made by +him to supply the wants of Captain Barclay and the squadron, both with +seamen and stores, and that at the very period when the action was fought, +more men were on their way to him. + +The truth of the Reviewer's assertion, that the conduct of Sir George +Prevost contributed to the destruction of our marine on Lake Erie, will be +best ascertained by a reference to Captain Barclay himself; and the +following letter from that officer to the present Sir George Prevost, will +clearly shew how unwarrantably the character of the Commander of the forces +in the Canadas has been attacked on this occasion. + + "_Edinburgh, 14th January, 1823._ + + "Sir, + + "I have had the honor to receive a letter from Miss + Prevost, acquainting me that the family of the late + Lieut.-General Sir George Prevost are preparing a + pamphlet, in vindication of his memory and conduct, so + ungenerously and cruelly aspersed in the Quarterly + Review for October, 1822, and appealing to me for the + truth or falsehood of that portion of the article, + which attributes the defeat and capture of His + Majesty's squadron on Lake Erie, then under my command, + to the imbecility of his conduct, and general + inattention to our necessities. + + "I most deeply lament that an article so ungenerous and + severe, should have been written, when the object of + its hostility has been so long in his grave, which must + not only lacerate most deeply the feelings of his + family, but which also tends to open again a + controversy which I had hoped was at rest. + + "Agitated, however, as the question again is, by this + anonymous publication; appealed to as I am for its + truth or falsehood, I declare that as far as relates + to Lake Erie, nothing can be more false and groundless. + So contrary indeed is the fact, that I can say, the + only communication which was made by me direct to the + Commander of the forces, and which I was only induced + to make by the extreme urgency of the case, was + answered by his ordering a reinforcement of seamen from + Quebec, and which I am confident would have been + larger, _had it been possible to have waited_ for them. + + "It is also but justice in me to declare, that I ever + considered his peremptory order[65] to risk a battle, + (which, however, did not arrive till after the battle + was over,) arose from his firm conviction of the + paramount necessity of a strenuous exertion on the part + of the navy for the preservation of the post, and from + a generous desire on his part, to share with me the + responsibility of a measure so hazardous, should the + issue prove unsuccessful. + + I have the honor to be, + Sir, + + Your most obedient servant, + R. H. BARCLAY. + + "_Sir George Prevost, Bart. + Oriel College, Oxford._" + +The subjoined extract of a letter from Sir James Yeo to Sir George Prevost, +will also shew that the Naval Commander on the Lakes entertained a very +different opinion on this subject from the Reviewer. + + "_Kingston, 23d March, 1814._ + + "Dear Sir, + + "I have had the honor of your Excellency's letter of + the 14th inst. + + "It is impossible any person can be more truly sensible + of your Excellency's unremitting attention and + assiduity to every thing connected with the naval + department in this country than myself, &c. + + * * * * * + + I have the honour to remain, + With the highest respect, + Dear Sir, + Your Excellency's + Most obedient servant, + JAMES LUCAS YEO." + +With regard to the naval action on Lake Erie, we shall only observe, that +it certainly was not lost from the want of skill or courage on the part of +the officers and men of our squadron. The decided superiority of the enemy +in their weight of metal and seamen, gave them an advantage which the +bravest efforts of our squadron, directed and encouraged by the +distinguished gallantry and conduct of their Commander, were insufficient +to resist. The causes of the disastrous result of that action are best +told, in the words of the sentence of the Court-martial upon Captain +Barclay and his officers, which will be found in the Appendix.[66] The +situation of General Procter was such, after this disaster, as to render it +indispensable for him to take the most prompt and energetic measures for +withdrawing his troops from posts which were no longer tenable, and to join +the main body of the army on the Niagara frontier, to whose force he knew +his men would prove a seasonable and powerful accession. Upon this +disastrous retreat it is unnecessary to dwell. It must, however, be +remarked, that from the sentence of the Court-martial upon General Procter, +and the subsequent remarks upon that sentence by order of His Royal +Highness the Prince Regent, it certainly appears that General Procter did +not avail himself, with sufficient energy and activity of the period which +elapsed between the loss of our fleet and the action at the Moravian +village, to effect the important object of retiring with his troops to a +place of safety. + +However meritorious had been the conduct of General Procter, and of the +troops serving under him previous to his retreat from Amherstburgh, it was +not possible for Sir George Prevost to avoid noticing in the public orders, +which announced to the army the capture of the greater part of those troops +at the Moravian town, what appeared to him the disgraceful circumstances +with which the affair had been attended. Although General Procter might +feel hurt by the reflections thus passed upon his conduct, yet the +Commander of the forces, in consideration of his former services, was +unwilling to make that conduct the subject of public investigation, until +His Majesty's Government, to whom General Procter's explanation had been +submitted, should determine upon the course to be pursued. It was in +obedience to their orders that General Procter was at length put upon his +trial.[67] + +That the charges against General Procter could only rest upon the events of +the retreat which he was accused of misconducting, and that "a long period +of arduous services and neglected representations"[68] could form _no part +of such charges_, must be obvious to the lowest capacity. General Procter +had, of course, the opportunity of availing himself of those services +before the Court-martial, and that he did so the nature of the sentence +would lead us to suppose. But it surely cannot be inferred from the opinion +of the Court, that Sir George Prevost had any other motive in preferring +the charges, than the good of the service, and obedience to the commands of +his superiors. Whether, under these circumstances, and with the knowledge +of Sir George Prevost's military life, which the Reviewer must have +possessed, he is justified in making the gross insinuation with which he +concludes his strictures on this subject, will be left to the candid reader +to determine. + +The greater part of the troops under General Procter having been captured, +General Vincent was compelled immediately to retreat to Burlington Heights, +a measure which the information received by that officer of the extent of +General Procter's loss, and the probable immediate advance of the enemy, +seemed to render indispensable. + +The first intelligence received of General Procter's defeat was through a +Staff-Adjutant, who had escaped from the field of battle, and who, by +exaggerated accounts of this disaster, and of the consequences to be +expected from it, spread terror and dismay through the country as he +passed rapidly along to Kingston, where he arrived on the 12th October. In +the mean time, General Vincent, whom these reports had reached, and who had +also on the 8th received from General Procter intelligence of the action, +had begun his retreat from the four-mile creek, and had halted at the +twelve-mile creek, when a communication from Colonel Young, at Burlington, +induced him immediately to fall back upon that place as a post where he +might with less difficulty maintain himself if attacked, and where he might +wait for instructions from General de Rottenburg, the officer commanding in +Upper Canada. + +General de Rottenburg, who was on his way from York to Kingston, when the +intelligence of General Procter's defeat overtook him on the road, +immediately sent to General Vincent, directing him, in his despatch of the +10th October, if he did not consider himself sufficiently strong to hold +out against the superior force of the enemy, to destroy the stores, &c. and +to fall back on Kingston. These directions, it is to be observed, were +given under the impression created by the Staff-Adjutant's account, which, +in a very short time was discovered to be greatly exaggerated; and it +appears from General Vincent's letter to General de Rottenburg, previous to +the receipt of the despatch last mentioned, as well as from the one in +answer to it, that he had no immediate intention of retreating from the +position he then occupied, although he thought circumstances might +afterwards render such a measure necessary. In the mean time the same +exaggerated accounts of the action at the Moravian village, which had been +carried to Kingston, having been received at Montreal by the Commander of +the forces, together with General de Rottenburg's despatches, communicating +the orders he had sent to General Vincent in consequence of that +intelligence, Sir George Prevost in his letter to General de Rottenburg of +the 18th October, approved of those orders, and directed them to be carried +into execution. + +On the 18th October, the very day on which this last despatch was dated, +General de Rottenburg informed Sir George Prevost, by letter, that the +Staff-Adjutant's account, by which he had been induced to give the +directions to General Vincent to retreat to York, preparatory to falling +back on Kingston, was false and scandalous. As soon as it was thus +ascertained at head-quarters at Montreal, what the real nature of General +Procter's disaster was, the Commander of the forces having also reason to +believe, from the information transmitted to him by General de Rottenburg, +that the enemy had designs upon York from Sackett's Harbour, instructions, +dated the 29th October, were sent to that officer, directing him to +prevent General Vincent's further retreat, and to order him to occupy both +Burlington and York with the force under his command. The orders, which +were accordingly sent from General de Rottenburg to General Vincent to that +effect on the 1st November, were received by him on the 4th, and he in +consequence remained in the position he then occupied at Burlington +Heights, which undoubtedly led afterwards to the recovery of the Niagara +frontier. + +From the above correspondence it incontrovertibly appears, that the orders +transmitted from the Commander of the forces, through General de Rottenburg +to Major-General Vincent, were the real and only cause of that officer's +_not retreating_ to York, and of his continuing to hold his position at +Burlington; which, as appears by his own letter of the 27th October, before +referred to, he was preparing to leave on the 1st November. + +Sir George Prevost's orders to General Vincent, to fall back upon Kingston, +had not reached him on the 23rd October; previous to which, his orders to +retreat had been discretionary. On the 27th he was preparing to obey them, +and on the 4th of November he received orders to remain where he was. + +There cannot, therefore, be a doubt of the gross incorrectness of all the +Reviewer's statements,[69] of the repeated peremptory orders to retreat; +of the advice which the firmness of General Procter and others had induced +them to give General Vincent to disobey those orders, and of his being +persuaded upon their responsibility to adopt it. + +It was, in fact, the prompt and decided measures of Sir George Prevost, as +soon as the truth, with regard to General Procter's defeat, was made known +to him, that alone prevented General Vincent from continuing his retreat, +and that led to those offensive operations which followed shortly +afterwards on the Niagara frontier, and which, notwithstanding the attempt +made by the Reviewer to give the sole credit of them to General Vincent and +Colonel Murray, originated in the instructions which the former officer had +received from General de Rottenburg, then commanding in Upper Canada. Even +the attack upon Fort Niagara had previously been pressed upon the +consideration of Major-Generals de Rottenburg and Sheaffe, by the Commander +of the forces, as desirable, whenever circumstances might render such a +measure practicable. + +In summing up the events of the campaign of 1813, the Reviewer +observes,[70] "that on the British side, the occurrences of the year, on +the part of the _subordinate commanders_ and troops, presented a brilliant +series of achievements, the greater number of which were rendered nugatory +or imperfect in result, from the absence of all energy, talent, and +enterprise, in their Commander-in-Chief." + +In support of this opinion, which is sufficiently singular, considering +what the Reviewer has himself stated to have been the result of the +campaign, he adds, that the successes obtained by General Vincent and +Colonel Harvey, by General Procter, Colonel Murray, and Lieutenant-Colonel +Morrison, were ALL obtained either against the positive commands of Sir +George Prevost, or without any instructions from him; and that in the only +measure which could be ascribed to him, he endeavoured to wrest the merit +from Lieut.-Colonel De Salaberry, because he happened to arrive when the +enemy were beaten. + +The following observations will afford a full answer to this unfounded and +disgraceful attack upon the character and reputation of Sir George Prevost. +The brilliant affair at Stoney Creek, under Major-General Vincent and +Colonel Harvey, and the equally successful operation on the Michigan +frontier, when General Procter defeated the forces of Winchester and Clay, +arose out of the circumstances of the moment, of which those officers +immediately, with great judgment and gallantry, availed themselves. There +could, therefore, be no time for communication with the Commander of the +forces, and consequently the operations in question could not have taken +place in direct opposition to commands which were never received. With +regard to the general instructions under which the subordinate Commanders +acted, it has already been shewn that General Procter had discretionary +orders from Sir George Prevost to act on the defensive or otherwise, as +circumstances might require; so likewise had General Vincent; and the +marked approbation expressed, both in general orders, and in the despatches +to the Secretary of State announcing these events, is a further strong +proof that the conduct of those officers was in perfect accordance with the +orders and instructions which they had received from the Commander of the +forces. Colonel Murray's expedition against Plattsburg was, as appears by +the despatch to Lord Bathurst, of the 1st August, 1813, planned altogether +by Sir George Prevost, who had previously endeavoured to place our marine +on the Richelieu, which had been increased by the capture of the two +schooners from the enemy, on a respectable footing; first, by the +appointment of Captain Pring to the naval command there, and subsequently +by obtaining the services of Captain Everard, and the officers and seamen +of the Wasp sloop of war, then lately arrived at Quebec from Halifax, to +man these vessels and the gun-boats. Colonel Murray was the officer +particularly selected by Sir George Prevost to command on this expedition, +from the opinion he entertained of his zeal and energy. The event amply +justified his expectations, and this enterprise, undertaken by the orders +and under the instructions of the Commander of the forces, was in every +respect successful. + +The daring exploit which was subsequently achieved by Colonel Murray, in +the capture of Fort Niagara, so far from being in opposition to Sir George +Prevost's orders, or in the absence of any instructions respecting it, was +the consequence of the verbal instructions given by Sir George Prevost to +Lieutenant-General Drummond, previous to his assuming the command in Upper +Canada, and confirmed in his letter to him of the 3rd December, 1813. +Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison had been detached from Kingston with the 49th, +the 2nd battalion of the 89th, and the Voltigeurs, as a corps of +observation, to follow the motions of General Wilkinson's army, then +threatening Montreal from Sackett's Harbour, in consequence of the _express +orders and directions of Sir George Prevost_; a fact established by his +despatch to Lord Bathurst of the 15th November, 1813. + +The foresight of the Commander of the forces in providing this force to +watch the enemy, and his judgment in the selection of Lieut.-Colonel +Morrison to command it, led beyond all doubt, to the defeat which General +Boyd received at Chrystler's farm, and ultimately, by the interruptions +thus occasioned to General Wilkinson's plans, to the safety of Lower +Canada. That the measures adopted by Sir George Prevost might in some +degree have contributed to the success which attended Lieut.-Colonel De +Salaberry's defence of his position at Chateaugay, the Reviewer seems most +unwillingly to admit, while at the same time he imputes to him the base and +unworthy attempt of endeavouring to assume to himself the merit which on +that occasion was alone due to Colonel De Salaberry. + +In Sir George Prevost's despatch to Lord Bathurst on this subject, of the +date of 30th October, 1813, he expresses himself fortunate at having +arrived at the scene of action shortly after it commenced, as it enabled +him personally to witness the conduct of the officers and men engaged in +it, and to form a proper judgment of their merits, which he then severally +details in his letter. The unqualified praise which he bestows upon the +officer immediately commanding, (Lieut.-Colonel De Salaberry) is of itself +a sufficient refutation of this libel on the part of the Reviewer.[71] + +The checks thus received by the forces under Generals Wilkinson and +Hampton, from Lieut.-Colonel Morrison, and Lieut.-Colonel De Salaberry, +were, without doubt, no inconsiderable causes of their repulse in the +attempt upon Lower Canada; but it was also the duty of the Reviewer to have +noticed the prompt and judicious measures adopted by Sir George Prevost, as +soon as he had ascertained that General Wilkinson was descending the St. +Lawrence to attack Montreal, for the defence of that place, by calling out +the whole militia of the district, and by collecting all his disposable +force at La Chine, where he commanded in person. The formidable defences +which he had prepared both at Coteau du Lac, and at the Cedars, together +with the imposing force of militia which had been assembled at a very short +notice, must have convinced General Wilkinson that he could not hope to +make any impression upon a people who shewed so much zeal and alacrity in +defending themselves, and who were commanded by one who possessed their +entire confidence and affection. Under these circumstances, and from the +opposition already experienced to his attempt, the American Commander +resolved to abandon it as impracticable, more particularly as he found +himself without support from General Hampton, who had retired towards Lake +Champlain. + +In detailing the events of the campaign of 1814, the Reviewer has again not +scrupled, in his account of Captain Pring's expedition to Vergennes, to +distort the truth, for the purpose of attaching the blame of this failure +to Sir George Prevost. So far from the Commander of the forces refusing to +Captain Pring the assistance of the troops stationed at Isle aux Noix, as +the Reviewer asserts,[72] a strong detachment of the marines then in +garrison at that post, was embarked on board of his squadron, and the +despatch to Lord Bathurst from Sir George Prevost, of the 18th of May, +1814,[73] proves that this expedition was planned and directed by the +Commander of the forces, and probably failed from the circumstance alone of +Captain Pring being prevented by baffling winds for four days from reaching +his destination, before the enemy had time to mature their preparations for +defence. + +A similar degree of incorrectness prevails in the Reviewer's statements +with regard to the force retained by Sir George Prevost in Lower Canada. +That Lower Canada, in the middle of April, 1814,[74] had nothing to dread, +may be confidently denied. On the 22d and 30th March, two attempts had been +made by General Wilkinson to penetrate into that Province by the Montreal +frontier, and in the latter instance, in considerable force. Though he was +repulsed in both cases, and in the latter with severe loss, he still +continued to keep a considerable body of men on the frontier line, from +which he did not withdraw until towards the middle of May.[75] Sackett's +Harbour, instead of being weakly garrisoned, had been strengthened by two +regiments from General Wilkinson's army, besides other reinforcements; and +our fleet on Lake Ontario was so far from being at that period ready for +sea, that it was not until the 14th of April, that the two ships, which +were to constitute its principal strength, had been launched, nor was our +squadron in a situation to take the Lake until the beginning of May. The +only reinforcements which, up to this period in 1814, and even until the +beginning of June, had arrived in Lower Canada, were the 2d battalion of +the 8th regiment, which the foresight of the Commander of the forces had +induced him to draw in the depth of winter by land from New Brunswick, +whence they arrived in the month of March, together with 200 picked seamen +from Admiral Griffiths for the fleet on Lake Ontario, without a single +accident. This regiment is enumerated by the Reviewer amongst his nine +regular regiments of infantry, with three squadrons of dragoons, six +strong battalions of militia, and a numerous _division_ of artillery, the +_whole_ of which he has untruly asserted, were crowded together in +inactivity at Chambly, behind a strong frontier, without an enemy to oppose +them;[76] adding, that although reinforcements were daily arriving or +expected, not a man was sent to strengthen the inadequate force on the +Niagara frontier, until the middle of July, when only two of the Peninsular +regiments were reluctantly yielded for that service. Of the nine regular +regiments of infantry, of which the Reviewer speaks, one was De Meuron's +foreign corps, another the Canadian Fencibles, a third a battalion of +Marines, a fourth the Canadian Voltigeurs, militia-men, subject to militia +law, and whose force at the utmost was 450 men. Of the real regular +regiments, viz. the 8th, 13th, 16th, 49th, and 70th, the 16th did not +arrive until June, together with two companies of artillery. This regiment +was almost immediately stationed at Montreal, where it remained the whole +of July, and in August was despatched to Upper Canada. The 70th garrisoned +Quebec, with a portion of artillery, and a small corps, composed of the +recruits of the other regiments in the Province. The 13th was in advance at +St. John, and La Cole Mill, and the battalion of marines garrisoned Isle +aux Noix. Of the six battalions of embodied militia, one was at La +Prairie, and another, if not two of the others, at different parts of the +frontier; the Voltigeurs were also in advance, and part of the Canadian +fencibles were at Coteau du Lac. From this statement, made out from +documents, the authenticity of which cannot be doubted, it will appear that +the troops under Sir George Prevost in the Lower Province, which were +barely adequate to its defence, in lieu of being all assembled at Chambly, +were stationed in different parts of the Province, where their services +were most required, and that they did not at any time, collectively form +the camp of instruction of which the Reviewer speaks. Previous even to the +1st of May, when the Reviewer has stated that Sir James Yeo was ready with +his fleet for any operation, no part of this force could, consistently with +the safety of Lower Canada, have been despatched for the reinforcement of +General Drummond. Still less could a sufficient portion of it have been +spared, to have enabled that officer, with any prospect of success, to +attempt an attack on Sackett's Harbour. General Drummond was, in fact, +aware that, from the period of the first attack on that place, in May, +1813, the enemy had been indefatigable in fortifying it, and that it was at +all times guarded by a large body of regular troops and militia, together +with a number of able and experienced seamen. Nothing, therefore, short of +the full co-operation of a superior fleet, and a large body of troops, +could have afforded him a well-grounded expectation of succeeding. General +Drummond well knew that, up to May, 1814, and for some time afterwards, no +force of this description could be spared from the Lower Province. However +desirable he might have thought it, to destroy the naval depot at Sackett's +Harbour, he knew that no adequate means were within his power, or that of +the Commander of the forces; and until, by fresh reinforcements from +England, those means should be acquired, he was obliged to content himself +with operations compatible with his resources. We accordingly find that, as +soon as the fleet was in readiness to take the Lake, General Drummond, in +consequence of the previous communication which had taken place between Sir +George Prevost and himself, undertook the expedition against Oswego, which +terminated in the capture of that place, together with a quantity of +stores, provisions, and ordnance, most of which being designed for the +squadron at Sackett's Harbour, must have materially delayed its equipment. +Of this enterprise the Reviewer has thought proper to say nothing, because +he knew that it might in a great degree be attributed to the measures of +Sir George Prevost. For a similar reason he has altogether omitted to +notice the extraordinary and energetic measures which had been adopted by +the Commander of the forces, for relieving Michilimachinac, and affording +to that garrison an important reinforcement of troops, seamen, and +provisions, under the command of an able and experienced officer, who +afterwards gave ample proofs of his courage and talents in his successful +defence of that post against a powerful attack of the enemy. The +reinforcement of that distant position, whilst the enemy were in possession +of the whole of the Michigan territory, and by a route never before +attempted, reflected the greatest credit upon the Commander of the forces +who directed, and upon Lieutenant Colonel M'Douall, who executed, this +arduous enterprise, which was highly important in its consequences as +respected our Indian allies, and the safety of the Upper Province. +Independently of this reinforcement to the troops in Upper Canada, we shall +find that Sir George Prevost continued mindful of Lieutenant-General +Drummond's situation, and desirous of assisting him, as soon as the means +of doing so were placed within his power. It has been already shewn, that +out of the force which the Commander of the forces possessed for the +defence of Lower Canada, and of which the Reviewer has given so incorrect a +statement, the 2nd battalion of the 8th arrived from New Brunswick in +March, and the 16th with two companies of artillery in June. It was not +until the month of July that the next reinforcements, consisting of the +90th regiment, from the West Indies, and the 6th and 82nd from the army +under the Duke of Wellington, reached Montreal. These three regiments were +immediately sent forward to the Niagara frontier. The despatch to the +Secretary of State, announcing the arrival of these troops, sufficiently +and satisfactorily explained the reasons which had hitherto prevented Sir +George Prevost from strengthening General Drummond's force in the Upper +Province. In the beginning of June, and previously to the arrival of these +reinforcements, Sir James Yeo had retired into port after blockading +Sackett's Harbour; and from that period, until October, the enemy had the +ascendancy on Lake Ontario. Our operations in Upper Canada were, therefore, +necessarily confined to the defensive; and although the superior numbers of +the enemy gave them at times an advantage over us, and occasioned a +considerable loss of valuable lives, the efforts made by the Commander of +the forces, to supply these losses, enabled General Drummond successfully +to maintain the contest, and to prevent the Americans from gaining any +permanent footing in the Province. Upon the arrival of the Nova Scotia +Fencibles, a battalion of the Royals, and the 97th regiment towards the end +of July, the latter regiment was immediately sent to Kingston, and Sir +George Prevost continued to make every exertion to reinforce the army on +the Niagara frontier. + +Before we proceed to the consideration of the much misrepresented affair of +Plattsburg, the orders under which Sir George Prevost acted, and the plan +of operations proposed upon the arrival of the reinforcements from the Duke +of Wellington's army, it will be necessary to expose the perverted +statement with which the Quarterly Reviewer has introduced his account of +this expedition. "In _June_ and _July_," he says, "a numerous fleet arrived +in the St. Lawrence from Bourdeaux, with the flower of the Duke of +Wellington's army."[77] Now connecting this paragraph with the one that +follows soon afterwards--"that the Peninsular troops were suffered to +ascend no higher than the ill-fated camp of Chambly, where they were +detained _during the whole month of August_"[78]--it is evident that the +Reviewer meant his readers to believe that the brigades, under Generals +Robinson, Brisbane, Power, and Kempt, had arrived in Canada in June and +July, so as to enable Sir George Prevost to assemble them for any service +at Chambly by the beginning of August, and yet that he kept them the whole +of that month unemployed. It appears, however, from Sir George Prevost's +despatches to Lord Bathurst, dated 28th June, 1814, that the only part of +the Duke of Wellington's army, which arrived in June, were the 6th and 82nd +regiments. The transports having those regiments on board passed Quebec for +Montreal, about the 26th of that month, but did not reach the latter place +until the first or second week in July, from whence they were immediately +pushed forward to reinforce Lieutenant-General Drummond on the Niagara +frontier. The brigade under Major-General Power, which was accompanied by +Major-General Brisbane, did not arrive at Quebec until late in July; indeed +so late, that Sir George Prevost, in his despatch to Lord Bathurst +announcing their arrival, states, that they would scarcely be able to +arrive at Montreal, with every exertion, before the _20th of August_. The +two last brigades, under Generals Kempt and Robinson, arrived still later; +and Sir George Prevost's despatch of the 5th August, 1814, announcing their +approach to Quebec, stated that it would be impossible, with every +exertion, to collect the whole force, viz. all the brigades in the +neighbourhood of Montreal, _before the end of that month_. In fact, it was +not until towards the end of August, that two of the brigades above +mentioned were assembled at Chambly, and in the neighbourhood; the other +brigade, under Major-General Kempt, being stationed partly at Montreal, +and partly in advance towards Kingston, in order to be in readiness for the +service for which it was designed, whenever our ascendancy on Lake Ontario +should be required. + +In his next observations, the Reviewer has confounded both dates and facts, +in order to make it appear that Sir George Prevost knew not how to dispose +of the succours which had reached him; with which, in the Reviewer's +opinion,[79] he ought instantly to have made a rapid movement towards Lake +Ontario, for the purpose of attacking Sackett's Harbour; an attempt which, +it is stated, should have been made whilst Sir James Yeo was blockading +that place, instead of wasting some of the most valuable months of the +summer in the camp at Chambly:[80] and further, that the march of General +Izzard to Sackett's Harbour, with 3,000 or 4,000 regular troops, was a +proof that the American Government felt (although our Commander did not), +that all objects on the frontier were insignificant, in comparison with the +protection of the numerous squadron which was blockaded in their ports on +Lake Ontario. + +Unfortunately for the Reviewer's consistency, he had previously stated, +that in consequence of Commodore Chauncey having prepared two new frigates +for sea, Sir James Yeo discontinued his blockade of Sackett's Harbour, and +retired to Kingston, to await the equipment of the St. Lawrence, and that +during the months of _August_ and _September_, Chauncey _held the Lake_. + +General Izzard was despatched to Sackett's Harbour about the _end of +August_, or _1st of September_, and consequently the American Government, +from the Reviewer's own shewing, could not at that time have any +apprehensions for their _numerous squadron_, blockaded _in their Port on +Lake Ontario_. So far indeed from the American squadron being at this time +in danger, Kingston, and Sir James Yeo's numerous squadron, were actually +at the period of General Izzard's march to Sackett's Harbour, most +rigorously blockaded by Chauncey, and so continued for nearly six weeks +afterwards. Sackett's Harbour was in fact only blockaded by Sir James Yeo, +from the beginning of May to the beginning of June, at which latter period +he relinquished the blockade, and did not make his appearance on the Lake +until the middle of October following. + +It has been already shewn what Sir George Prevost's force really consisted +of, in the Lower Province, during the period of this blockade, and until +the month of July, when the first reinforcements from France reached him. +These reinforcements were immediately sent to the Upper Province. It is +consequently most evident that he did not then possess the means of +attacking Sackett's Harbour, and that after the blockade had ceased, +tenfold the means he possessed would not have sufficed for the service, +without the co-operation of the fleet.[81] + +It is in the highest degree improbable, that any man in Sir George +Prevost's army, or in the Provinces, possessing a knowledge of these facts, +which were within the reach of all, should have thought it possible that on +the arrival of the troops from Bourdeaux, Sackett's Harbour was or could be +the point of attack, so long as our squadron was not able to take the Lake. + +It will, it is apprehended, tend very materially to elucidate the +subsequent operations of the war, to state the views which probably +influenced His Majesty's Government in sending so large a force from the +Duke of Wellington's army to Canada, and the manner in which it was +directed to be employed. The circumstances under which the war had been +commenced on the part of the Americans, and the refusal of their Government +to consider the revocation of the Orders in Council, the ostensible ground +of war as a cause for pacification, had justly offended both the +Government and people of Great Britain. The efforts, however, which they +were called upon to make in Europe, had, until the termination of the +contest by the abdication of Buonaparte, prevented the British Government +from furnishing any other reinforcements for the army in the Canadas, than +such as were barely sufficient, aided by the bravery of the troops, and the +talents, zeal, and energy of their Commander, for the defence of the +country from the repeated attacks of the enemy. As soon, however, as the +peace with France placed a larger force at their disposal, His Majesty's +Government resolved to avail themselves of a portion of it, in order to +retaliate upon America her unjust aggressions, and to carry the war into +such parts of her territory as might prove most assailable. In consequence +of this determination, the expeditions to the Chesapeake and the Mississipi +were planned; and with the same views three brigades were ordered from +Bourdeaux to Canada. The objects contemplated in sending this reinforcement +to Canada, will be best understood by a reference to Lord Bathurst's +despatch to Sir George Prevost, of the 3d June, 1814, in which it is said, +"The object of your operations will be, First, To give immediate +protection, secondly, to obtain, if possible, ultimate security, to His +Majesty's possessions in America. The entire destruction of Sackett's +Harbour, and the naval establishment on Lake Erie and Lake Champlain, come +under the first description."--"Should there be any advanced position on +that part of our frontier which extends towards _Lake Champlain_, the +occupation of which would materially tend to the security of the Province, +you will, if you deem it expedient, expel the enemy from it, and occupy it +by detachments of the troops under your command, _always, however, taking +care not to expose his Majesty's troops to being cut off by too extended a +line of advance_"--"At the same time, it is by no means the intention of +His Majesty's Government to encourage such forward movements into the +interior of the American territory, _as might commit the safety of the +force placed under your command_." It must be evident to every person in +the least acquainted with the territories of America bordering upon the +Canadas, that none of the objects of offensive warfare contemplated in the +foregoing despatch could be undertaken without the aid and co-operation of +a fleet able to contend with that of the enemy. That His Majesty's +Government might be aware of the impossibility of complying with the views +and wishes above described, until the naval ascendancy should be secured on +Lakes Ontario and Champlain, Sir George Prevost, in his despatch to Lord +Bathurst, of the 12th July, before referred to, expresses his opinion on +this head, stating that he did not expect from the reports he had received +from Sir James Yeo, and the officer commanding our naval forces on the +Richelieu, that their fleets would be in readiness before the middle of +September. + +Upon the arrival of the troops from France, and upon their being assembled +as before stated in the neighbourhood of Montreal towards the end of +August, it was ascertained that the new ship at Kingston would not be +launched until towards the middle of September, and consequently, that Sir +James Yeo would not be ready to take the Lake, at the earliest, until the +beginning of October. All, therefore, that could be done with regard to the +projected expedition against Sackett's Harbour, was to make such a +disposition of the troops designed for the service, that they might be in +readiness for it, whenever it might be deemed advisable to make the +attempt. Major-General Sir James Kempt, who was to have the command, was +accordingly dispatched to Kingston, and two brigades were quartered partly +at Montreal and partly in advance, wherever he judged they might be best +placed, with a view to the ultimate service for which they were designed. +The employment of the remainder of the force from France next became the +subject of Sir George Prevost's consideration. The enemy had at that time +a strong squadron on Lake Champlain, and their naval depot at Vergennes +furnished them with the means of continually adding to it. They had also +since the first attack fortified Plattsburg, a position which, provided we +had the ascendancy on the Lake, it might be expedient for us to occupy for +the security of the Lower Province. Should, therefore, our squadron, +equipping in the Richelieu, be ready to co-operate with the army before the +season was too far advanced for offensive operations, it was clear that one +of the objects contemplated by Government might be undertaken with every +prospect of success. The enemy's fleet, if they waited the attack upon them +in Plattsburg bay, or elsewhere, might be destroyed, or the depot at +Vergennes might fall into our hands by the occupation of Plattsburg, and +the further advance of the army aided by the fleet. That the enemy were not +assailable in any other quarter, (Sackett's Harbour being out of the +question from what has been before stated,) it can scarcely be necessary to +mention, nor has it ever been pretended that they were. + +The State of Vermont on the east shore of the Lake might, indeed, have been +entered from St. Amand, and our townships on that frontier, without the +assistance of our squadron. But independently of there not being any +object of sufficient consequence in that quarter to make an attack upon it +advisable, it was deemed highly imprudent to molest that State by a mere +predatory expedition, whilst two-thirds of the supplies of fresh meat for +the army in Canada were furnished by American contractors, and whilst +droves of cattle, as well as large sums of money in specie were constantly +passing by that route from the United States into Canada; a fact which is +not generally known, and which strongly marks the wisdom of that policy +which Sir George Prevost pursued during the American warfare. As the +destruction of the enemy's naval depot on Lake Champlain was then the only +operation contemplated by His Majesty's Government, which could be +undertaken with any prospect of success, Sir George Prevost with a view to +that object, had, immediately after the receipt of the despatch of the 3rd +June, above referred to, used every possible exertion to accelerate the +building of the new ship at Isle aux Noix, and the efficient arming and +equipment of the squadron there, for the service in which it was proposed +to be employed. Some time previous to this period it appears from Sir +George Prevost's correspondence with Sir James Yeo, that he had repeatedly +called the particular attention of that officer to the manning of the +squadron for Lake Champlain.[82] In addition to this, his correspondence +with Captain Fisher, and Vice Admiral Otway, tends to establish the fact of +his unwearied and successful exertions to accomplish that object. + +The Confiance was launched on the 26th of August, and Sir George Prevost +having reason to believe that the efforts which were making for her +equipment would enable Captain Fisher to take the Lake in the course of a +few days, proceeded, on the 30th, to inspect the first brigade of troops +quartered at Chambly; and on the 31st. established his head-quarters at +Odell Town, close upon the enemy's frontier. Having here received +information that General Izzard had suddenly quitted his position at +Champlain Town, and had marched with a body of troops in the direction of +Niagara, evidently for the purpose of joining General Brown, who had +established a footing on the Niagara frontier, and was pressing upon +Lieutenant General Drummond, Sir George Prevost determined to lose no time +in entering the enemy's territory, (even though our fleet was not ready to +co-operate,) in the hope by this movement of checking General Izzard's +progress, and of thus making a diversion in favour of General Drummond. Our +troops accordingly crossed the frontier line, and on the 3d of September +took possession of Champlain Town, which the enemy had abandoned on their +approach. Our forces advanced the following day to Chazy and Simpson's Inn, +about eight miles from Plattsburg, where they halted on the 5th. Previously +to this advance Captain Fisher, who had superintended the building of the +Confiance, and whose local knowledge would have rendered his services +peculiarly useful in the joint operations contemplated, had been suddenly +and unexpectedly superseded by Sir James Yeo in the command of our naval +force on the Richelieu, and Captain Downie had been appointed to succeed +him. This officer did not arrive at Montreal from Lake Ontario until the +3rd September, and on the following day repaired to Isle aux Noix to +superintend the equipment of the new ship. On the 5th of September, the day +on which the troops halted at Simpson's Inn, an interview took place +between Sir George Prevost and Captain Downie, when the latter assured the +Commander of the forces, that his flotilla would be ready to co-operate +with the army in less than forty-eight hours; that he had correctly +ascertained the state and condition of the enemy's fleet; and that in +consequence he entertained no apprehensions of the result of an action. +Sir George Prevost then explained to Captain Downie the reason of his +having pressed forward before the latter was ready. On the following day, +the 6th September, the army advanced to Plattsburg, and took possession of +that part of it situate on the northern side of the Saranac, the enemy's +troops having retreated thence to the south side, and to their fortified +position on the crest of the hills. + +No sooner had this position been taken, than Sir George Prevost, conceiving +that the enemy, on the first approach of our troops, might not be fully +prepared to receive them, proposed that the works should be immediately +attacked;[83] but it being represented to him that one of the brigades was +extremely harassed, having been brought forward from Chazy with great +celerity, and that after allowing the men a reasonable time to rest, the +afternoon would be too far advanced to attempt an operation for which it +was desirable to have day-light, as the movement was to be made through so +thick and intricate a country, Sir George was induced to acquiesce in this +reasoning; and being likewise satisfied, from the assurance given him, by +Captain Downie, that the fleet would be ready to co-operate in a day or two +at farthest, he finally resolved to defer the attack until the junction of +the squadron. The enemy's fleet had retired from the mouth of the Chazy +(where it was placed, when our troops entered the American territory), to +Plattsburg Bay, and there, on the arrival of our army, it was found +anchored; their gun-boats, which had been employed to interrupt the march +of our army on the Lake road, being placed so as to manifest a +determination to support their troops and position on the south side of the +Saranac. On the morning of the 7th, it was discovered that the enemy's +flotilla had changed their position since the preceding evening, and had +moved further into the bay, out of the range of cannon from the shore, +evidently with the object of avoiding the fire from the works, in case they +should be attacked and carried. + +As soon as Sir George Prevost had, by a thorough reconnoitring of the +enemy's position, on shore and in the bay, satisfied his own mind that +their fleet was moored too far from the shore to receive any support from +their own batteries, or any injury from ours, he communicated the enemy's +force and situation to Captain Downie, by a letter[84] dated the 7th +September, seven o'clock a. m., and stated, that if Captain Downie felt the +vessels under his command equal to the contest, the present moment afforded +advantages that might not again occur, requesting, at the same time, his +decision on the subject. This letter was delivered by Major Fulton, +Aid-de-Camp to Sir George Prevost, who was ordered particularly to explain +to Captain Downie the position of the enemy's squadron, and that they were, +in his opinion, anchored out of range of shot from the shore. Major +Fulton's statement[85] on this subject, shews most clearly the views which +Captain Downie then entertained, and the confidence which he felt in the +result of the contest, for which he declared he would be ready in 24 hours. +Captain Downie's letter, in reply to Sir George Prevost's communication, +although more guarded in expression, contained in substance what he had +said to Major Fulton, and confirmed the expectation of his being able to +meet the enemy in a day or two. On the 8th of September Sir George Prevost +again despatched a letter to Captain Downie, stating that he had sent his +Aid-de-Camp, Major Coore, to give him correct information with regard to +the enemy's naval force in the bay, and that he, Sir George Prevost, only +waited the arrival of Captain Downie to proceed against General Macomb's +position. In this letter he particularly points out the co-operation which +he expected from Captain Downie. That officer's answer, dated on the same +day, states, "that his ship was _not ready, and that until she should be, +it was his duty not to hazard her before the enemy_;" and this +determination of Captain Downie's appears to have been still more strongly +expressed by him in his conversation with Major Coore. Hitherto, therefore +it may be assumed as an incontrovertible fact, that nothing had been either +said or written by Sir George Prevost to Captain Downie which might lead +the latter to expect any assistance in his approaching contest with the +American fleet, from the forces on shore, or that any simultaneous attack +was to be made upon the enemy's works, with a view to afford such aid or +support. Being thus perfectly aware of the number, force, and position of +the enemy's fleet, and finding himself ready for a conflict, of the +successful issue of which we may be assured that he had not a doubt, +Captain Downie, on the 9th of September, wrote to Sir George Prevost, +informing him that it was his intention to weigh and proceed with his +squadron, so as to approach Plattsburg Bay at day-break on the 10th, and to +commence an immediate attack on the enemy's squadron, if it should be found +anchored in a position to afford any chance of success. Immediately upon +the receipt of this letter, Sir George Prevost gave orders for the troops +to be held in readiness to assault the enemy's works at the same time that +the naval action should commence. On the 10th, the fleet not making its +appearance, Sir George Prevost addressed a letter to Captain Downie, +acknowledging the receipt of his communication of the 9th, and acquainting +him that, in consequence of it, the troops had been held in readiness since +six o'clock in the morning, to storm the enemy's works at nearly the same +moment as the naval action should commence in the bay; that he ascribed the +disappointment he had experienced to the unfortunate change of wind, and +should rejoice to learn from him that his expectations had been frustrated +by no other cause. At day-break, on the 11th, Sir George Prevost proceeded +to the quarters of Lieutenant-General de Rottenburg, (who was second in +command,) in company with the Adjutant-General, and acquainted him that, as +the wind was then fair, the fleet, unless prevented by accident, might +soon be expected, and therefore directed him immediately to circulate the +orders for the troops to hold themselves in readiness, as directed on the +preceding day. This was immediately done by Captain Burke, +Assistant-Adjutant-General, who personally delivered these orders to +Major-Generals Brisbane, Robinson, and Power, viz. to cook, and hold +themselves in readiness as on the preceding day. These orders were so +delivered by Captain Burke _before the fleet had made its appearance, and +before the scaling of their guns was heard_. It seems by the time on shore +to have been about eight o'clock when the fleet was first discovered, and +about nine when it rounded Cumberland head, and stood into the Bay. Orders +having been given by the Commander of the forces that the batteries should +open upon the enemy's works, the moment the naval action should commence, +they were accordingly opened, and actually commenced the fire a full +quarter of an hour before the Confiance had fired a shot at the enemy's +vessels. The fire from our shore-battery was so well served, that the +enemy's Lake battery, the only one which could possibly annoy our squadron, +or afford protection to that of the enemy (but from which not a shot was +fired in the direction of the Lake) was very soon silenced, and the men +driven from it to seek shelter in the higher redoubt. Almost immediately +upon the commencement of the naval action, orders were despatched for the +troops to take their allotted positions for the assault of the enemy's +works. In consequence of these orders, the two brigades under +Major-Generals Robinson and Power, proceeded in the rear of their Bivouacs, +to approach the ford of the Saranac, which it was intended they should +cross and proceed through the wood, in order to conceal their movements +from the enemy, whose position it was then contemplated to attack in +reverse, the ground being broken and uneven, and the works much too strong +to be attempted in front. Whilst these movements were making by our troops, +which from their nature, must have been equally concealed from the fleet on +the Lake, and from the enemy, Major-General Brisbane's brigade had formed, +and was ready to force the bridge of the Saranac, on the right of the +enemy's position, as soon as the troops under Generals Robinson and Power +should have passed the ford, and made their appearance before the enemy's +works. These movements must necessarily have required time for their +completion, but no person in the army for an instant doubted that the +duration of the naval action would enable the troops to accomplish the +design of penetrating, by the ford, and through the road, to the foot of +the works which were the object of attack. Unfortunately, during this +period, and whilst the two fleets were still engaged, a wrong direction, +by the mistake of the guides, was taken through the wood which led to the +ford of the Saranac. As soon as the error was discovered, the troops were +counter-marched, but before they could recover the right direction, full +three-quarters of an hour, and perhaps an hour was lost--an invaluable +portion of time, which, had not the mistake occurred, must have brought the +troops to the very foot of the enemy's position. On approaching the ford, +it was found to be guarded by a strong force of the enemy on the other +side. At this period cheers were distinctly heard, which General Robinson +supposed to proceed, either from our squadron that had been successful, or +from General Brisbane's brigade advancing to the assault. Major Cochrane +was therefore despatched to head-quarters to ascertain the fact, and to +learn whether there were any further orders. Upon his arrival there, the +fleet having at that time surrendered, Sir George Prevost most reluctantly +gave the order for the recal of the troops from the attack of the forts, +and it is well known to those who were in his confidence, with what +poignant regret he thus sacrificed his private feelings to what he +considered his paramount public duty. Upon Major Cochrane's return with +these orders, he found that the troops had only been enabled to force the +ford of the Saranac, and were then in the act of advancing through the +wood to the enemy's position. Under these circumstances, General Robinson +felt himself bound to obey the orders, and the forces retired from the +attack. + +Having thus given a full and correct statement of the circumstances which +attended the enterprise against Plattsburg, it is necessary to notice the +animadversions which have been made upon the military character of Sir +George Prevost, in consequence of the unfortunate result of that +expedition. In no instance has the conduct of Sir George Prevost been +attacked with more virulence and injustice, than by the writer in the +Quarterly Review, whose representations are, as the reader must already +have perceived, in the highest degree incorrect. + +The charges which have been brought forward by the Reviewer and by others +are, that Sir George Prevost improperly urged Captain Downie into action +before his ship was adequately prepared; that he disregarded the signal for +the supposed co-operation between the army and the fleet, as solemnly +agreed upon by himself and Captain Downie, and neglected to assault the +fort when our fleet was engaged with the enemy; and lastly, that he did +not, after the defeat of our squadron, persist in his attack upon the fort, +by which it is pretended, that our fleet might still have been saved. + +With regard to the accusation, that Captain Downie was prematurely +hurried, against his better judgment, into an unequal contest with the +enemy, the correspondence between that officer and Sir George Prevost +already referred to, fully negatives any such supposition. The co-operation +of the fleet being deemed essentially necessary to the success of the +land-forces, Sir George Prevost was naturally anxious that Captain Downie +should be prepared as early as possible to meet the enemy. It has been +seen, that upon the 7th of September, Captain Downie informed the Commander +of the forces, that it would take a day or two at least, before the +Confiance would be in an efficient state, and that the engagement did not +take place till the 11th, four days after the above communication. So far +was Sir George Prevost from attempting by "taunt and inuendo"[86] +improperly to hurry the fleet into action, that in his letter to Captain +Downie, of the 9th of September, he says, "I need not dwell with you on the +evils resulting to both services from delay, _as I am well convinced you +have done every thing in your power to accelerate the armament and +equipment of your squadron_, and I am also satisfied that nothing will +prevent its coming off Plattsburg the moment it is ready." On the same day +Captain Downie announced his intention of commencing an attack on the +enemy's squadron the ensuing morning. Up to this time, therefore, it +appears that however anxious Sir George Prevost was to make an immediate +attack upon Plattsburg, for which purpose the assistance of the fleet was +requisite, he never urged Captain Downie to engage the enemy while +unprepared, but on the contrary, expressed his confidence that the moment +_the fleet was ready_, it would appear before Plattsburg. + +An expression in Sir George Prevost's letter, of the 10th, has indeed been +construed by the Quarterly Reviewer into a "taunt," which is supposed to +have driven Captain Downie to an engagement against his cooler judgment. In +that letter the Commander of the forces, after informing Captain Downie +that in consequence of his communication of the 9th, the troops had been +held in readiness since six in the morning to storm the enemy's works: thus +continues, "I ascribe the disappointment I have experienced to the +unfortunate change of wind, and shall rejoice to learn that my expectations +have been frustrated by no other cause." It must be obvious that many other +causes, independent of the wind, might have prevented Captain Downie from +sailing as he had intended to do on the 9th, although the state of the wind +was in fact the real cause of the delay. In consequence of the despatch +used in equipping his ship, articles might have been overlooked or +omitted, which at the last moment only might have been discovered to be +indispensably necessary; accidents might have happened to different parts +of the squadron in their progress, and even the reinforcements of soldiers +from the 39th, although they had been immediately ordered upon his +requisition, might not, from various circumstances, have been supplied in +time. All, or any of these causes might, as they naturally did, suggest +themselves to the mind of the Commander of the forces, and his anxiety to +be correctly informed upon the subject, as naturally induced him to express +himself to Captain Downie in the terms above stated. It is in the highest +degree improbable, that Captain Downie could for a moment construe those +expressions in an unfavourable sense. But whatever might have been his +impression, it is evident, that a letter written on the 10th, could not +have influenced the determination which he took on the 9th, of engaging the +enemy the following morning. + +Nor will the assertion, that Sir George Prevost disregarded the supposed +signal of co-operation, and neglected to attack the fort according to his +promise, be more difficult to disprove. No such signal was in fact ever +arranged, nor was any such promise ever given. The destruction of the +enemy's fleet being the primary object of the expedition, and until that +was effected, the ulterior operations not being practicable, Sir George +Prevost resolved not to assault the fort until he was satisfied that our +squadron was actually proceeding to attack the enemy. Of the result of the +action when the fleets were once engaged, neither the Commander of the +forces, nor any one in our army allowed themselves to entertain a single +doubt. That Sir George Prevost intended to assault the enemy's works +simultaneously, or nearly so, with the commencement of the naval action, +and that Captain Downie was aware of that determination, appears from the +correspondence between those officers. But that Captain Downie should have +gathered from these communications any thing like a promise or agreement on +the part of the Commander of the forces to support, assist, or co-operate +with him during the naval engagement, is quite impossible. Sir George +Prevost had satisfied himself by personal observation, and by the most +accurate intelligence, that the American fleet was anchored out of range of +the batteries, and he must therefore have known that it was out of his +power to offer any support to Captain Downie. To have held forth to that +officer any hope or promise of assistance was consequently out of the +question. It was of the first importance, with a view to the success of Sir +George Prevost's operations, that the fleet should be engaged at the same +time, or before the fort was assaulted, but of no consequence whatever to +Captain Downie, that the fort should be attacked simultaneously with the +naval force. Sir George Prevost, therefore, in his communications with the +naval Commander, and particularly in his letter of the 10th, mentioned his +intention of making nearly a simultaneous attack, _as part of his own plan +of operations_, with which it was necessary that Captain Downie should be +acquainted. It is highly probable, that Captain Downie inferred from this +communication, that the attack on the fort which Sir George Prevost had +been in readiness to make on the morning of the 10th, would be made at the +time when the fleets should engage, but there is not the _slightest_ ground +for believing that this expectation led him to place any reliance upon the +land attack, as a co-operation in support of the naval force, or that it +induced him to hasten into action, at a time when he felt unequal to it, or +unprepared for the contest. Had he considered the expressions used by Sir +George Prevost, in his letter of the 10th, as importing an agreement to +assist him by a simultaneous attack on shore, he would certainly have +answered that communication, and have availed himself of the services of +Captain Watson, who was left with him for that purpose, to express to the +Commander of the forces his reliance on the promised aid, and his assurance +that it was the state of the wind alone, which had prevented him from +appearing with the fleet on the morning of the 10th, as he had intended. At +the time when this letter was written by the Commander of the forces, he +was ignorant of the causes which had delayed the fleet, and he was +ignorant, likewise, of Captain Downie's further intentions, with regard to +the time when he would be prepared to attack the enemy's squadron. Had +Captain Downie, therefore, relied, in the slightest degree, on the +co-operation of the land forces, he would have informed Sir George Prevost +of the exact time when he contemplated an engagement, that the troops on +shore might be prepared to second his efforts. No reply, however, was +despatched by him to the Commander of the forces, who thus remained in +uncertainty with regard to the actual state and condition of the squadron, +and the intentions of its commander. Captain Watson, whose directions were +to proceed immediately to head-quarters, with intelligence of the sailing +of the squadron, should not Captain Downie have previously despatched him, +did not arrive until after the fleet had made its appearance. It has, +indeed, been asserted, by the Quarterly Reviewer, that the scaling of the +guns of our squadron was to be the signal for the advance of the columns of +attack. This misstatement appears to have arisen out of the evidence which +was given before the Court-Martial on Captain Pring; for in no other place +is any allusion to such a fact to be discovered. The error of that +statement, which, without doubt, was unintentional, is manifest. The signal +in question is said to have been concerted with Major Coore on the 10th, +when, in fact, no interview or communication whatever took place between +him and Captain Downie on that day; and that no such signal was mentioned +to the former on the 8th, the day on which he _did_ see Captain Downie, is +a fact to which the Major (now Colonel Coore) is ready to bear witness. In +all probability Captain Watson, who was with Captain Downie on the 10th, +was the person who was mistaken for Major Coore, and to him Captain Downie +might have communicated his intention of scaling his guns, previous to +rounding Cumberland Head, in order to announce to the Commander of the +forces the approach of the squadron. Whatever may have been the nature of +Captain Downie's communication by Captain Watson, it is certain that it +never reached Sir George Prevost. + +It has thus been shewn, that there was not even an understanding between +Sir George Prevost and Captain Downie, that the attack by land and sea +should take place simultaneously, for the purpose of affording protection +or support to our squadron, much less that there existed any "solemn +agreement" to that effect. It must also be evident, from the previous +statement, that the attack on shore did actually take place at the +commencement of the naval action, and that the sudden and unexpected +termination of the latter engagement alone prevented the prosecution of the +military operations. Orders, as we have already shewn, had been given by +Sir George Prevost, on the 9th, for the troops to hold themselves in +readiness for the attack of the enemy's works on the morning of the 10th, +and those orders were accompanied, as every military man knows, and as the +Reviewer[87] himself must have known, is usual, by an order _to cook_, when +the time will admit.[88] It has also been shewn, that early on the morning +of the 11th, and before the fleet was in sight, or the scaling of their +guns was heard, similar orders were circulated for the troops to hold +themselves in readiness for the attack, and so well prepared were the +forces on shore to make the attack, that almost at the same moment when the +Confiance began to engage the enemy, the troops were in motion for the +assault. Our batteries, as mentioned above, opened on the enemy's works +some time before the commencement of the naval action on the part of the +Confiance. Until confidently assured that the fleets would engage (and many +circumstances might have intervened to prevent it even after the appearance +of our squadron) Sir George Prevost felt that it would be highly imprudent +in him to commence the attack; but the moment he learned that Captain +Downie was actually in contact with the enemy, the troops were immediately +ordered to take their position for the assault. + +Although our naval official accounts of the transaction state the +engagement to have lasted for two hours and a half, that is from eight +o'clock in the morning until half-past ten, when the Confiance struck, the +American naval account, which is corroborated by the testimony of all who +witnessed the action from the shore, represents the engagement to have +terminated in about an hour and a half. The American account also +corresponds with the statements of our officers on shore, that our fleet +did not round Cumberland Head until between eight and nine o'clock, before +which time all the statements of persons on shore agree in admitting that +the action did not begin on the part of our fleet. With regard to the +period when the engagement terminated, all the accounts appear to coincide. +It has already been shewn, that notwithstanding the unfortunate mistake of +the attacking columns taking a wrong route, they had at that very period +forced the ford of the Saranac, and were then in the vicinity of the +enemy's works, and prepared to make an instant assault, and that the +unexpected result of the naval action was the sole cause which induced Sir +George Prevost to countermand that assault. It now remains to explain more +fully the reasons of the Commander of the forces for giving those orders, +which will afford an answer to the last charge brought against him. + +It has been often and confidently asserted, that both the enemy's squadron +and our own were within reach, of the guns of the works. It is not, +therefore, surprising that an unfavourable impression should have been made +upon the minds of many persons with regard to the policy of not persevering +in an attack, which might, under such circumstances, have led to the +recovery of our own fleet, or the destruction of that of the enemy. The +fact of the relative situation of the two squadrons and of the enemy's +works, has, like most of the other facts connected with this expedition, +been grossly misrepresented. Had an opportunity been offered by a public +investigation of the transaction, it could and would have been +satisfactorily proved, that neither of the fleets was within the range of +the enemy's guns from any part of their works, and that their own squadron +was anchored more than a mile and a half from the shore. + +The grounds of the Reviewer's statement upon this subject it is impossible +to ascertain; but, in opposition to what he affirms[89] on the testimony of +Captain Pring, and "_numerous_ other _eye-witnesses_" it can be proved by +testimony from on board the Confiance, as well as by officers without +number on shore, that she was taken possession of within half an hour after +she struck; and it can also be proved, in opposition to the decided opinion +of the number of officers, who are stated to have visited Plattsburg after +the peace, that the anchorage of the American squadron was not within range +of the forts. + +The evidence of the greater part of the General Officers accompanying the +expedition to Plattsburg, who viewed the naval action; of the commanding +officer, and others of the Artillery; of naval men on board of our fleet, +and of various other persons on shore, could and would have been produced +upon the trial of the question, had it taken place, in proof of the fact as +here stated. But independently of all opinion upon the subject, is it +probable or credible that the American naval Commander would have placed +his squadron in such a situation, that by possibility they could be +annoyed or injured from works which he saw it was the evident intention of +Sir George Prevost to attack, and which he must have felt convinced would +in such a case have fallen? That he was aware of the danger to which his +squadron was exposed by its vicinity to the forts, appears from the +circumstance before adverted to, of his having moved further into the Bay +from the station which he occupied on the 6th, the day of the arrival of +our troops before Plattsburg. The position which the American Commander +thus took, was one in which, according to his judgment, he could not have +been annoyed by the fall of the works on shore, an event for which he was +prepared. This opinion was expressed in the presence of a British officer +who had been made prisoner during the naval action. The same opinion was +entertained by Captain Henley, of the American brig, Eagle, who had himself +reconnoitred the position in which the fleet was anchored, and which upon +his report was selected by the American Commander, because it was evidently +out of the range of the guns from the shore. If any thing more were wanting +in confirmation of this fact, it will be amply supplied by the opinions of +the two officers most capable of forming a correct judgment on the subject. +The following letters of Commodore Macdonough and General Macomb, the +American Naval and Military Commanders, will, it is apprehended, set the +question at rest in the mind of every unprejudiced person. + + "_Portsmouth, New Hampshire, + July 3, 1815._ + + "Dear Sir, + + Your letter of the 26th ult. came to hand yesterday; + the letter you addressed to me at Washington has not + been received, or it assuredly should have been + attended to. + + In reply to yours of the 26th ult. it is my opinion + that our squadron was anchored one mile and a half from + the batteries at Plattsburg, during the contest between + it and the British squadron on the 11th September, + 1814. + + I am, with much respect, + + Your obedient servant, + (Signed) J. MACDONOUGH." + + "_Cadwr. Colden, Esq._" + + * * * * * + + "_City of New York, June 15, 1815._ + + "Sir, + + I should have replied earlier to your letter of the + 26th ultimo, had it not been mislaid amidst a mass of + communications on the subject of the army. + + With respect to the distance of the American squadron + from the batteries at Plattsburg, I will state that it + is my decided opinion that the squadron was moored + beyond the effectual range of the batteries, and this I + know from a fruitless attempt made to elevate our guns + so as to bear on the British squadron during the action + of the 11th of September last. No guns, however, were + fired, all being convinced that the vessels were beyond + their reach. This opinion was strengthened by + observations on the actual range of the guns of the + Confiance--her heaviest metal falling several hundred + yards short of the shore when closely engaged with our + vessels. + + With a hope that this reply will be satisfactory, I + subscribe myself, + + Sir, + + Your most obedient servant, + + (Signed) ALEX. MACOMB." + + "_Cadwr. R. Colden, Esq._" + + * * * * * + + "_New York, August 1, 1815._ + + "Sir, + + In reply to your letter of the 30th ult. asking the + distance of the American squadron from the batteries of + Plattsburg, on the 11th day of September, 1814, while + engaged with the British squadron, I will state that it + is my decided opinion that the American squadron was + upwards of three thousand yards distant from the + batteries, being confirmed in that belief from + observations made on the actual range of the heaviest + guns of the British ship, Confiance, when fired towards + the batteries, the balls falling short upwards of five + hundred yards. + + With respectful consideration, + + I am, Sir, + + Your obedient servant, + (Signed) ALEX. MACOMB." + + "_To Cadwr. R. Colden, Esq._" + +If therefore our squadron could not have been recovered, or that of the +enemy annoyed or injured by the capture of their works on shore, it may be +asked, what advantages could have resulted from persevering in the attack? +It has been already shewn that the primary object of this expedition was +the destruction of the enemy's flotilla on the Lake. Had that object been +accomplished, Plattsburg might have been occupied by our troops, and from +thence, with the assistance of our squadron, they might have been +transported to other parts of the Lake for the further annoyance of the +enemy. The loss of our squadron, however, immediately rendered all these +important operations impracticable. Without the assistance of a fleet, +nothing beyond the occupation of Plattsburg could have been accomplished. +That Plattsburg would have fallen, neither the Commander of the forces, +nor a man under him, could have entertained a doubt. The enemy were indeed +strongly entrenched, and under works, which afforded complete shelter to +several thousand expert marksmen, from whose fire our troops must have +suffered most severely; but granting, that after a considerable loss, we +had carried the enemy's works, what adequate advantages should we have +gained? To retain Plattsburg was not possible without the assistance of a +fleet, which would have been necessary to the provisioning of our army; a +retreat, therefore, after destroying all we could not carry away, would +have been indispensable. Such was, however, the state of the season and of +the weather, that 24 hours delay in retiring with our troops to Canada, +would not only have made such a measure dangerous, from the advance of the +enemy in every direction, but would have rendered the conveyance of our +ordnance and stores exceedingly difficult, if not impossible. The militia +of the state of New York and Vermont were turning out, and rapidly +increasing in numbers; and although in the open field our troops would +justly have despised them, they would have proved most formidable in the +woods, and hanging upon the flank and rear of a retreating army. Sir George +Prevost knew that he had only to give the word, and that his gallant troops +would accomplish all his wishes,[90] but he knew at the same time how +useless the acquisition would be, and how costly the sacrifice at which it +was probable it would be made. He was also bound to bear in mind the +instructions of His Majesty's Government, with regard to the committal of +the force under him, so necessary for the preservation of the Provinces +entrusted to his care. + +He therefore wisely determined to retreat, whilst retreat was practicable, +and whilst it could be effected with the least possible loss. The order was +accordingly given for that purpose, and such was the energy and promptitude +of the execution, that the retreat was conducted without the smallest +molestation from the enemy, who, in fact, were not aware of it until it was +nearly completed. Notwithstanding the almost impassable state of the roads, +from the rains which were falling, not a gun was left behind; and, although +the subject has been much exaggerated, yet in fact only a very small +quantity of provisions and stores, together with _fifteen_ wounded men in +hospital, was left to the enemy. Of deserters, the utmost amount was under +300 men, which was the consequence, not as has been falsely asserted, of +the _retreat_,[91] but of the _advance_, many of them having deserted upon +our entry, and as we afterwards penetrated into the American territory; a +consequence which almost invariably attended every attack upon their +frontier, and was most strongly manifested in Colonel Scott's expedition, +in December, 1813, against part of General Wilkinson's army, when, out of a +force of not more than 500 men, he lost upwards of 90 by desertion. + +The exaggerated account of this retreat having induced his Majesty's +government to call upon Sir George Prevost for a more particular detail of +the losses attending it, it appears, by Sir George Prevost's reply to Lord +Bathurst's despatch on the subject, together with the documents +accompanying it, that the whole loss in killed, wounded, prisoners, and +deserters, from the time of the army entering the American territory, until +it was withdrawn, did not amount to 500 men. This affords a complete answer +to one of the Reviewer's concluding mis-statements, that when Sir George +Prevost wrote the despatch from Montreal, though dated at Plattsburg,[92] +"he knew that the desertion of 800 men had attended his shameful defeat." + +The unfortunate loss of our fleet, and the consequent withdrawing of our +troops from the American territory, afforded an opportunity to the party +opposed to Sir George Prevost's civil administration in Canada, of which +they immediately and eagerly availed themselves, of circulating the most +unfounded statements, and the most exaggerated accounts, with respect to +both those transactions. These were industriously transmitted to England by +a private ship belonging to one of Sir George Prevost's most violent +opponents, and upon their arrival, and in the absence of any official +accounts of the transactions to which they referred, they created a general +belief that the disastrous result of the naval action had been occasioned +by a want of co-operation from the shore; that the retreat had been +conducted in a precipitate and disgraceful manner; that a severe loss of +men, guns, stores, and provisions, had been the consequence of it; and that +the whole army was indignant at the conduct of their commander. The arrival +of Sir George Prevost's despatches, together with the explanations +afforded, as well by them as by the person to whom they had been given in +charge, could not fail to undeceive His Majesty's Government on this +subject, and to convince them of the grossness of the misrepresentations +which had gone forth. Had not some expressions in Sir James Yeo's letter, +accompanying the account of the naval action, been construed into charges +against Sir George Prevost, which, in justice to him, as well as to the +public, it was deemed proper to call upon him to answer, there cannot be a +doubt but that the further management of the war in the Canadas would still +have been entrusted to the Commander who had hitherto so successfully +conducted it. Even if the subsequent conduct of Sir James Yeo did not +afford ample proof of the fact, there is not wanting other evidence to shew +that the letter in question was written by him under the irritation of the +moment, and in consequence of Captain Pring's communication to him of the +result of the naval action, but without any intention of making a charge +against Sir George Prevost, and without the most distant idea that it could +be so construed. Sir James Yeo must have possessed too honourable a mind to +become a guest in Sir George Prevost's family, and to partake of his +attention and hospitality, had he for a moment supposed that his public +letter, on the subject of the naval action at Plattsburg, could have been +construed into a formal accusation. Had he really meant it as such, he +would most undoubtedly, in a manly and open manner, have communicated the +proceeding he had adopted to the party accused; and, under such +circumstances, would, no less certainly, have refused the kindness and +attention of the person of whom he had publicly expressed so unfavourable +an opinion. That this must have been the case may further be inferred, from +the circumstance that, although Sir George Prevost was recalled to answer +the charges, amounting to three in number, supposed to be contained in Sir +James Yeo's letter, it was not until more than four months after both these +officers arrived in England, that the precise charges upon which he was to +take his trial, were officially communicated to him, and which charges +differed materially from those in Sir James Yeo's letter. Whether, under +these circumstances, Sir James Yeo would have supported the charges, had +the investigation taken place, cannot now be determined; but a confident +appeal may be made to the intelligent reader, whether, upon the facts +disclosed in these pages being made known, such an attempt must not have +utterly failed. + +With regard to the naval action on Lake Champlain, we are unwilling to say +more than may be necessary for the vindication of the character and conduct +of Sir George Prevost. The real causes of the disastrous result of that +affair, were such, as particularly belong to naval actions, and which, when +they do occur, must materially influence the issue of the conflict. It is +not a little remarkable, that the naval Court-martial on Captain Pring and +his officers, should have overlooked or disregarded these causes; and it is +greatly to be regretted, that they should have thought themselves justified +in ascribing the disaster to the conduct of Sir George Prevost, and in +passing so severe a censure upon an officer of another service, of whose +orders and instructions they must necessarily have been ignorant, and who +was neither present to defend himself, nor amenable to their jurisdiction. +It is clear that it was Captain Downie's intention, on going into action, +to lay his own ship, in the size and strength of which he seemed to place +great confidence, along side of the American Commodore; but the unfortunate +failure of the wind, before he could accomplish this object, obliged him to +anchor at a distance of more than half a mile from his opponent; the same +circumstance also induced Captain Pring, in the Linnet, to take his +situation still farther from the enemy. But even this disadvantage would +probably not have been attended with the consequences which afterwards +ensued, had Captain Downie's invaluable life been spared, and had all under +him done their duty. The Finch, in going into action, grounded out of the +line of fire, and was shortly afterwards taken possession of by the enemy. +The gun-boats, when the action commenced, were considerably distant from +the enemy's line, and slowly pulling up in apparent confusion. The Chub, +very shortly after the action, having her cables shot away, drifted into +the enemy's line, and was obliged to surrender. The Confiance, it would +thus appear, being left nearly alone to bear the brunt of the whole action; +the greater part of the enemy's fire being directed against her; the two +schooners gone, and the gun-boats, with the exception of two or three, +taking no part in the contest, it is not to be wondered at, that against +such fearful odds, the men could not be kept to their guns, and that, +notwithstanding the exertions and bravery of the officers, she was +compelled to surrender. The real causes of the disaster must, therefore, be +sought for in the unfavourable circumstances under which the action +commenced; in the squadron's not taking the station which Captain Downie +had designed they should; in the early loss of that officer; the grounding +of the Finch; the surrender of the Chub, and the desertion of the +gun-boats--circumstances more than sufficient to account for the capture of +our squadron, without having recourse to a reason which the gallant Downie +would have scorned to assign, and which we have already shewn to be without +the slightest foundation--namely, the want of a co-operation from the army. +Had even the gun-boats done their duty, the result of the action might, +and probably would, have been widely different, as the men on board of the +Confiance assigned it as one reason for their refusing to stand to their +guns, that the gun-boats keeping at a distance, the whole fire of the enemy +was directed against the Confiance. The Commander of these gun-boats, it is +to be observed, was so sensible of his own misconduct, that he shortly +after the action, made his escape from Kingston, and was not afterwards +heard of. The removal of Captain Fisher from the command of the Lake +Champlain squadron, precisely at the period when it was about to be +employed in the service before mentioned, was particularly unfortunate; and +it was no less so that his zealous offer to Captain Downie, to serve under +him in command of the gun-boats, could not be accepted by that officer. + +In the month of March, 1815, Sir George Prevost received the despatch +communicating to him the Prince Regent's pleasure, that he should return to +England to answer the charges preferred against him by Sir James Yeo, and a +commission was, at the same time, transmitted to Lieutenant-General +Drummond, revoking the appointment of Sir George Prevost as +Governor-in-Chief and Commander of the forces in the Canadas, and +authorizing General Drummond to assume, provisionally, the chief civil and +military command of those Provinces. By this measure, Sir George Prevost +was compelled either to remain for six weeks, until the navigation of the +St. Lawrence should be open--a private individual in the country over which +he had so lately presided as its chief magistrate, and exposed to the +observations of all who had been hostile to his measures,--or to encounter +at a most inclement season the fatigue and dangers of a journey, to be +performed, frequently on foot, through the wilderness to New Brunswick. His +high and honourable feelings did not permit him to hesitate for a moment as +to the course which it was his duty to pursue, and he immediately quitted +his government. It was no inconsiderable consolation to him, under +circumstances like these, to know that he carried with him on his departure +the regret and the good wishes of the inhabitants of Canada, which were +manifested, not only by the different addresses and letters[93] which were +presented to him upon this occasion, but in a still more striking manner, +by the terms of a vote of the House of Representatives, who proposed to +present to their late Governor-General a service of plate of the value of +5,000_l._ This munificent act, though honoured with the approbation of the +Prince Regent, was not carried into effect, in consequence of a refusal to +accede to it on the part of the legislative council.[94] + +On the arrival of Sir George Prevost in England, in the month of May, 1815, +it was evident that his constitution had suffered a fatal injury. His +health had yielded to the excessive fatigues of his journey to New +Brunswick, and his illness was aggravated by the delays which he +experienced in urging forward the investigation which he so earnestly +desired. Notwithstanding all his efforts, the Court-martial was not +directed to assemble before the month of January, 1816--a delay which +proved fatal to his hopes. He died on the 5th January, 1816, in the 49th +year of his age.[95] + +That Sir George Prevost was a zealous, active, and faithful servant to his +king and country, the preceding pages are amply sufficient to prove. The +defence of Dominica, and the preservation of the Canadas against greatly +superior forces, attested his merits as officer, and excited the admiration +of some of the first soldiers of the age. His system, upon both occasions, +was necessarily a defensive one; and he has, therefore, lost much of that +eclat which attaches to more active operations. But had his field of action +been different, he would, doubtless, have displayed the same gallant and +enterprising spirit which distinguished him on former occasions, and +particularly when he led the assault on Morne Fortunee, in the island of +St. Lucie. Of his total disregard of personal considerations, and of his +readiness to sacrifice his own fame for the promotion of the great +interests committed to him in America, there cannot be a stronger proof +than that afforded by his conduct at Plattsburg. He must have been well +aware that the capture of the works, especially after the loss of the +fleet, would be considered by the public in general as a brilliant exploit, +which could not fail to add to his military reputation; and he must also +have foreseen the popular outcry which the resolution he adopted would +occasion. But those personal feelings gave way to considerations of far +greater weight in the mind of a wise, humane, and honourable soldier. Sir +George Prevost had justly calculated the consequences of his probable +success--a great loss of valuable lives, the immediate abandonment of his +conquest, and an unavoidable and difficult retreat. Although these +considerations were far from obvious, and not of a nature to be justly +appreciated by the public at large, he chose, without hesitation, that line +of conduct which his judgment and heart approved, and, notwithstanding his +conviction that this determination would necessarily expose him to much +unmerited odium, he resolutely adopted it. His subsequent recal, and +premature decease, were undoubtedly the consequences of this measure; but +his country will not fail, finally, to do justice to the purity of his +motives, and, on an impartial review of his conduct, to rank him amongst +its ablest and most faithful defenders.[96] + +As a civil governor, Sir George Prevost had the gratification of knowing +that he was invariably esteemed and respected by the people over whom he +was placed. His zeal and devotion to his duties, both in his civil and +military character, were eminently conspicuous. No personal considerations, +no fatigue, no dangers, ever interfered with what he esteemed the good of +the service. Over the public interests he watched with the most sedulous +attention. In private life, he was remarkable for the purity of his moral +character, for the generosity of his heart, and for his pleasing and +conciliatory manners. + +In consequence of the lamented death of Sir George Prevost, at the very +period when he was on the point of substantiating, before a competent +tribunal, his innocence of the charges preferred against him, the care of +his honour and reputation devolved upon his widow; nor did she neglect this +sacred trust. Soon after Sir George Prevost's decease, his brother, Colonel +William Augustus Prevost, addressed a letter to His Royal Highness the +Commander-in-Chief, in which, after stating the distressing situation in +which Sir George Prevost's family were placed, he requested that an +investigation of his brother's conduct might be ordered before a court of +inquiry. A reference to the Judge-Advocate was made upon the subject, who +was of opinion that such an inquiry could not properly be instituted. +Immediately after this determination, Lady Prevost represented, by letter, +to the Commander-in-Chief, the painful circumstances in which she was +placed. She intreated his Royal Highness to extend his protection to +herself and her family, and to procure from His Royal Highness the Prince +Regent a gracious consideration of their claims, to such marks of +distinction as might be due to the memory of the deceased. The receipt of +this letter was acknowledged by the Commander-in-Chief, who assured Lady +Prevost, that he would gladly do any thing calculated to alleviate her +distress, but that he declined interfering with the Prince Regent on the +subject, to whom he was of opinion it could only be regularly submitted by +His Majesty's ministers. + +A memorial was accordingly drawn up by Lady Prevost, which was submitted to +the Prince Regent through the regular channel. His Royal Highness, having +taken the same into consideration, was graciously pleased publicly to +express the high sense entertained by him of the services of Sir George +Prevost; conferring, at the same time, as a mark of his approbation, +additional armorial bearings to the arms of his family. + +The following grant of heraldic distinctions appeared in the London Gazette +of 11th September, 1816. + +_"Whitehall, September 3rd._--His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, taking +into his royal consideration the distinguished conduct and services of the +late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Baronet, during a long period +of constant active employment in situations of great trust, both military +and civil, in the course of which his gallantry, zeal, and able conduct +were particularly displayed at the conquest of the island of St. Lucie, in +1803, and of Martinique, in 1809; as also, in successfully opposing, with a +small garrison, the attack made in 1805 by a numerous French force upon the +island of Dominica, then under his government; and while Governor-General +and Commander-in-Chief of the British provinces in North America, in the +defence of Canada against the repeated invasions perseveringly attempted by +the American forces during the late war; and His Royal Highness being +desirous of evincing, in an especial manner, the sense which his Royal +Highness entertains of these services, by conferring upon his family a +lasting memorial of His Majesty's royal favour, hath been pleased, in the +name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to ordain that the supporters +following may be borne and used by Dame Catherine Anne Prevost, widow of +the late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, during her widowhood; viz. +"On either side a grenadier of the 16th (or Bedfordshire) regiment of foot, +each supporting a banner; that on the dexter side inscribed "West Indies," +and that on the sinister, "Canada;" and the said supporters, together with +the motto _servatum cineri_, may also be borne by Sir George Prevost, +Baronet, son and heir of the said late Lieutenant-General, and by his +successors in the said dignity of a baronet, provided the same be first +duly exemplified according to the laws of arms, and recorded in the +Herald's office. And His Royal Highness hath also been pleased to command, +that the said concession and especial mark of Royal favour be registered in +His Majesty's College of Arms." + +Whilst the impartiality of His Majesty's Government towards the servants of +the public is strongly evidenced by the recal of Sir George Prevost from +his command in the Canadas, under the circumstances before stated, their +sense of justice is no less strongly manifested by the above grant of +posthumous honours to his family, whose feelings of satisfaction were +greatly heightened by the gratifying manner in which His Royal Highness the +Commander-in-Chief was pleased to express himself upon this occasion, in +the following letter. + + "_Horse Guards, 17th September, 1816._ + + "Madam, + + "I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Ladyship's + letter of the 12th inst., and to assure you that I am + highly gratified to find that His Majesty's Government + has adopted a measure grateful to your feelings and + honorable to the memory of your late distinguished + husband. + + I am, Madam, + + Your most obedient servant, + + (Signed) FREDERICK." + + _Lady Prevost._ + +Lady Prevost having thus satisfactorily accomplished the great wish of her +heart, the vindication of her husband's injured fame, was almost +immediately afterwards attacked by an alarming disorder, evidently +occasioned by her severe afflictions, under which, after suffering for +several years, she finally sunk in 1821.[97] The family of Sir George +Prevost, deprived by an untimely death of one parent, and called upon to +witness the calamitous state of the other, were neither able nor willing, +under such circumstances, to enter into any further discussion upon the +merits of their father's conduct, in reply to the anonymous attacks made +upon it. They knew that in the opinion of every unprejudiced person, his +military character had been fully redeemed from the obloquy cast upon it, +by the high and honorable approbation bestowed upon it by his Sovereign, +and they had hoped that this strong attestation to Sir George Prevost's +worth would have sheltered his name from further attack or reproach. The +article in the Quarterly Review having disappointed them in this reasonable +expectation, it has become imperative upon them to prepare the present +statement. Whatever were the objects and motives of the Reviewer, it is +certainly not too much to say, that he has deliberately advanced charges +which he knew to be unfounded. The just feelings of indignation which every +page of the article in question is calculated to excite, were restrained by +the persuasion alone, that it was only requisite that the real facts of the +case should be made known, to rescue the memory of an honorable and gallant +officer from the aspersions thus wantonly cast upon it. In the Reviewer's +assertions, with regard to the preparations for the war; the care of our +Provincial Marine; the orders given to the subordinate Commanders; the +attack upon Sackett's Harbour; the reinforcing of General Procter's +division; the neglect of Captain Barclay's demands; the successes of +General Vincent, Lieutenant-Colonel Harvey, and others; the disposal of the +troops which arrived from Bourdeaux, and the expedition against Plattsburg; +in _all_ of these instances, the Reviewer has been convicted, by the most +unimpeachable evidence, of shameful inaccuracy, and in many of them of +gross ignorance and of wilful misrepresentation. In ascribing to the +Commander of the forces in the Canadas "vacillation, indecision, and error" +at the commencement of the war, it has been shewn that the Reviewer was +totally ignorant of, or misconceived the grounds and motives of his policy +and conduct, which in the very instances selected by the critic for +censure, received the pointed approbation of His Majesty's Government. To +"the want of talent, energy, and enterprise," of which the Reviewer has not +scrupled to accuse Sir George Prevost in the prosecution of the war, have +been opposed the various measures in which his vigilance and foresight were +conspicuous, in planning and directing those successful operations, the +merit of which the Reviewer would give to the subordinate Commanders alone. +To the charge of neglecting to preserve our marine ascendancy on Lake +Ontario and Lake Erie, which the Reviewer has styled "the most fatal and +palpable error" of Sir George Prevost, and the one in which his imbecility +of judgment and action was most flagrant, a reply has been given not only +by facts, in direct contradiction to his assertions, but by the letters of +the Naval Commanders on both Lakes; the one from Sir James Yeo, who +commanded in chief, in strong approbation of the general attention of the +Commander of the forces to the Marine service, and the other from Captain +Barclay, directly asserting the falsehood of the Reviewer's statement. The +true causes of the failures at Sackett's Harbour and at Plattsburg, which +have been so unjustly attributed to Sir George Prevost's misconduct, have +been distinctly pointed out, and the wisdom and energy of his proceedings, +upon both those expeditions, clearly established. To the Reviewer's +laboured attempts throughout the whole article, to prove that Sir George +Prevost was not the real defender of the Canadas, an answer has been given, +by shewing, that for three campaigns those provinces were preserved, whilst +he held the chief command in them, from the persevering attempts of a +powerful and superior enemy, and that to his unwearied efforts, the +inhabitants repeatedly expressed their firm conviction that they were +mainly indebted for their safety. + +The expression of concern and indignation with which the appearance of this +Review was instantly met amongst all who were in any degree qualified to +form a judgment upon the subject, was highly consolatory to the wounded +feelings of Sir George Prevost's family. They have in particular, the +greatest satisfaction in presenting to the public the two following +letters, addressed to the present Sir George Prevost, by Sir Herbert +Taylor, and by Earl Bathurst. + + "_Horse Guards, Nov. 15th, 1822._ + + "Sir, + + "I am directed by the Commander-in-Chief to acknowledge + the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, + containing a statement,[98] "which the family of the + late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost have felt + themselves called upon to make public, in reply to a + wanton and malignant attack which has been recently + made in an article of the Quarterly Review upon his + military character and reputation." + + "His Royal Highness orders me to assure you, that it + has not been without great concern and indignation that + he has noticed the ungenerous and cowardly attack to + which you advert: ungenerous, because, even if it had + been borne out by facts, it was calculated to wound + most deeply the feelings of respectable and amiable + individuals who had not provoked it; cowardly, as being + directed by an anonymous libeller against the memory of + an officer whose premature death had alone deprived him + of the benefit of an investigation into accusations + which he was prepared to meet, with the confident + expectation that he could successfully refute them. His + Royal Highness' sentiments upon the character, conduct, + and services of the late Sir George Prevost, have, upon + a former occasion, been conveyed to his family. Those + of His Majesty's Government, in approval of his + distinguished services, his gallantry, zeal, and able + conduct, are recorded in a public act of His Majesty's, + dated 4th September, 1816, which you have inserted in + your statement. To that record His Royal Highness + conceives that you may with confidence appeal for a + refutation of the calumnies recently published; and + having adverted to that document, so honorable to the + memory of the late Sir George Prevost, His Royal + Highness considers that he needs only to add, that + nothing has since the date of it come to his knowledge, + which can shake the opinion he then entertained in + perfect unison with the sentiments therein expressed. + + I have the honor to be, + Sir, + Your obedient humble servant, + + (Signed) HT. TAYLOR." + + "_Sir George Prevost, Bart. + Oriel College, Oxford._" + + * * * * * + + "_Cirencester, Nov. 13, 1822._ + + "Sir, + + "I have had the honour of receiving your letter, + inclosing a statement which you inform me that the + family of the late Lieutenant-General Sir George + Prevost consider themselves compelled to make public, + in reply to some attack which has recently been made + upon his memory. + + "In returning the statement, I can only say that I read + with the utmost regret the cruel attack which has been + so unwarrantably made in the Quarterly Review upon your + Father's memory, and can well understand the anxiety + which his family must feel to refute it as soon as + possible. + + I have the honor to be, + Sir, + Your obedient humble servant, + (Signed) BATHURST. + + "_Sir George Prevost, Bart. + Oriel College, Oxford_." + +The family of the late Sir George Prevost, justly proud of the sentiments +thus expressed by such high authorities upon his character and conduct, +consider any further attempt to vindicate his fame as altogether +unnecessary. In sanctioning the present publication, they have been +actuated solely by the pure motive of rescuing the reputation of their +father from unmerited reproach. Called upon by every feeling of filial +affection to expose the injustice of the cruel aspersions which have been +cast upon his memory, they trust that their endeavours will not be +fruitless, and that the impartial readers of these pages will be convinced +that the merits of Sir George Prevost were not confined to the private +virtues which endeared him to his family and friends, but that in public +life, as a Civil Governor and a Military Commander, he deserved the esteem +and approbation of his country. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] Vide the Quarterly Review for October, 1822, p. 405. + +[2] Vide Beatson's "Naval and Military Memoirs," vol. iv, p. 518, Appendix, +No. I. + +[3] Mr. Gibbon to Mr. Holroyd.--"Let me tell you a piece of Lausanne news. +Nanette Grand is married to Lieutenant-Colonel Prevost. Grand wrote to me; +and by the next post I congratulated both father and daughter. There is +exactness for you.--_Beriton, Oct. 31st, 1765._" Vide Gibbon's +Miscellaneous Works, vol. i. p. 439. + +[4] See Appendix, No. II. + +[5] Vide Letter from the Duke of Portland, Appen. No. III. + +[6] Vide Appendix, No. IV. + +[7] Vide Appendix, No. V. + +[8] Vide accounts of the capture of St. Lucie and Tobago, from the Annual +Register, Appendix, No. VI. + +[9] Vide extracts from letters, Appendix, No. VII. + +[10] Vide Appendix, No. VIII. + +[11] Vide account of this expedition from the Annual Register, Appendix, +No. IX. Also the public despatches and letters, No. X. + +[12] Vide letter from H. R. H. the Duke of York to the Earl of Camden, +Appendix, No. XI. + +[13] Vide Appendix, No. XII. + +[14] Vide the resolutions, Appendix, No. XIII. + +[15] Vide the resolutions, and the letter of the chairman general Prevost, +Appendix, No. XIV. + +[16] Vide the resolutions, Appendix, No. XV. + +[17] Vide extract from the Dominica Journal, Appendix No. XVI. + +[18] Vide the public despatches, and letters from Lord Castlereagh, +Appendix, No. XVII. + +[19] Vide the addresses and answer, Appendix, No. XVIII. + +[20] Vide Appendix, No. XIX. + +[21] Vide Appendix, No. XX. + +[22] Vide Review, page 413. + +[23] Vide Quarterly Review, p. 413. + +[24] Review, p. 413. + +[25] Review, p. 413. + +[26] Review, p. 414. + +[27] Ibid. p. 413. + +[28] Ibid. p. 409. + +[29] Review, p. 410. + +[30] Review, p. 411. + +[31] Review, p. 411. + +[32] Review, p. 414. + +[33] Review, p. 411. + +[34] Review, p. 414. + +[35] Review, p. 415. + +[36] Review, p. 413. + +[37] Review, p. 418. + +[38] Review, p. 414. + +[39] Ibid. p. 415. + +[40] Review, p. 415. + +[41] Review, p. 415. + +[42] Ibid. + +[43] Review, pp. 415, 416. + +[44] Review, p. 412. + +[45] Vide the Addresses in the Appendix, No. XXI. + +[46] Review, p. 417. + +[47] Review, p. 411. + +[48] Review, pp. 418, 419, 420. + +[49] Vide the Report in the Appendix, No. XXII. + +[50] Review, p. 419. + +[51] Review, p. 418. + +[52] Review, p. 420. + +[53] There cannot be a stronger contradiction to the Reviewer's assertion, +that the order to retreat was precipitate, than the fact which was known to +every officer engaged in the expedition, that after the last assault, and +before any order was given for the retreat or re-embarkation of the troops, +a flag of truce was sent into the town, with a summons for the surrender of +the place, and that some time necessarily elapsed before a refusal was +received to that demand. It was not until after the return of the officer +with that refusal, and when all hope of the co-operation of the fleet had +been relinquished, the artillery still not having been landed, that the +order was given for the re-embarkation of the troops. + +[54] Review, p. 419. + +[55] Vide Appendix, No. XXIII. + +[56] Review, p. 425. + +[57] Vide Review, p. 426. + +[58] Review, p. 427. + +[59] Review, p. 425. + +[60] Review, p. 427. + +[61] Review, p. 427. + +[62] Review, p. 427. + +[63] "I have had the honor to receive your letters of the 9th and 18th +inst. The first I received at York on my way to the centre division, and I +cannot refrain from expressing my regret at your having allowed the clamour +of the Indian warriors to induce you to commit a part of your force in an +unequal and hopeless combat. + +"You cannot be ignorant of the limited nature of the force at my disposal +for the defence of our extensive frontier, and ought, therefore, not to +count too largely upon my disposition to strengthen the right division." + +[64] Review, p. 428. + +[65] The order here alluded to by Capt. Barclay, is contained in a letter +from the Adjutant-General, Col. Baynes, to General Procter, dated the 18th +Sept. 1813, nine days after the naval action had taken place, and before +the account of it had reached Sir George Prevost. This letter was written +in contemplation of the necessity of General Procter retiring from +Amherstburgh, in consequence of the difficulties of his situation, in which +case it was thought advisable that an action should be risked. + +[66] Vide Appendix, No. XXIV. + +[67] Vide the Proceedings of the Court-martial, Appendix, No. XXV. + +[68] Review, p. 432. + +[69] Review, pp. 433, 434. + +[70] Ibid, pp. 438, 439. + +[71] Vide General Orders, Appendix, No. XXVI. + +[72] Review, p. 440. + +[73] Vide Extracts in the Appendix, No. XXVII. + +[74] Review, p. 441. + +[75] Review, pp. 440, 441. + +[76] Review, p. 441. + +[77] Review, p. 442. + +[78] Ibid. p. 443. + +[79] Review, p. 443. + +[80] Ibid. + +[81] As a confirmation of this statement, the reader is referred to an +extract from a Letter addressed by Major-General Kempt to Sir George +Prevost upon the subject of the intended attack on Sackett's Harbour, of +which General Kempt was to have taken the personal command. Appendix, No. +XXVIII. + +[82] The extract from a letter addressed by Sir James Yeo, to Sir George +Prevost, given in the Appendix, No. XXIX. will shew his opinion of the +manner in which the Lake Champlain Squadron was manned. + +[83] The following is the Reviewer's mode of stating this:--"Had the +Commander-in-Chief suffered these works to be assaulted _as was eagerly +proposed to him_ on the same evening, there is no question but they must +have fallen with scarcely an effort before a single brigade."--p. 445. + +[84] Vide the whole of this Correspondence in the Appendix, No. XXX. + +[85] This statement and those of the General and other officers, +subsequently referred to, all of which are under the hand, and many of them +attested by the oaths of the parties, contain the facts relative to the +expedition against Plattsburg, to which those officers would have been +ready to depose before a Court-Martial. + +[86] Review, p. 446. + +[87] Review, p. 446. + +[88] In the celebrated action between our fleet, commanded by Lord Howe, +and that of the French, on the 1st of June, 1794, whilst they were in sight +of each other, and preparing for action, the order was given for our men to +go to breakfast. See Brenton's Naval History, vol. i. p. 272-307. + +[89] Review, p. 448. + +[90] Notwithstanding the opinion entertained by Sir George Prevost and the +army regarding the probable fall of Plattsburg, it must be recollected that +failure was possible, and that nearly at this very period we had been +disappointed in our attempts both upon Baltimore and New Orleans. The +opinion of the Americans themselves upon this subject, will be found well +expressed in an extract from a Burlington paper (State of Vermont) of that +period, given in the Appendix, No. XXXI. + +[91] Review, p. 447. + +[92] Review, p. 448. + +[93] Vide Appendix, No. XXXII. + +[94] A further confirmation of the favourable sentiments entertained in +Canada, on the subject of Sir George Prevost's conduct and services, during +the war, will be found in the extracts given in the Appendix, No. XXXIII. +from Christie's Memoirs of the Administration of the Government of Lower +Canada, and Bouchette's Topographical Account of that Province. + +[95] Sir G. Prevost's family, at the time of his decease, consisted of his +widow and three children, viz. the present Sir George Prevost and two +daughters. He likewise left two brothers, Major-General Wm. Prevost, late +Lieutenant-Colonel of the 67th regiment, and James Prevost, Esq. +Post-Captain in the Royal Navy. A monument to the memory of her husband was +erected by Lady Prevost in Winchester Cathedral, with the inscription which +will be found in the Appendix, No. XXXIV. + +[96] The motives by which Sir George Prevost was actuated, upon this +occasion, are forcibly expressed in his private despatch to Lord Bathurst, +given in the Appendix, No. XXXV. + +[97] Lady Prevost was the eldest daughter of Major-General Phipps, of the +Royal Engineers. + +[98] A few copies of the statements above referred to, which first appeared +in the Courier of 13th Nov. 1822, were printed and distributed, under the +title of "A brief Reply to the Calumnies of the last Quarterly Review, +against the military character and reputation of the late +Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart." + + + + +POSTSCRIPT. + + +Since the foregoing sheets were sent to press, some observations have +appeared in the British Critic, for May, 1823, upon the Civil +Administration of Sir George Prevost, in Canada, which may perhaps be +thought to require a brief notice. The writer of the remarks in question, +after premising that the military conduct of the late Commander of the +forces in the Canadas has been _sufficiently exposed_ in another Journal, +(the Quarterly Review) proceeds to assert, "that his domestic management of +the Colony was no less censurable. That finding that the Canadian party +gave him most trouble, his object was to obtain a temporary popularity for +his own administration, and a peaceable residence for himself, by every +possible species and degree of weak concession, which he dignified with the +name of conciliation. That the Catholic Bishop being at the head of the +party, was honoured with a seat in the Legislative Council, received a +pension of 1,500_l_. per annum, which he still enjoys, and was either +overtly or tacitly confirmed in all the usurpations of power and of +Government property, (about 40,000_l._ per annum,) upon which he had +ventured, whilst discouragement and _insult_ (a term of which the Critic +informs his readers he does not repent) were heaped upon the Protestant +Bishop and his Clergy, and upon the Loyal Members of both houses, and that +the just remonstrances of his Lordship in defence of the rights of his +Church, and which it was his first duty to protect, were represented at +home as the dictates of party spirit and political feeling." + +Although the generality of most of these remarks might seem to preclude the +necessity of any reply to them, yet, as the writer, in descending to +particular statements, displays a gross want of information, it becomes +necessary to expose his misrepresentations, in order that his censures may +be rightly appreciated. + +The policy of Sir George Prevost towards the Canadians, was, as the +foregoing pages will shew, adopted immediately upon his assuming his +government, and could not therefore be the consequence of any trouble given +him by the Canadian party, from whom, on the contrary, he invariably +received the most cordial support. His object in that policy was to +strengthen the hands of Government, and to avail himself, as he afterwards +did, of the whole resources of the country, in case it should be attacked. +But that any concession whatever was made by Sir George Prevost to effect +that object is altogether untrue. + +The Catholic Bishop, though his character and influence well entitled him +to that distinction, was _not_ honoured with a seat in the Legislative +Council during the government of Sir George Prevost, nor did he receive +during that period a pension of 1,500_l._ per annum. In 1775, the British +Government granted to the then Catholic Bishop a pension of 200_l._ per +annum. In the year 1778, a further sum of 150_l._ per annum, was given to +the same Bishop for the hire of the Episcopal Palace at Quebec, for public +offices. These two sums were continued to the subsequent Bishops, and +constituted the only income received by them from Government, until the +arrival of Sir George Prevost in Canada. During his administration, His +Majesty's Government was pleased to _increase_ that salary to the sum of +1,000_l._ per annum, in favour of M. de Plessis, the present Catholic +Bishop, "as a testimony," to use the words of Lord Bathurst, in his +despatch upon the subject, "of the sense which His Royal Highness the +Prince Regent entertained of the loyalty, and good conduct of M. de +Plessis, and of the other Catholic clergy of the Province." + +The charge that Sir George Prevost either tacitly or overtly confirmed the +Catholic bishop in all the usurpations of power and of government +property, upon which he had ventured, is so obscurely worded, that it is +difficult to give it a distinct answer. The privileges and possessions of +the Catholic clergy were assured to them at the period when Canada became a +British province, and the present Catholic bishop is not in possession of +any property, nor does he exercise any power which his predecessors have +not enjoyed since that period with the knowledge and concurrence of all +former governors of the Province, and of His Majesty's Government. The +"accustomed dues and rights" of the Catholic clergy of Canada, are formally +secured to them by the act of 14 Geo. 3. c. 83, Sec.. 5. + +To the assertion, positive in proportion to its want of proof, that the +Protestant Bishop and his clergy, and the loyal members of both Houses, +were treated with insult, it will be merely necessary to answer, that Sir +George Prevost was incapable of treating any person, much less those of a +sacred character and profession, with indignity or insult--and a confident +appeal is made to the Protestant clergy of Canada, and to the loyal members +of both Houses, against an insinuation as base as it is groundless. + +To the critic's charge of general mismanagement in the affairs of the +Colony, a reply, if any were wanting, will, it is trusted, be found, in the +foregoing pages; in the approbation of His Majesty's Government of the very +policy which this writer so acrimoniously condemns, and in the highly +flattering testimonials to the merits of Sir George Prevost's civil +administration, which he received not only from the Canadians, but from the +most respectable of the English inhabitants. + +It is evident that the writer of the article in the British Critic has +blindly adopted the prejudices and feelings of the Quarterly Reviewer +towards Sir George Prevost, and as he appears to dwell with particular +complacency upon the exposure which he imagines to have been made of that +officer's military character, he is justly entitled to share in the +disgrace which must attend his coadjutor's failure, and in the odium which +will always attach to the anonymous traducer of departed merit. + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +No. I. + +_Extract from Beatson's Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain, vol._ +iv. _p._ 518-529. + +Upon the first alarm of the enemy being on the coast, General Prevost +exerted himself to the utmost, to increase and strengthen the +fortifications of the town of Savannah; and was most ably seconded in his +operations, by Captain James Moncrieffe of the engineers, and Captain Henry +of the navy. Orders were sent to the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Maitland, who +was posted with a considerable detachment of troops at Beaufort, and to +Captain Christian, of his Majesty's ship Vigilant, to repair as soon as +possible to Savannah, with the troops, ships, and galleys, then at Port +Royal island. Unfortunately, the express with these orders was intercepted +by some of the rebel patrols; and, previous to the arrival of a second +messenger, the enemy had time to seize on the principal communications +between the two places. This rendered the junction of that detachment with +the garrison, upon which alone any hope of defending Savannah could be +reasonably founded, a matter extremely precarious, difficult, and +dangerous. Happily, however, the abilities of Colonel Maitland, and the +zeal of the troops under his command, powerfully aided by the professional +skill of Lieutenant Goldesborough, of the navy, who was thoroughly +acquainted with the various creeks, inlets, and cuts, with which the +interior navigation of this country abounds, overcame every obstacle in +their way. The battery at Tybee was destroyed; the leading marks for the +bar were cut down; and the little naval force there was held in readiness +to run up the river Savannah, as soon as the French fleet were seen making +for the mouth of it. + +On the 9th, the whole of the French fleet anchored off the bar: and on the +10th, four frigates weighed and came to Tybee anchorage. M. d'Estaing had +got from Charlestown, a large supply of small craft, into which he put his +troops; and they proceeded into Ossabaw inlet, and made good the +debarkation of their forces at Bowley, 13 miles from Savannah, under cover +of four galleys. The French frigates prepared, at the same time, to advance +up the river. + +Captain Henry and the naval department were employed, from the 10th to the +13th, in conveying to Savannah part of the guns and ammunition of the Rose +and Fowey, in vessels which General Prevost had sent down for that purpose. +On the 13th, both frigates being much lightened, sailed over the Mud-flat +to Five Fathom Hole, from which the remainder of their guns and ammunition +were conveyed up to the town, which is only three miles distant. The Comet +galley, Keppel brig, and some armed vessels, were so placed as to cover the +passage of Colonel Maitland, with the forces under his command, from Port +Royal, through Wallscut. On the 14th and 15th, the seamen completed the +important business of landing the cannon and ammunition from the ships and +small vessels: and they were appointed to the different batteries, under +the command of Captains Henry, Brown, and Fisher, of the navy. Some masters +of transports, and the master of a privateer, with their men,[99] made +voluntary offers of their service; as did Mr. Manley; merchant of Jamaica. +Their offers were accepted; and they had their posts assigned them. The +marines were incorporated with the grenadiers of the 60th regiment. + +On the 16th, the Compte d'Estaing sent a haughty letter to General Prevost, +summoning him to surrender the place to his Most Christian Majesty: +informing him, at the same time, that among the troops which he had the +honour to command, was the detachment which had stormed the Hospital Hill +at the Grenades. He begged leave to recal this to his memory; and assured +him, that he gave him this notice from motives of humanity, in order to +spare the shedding of human blood. General Prevost, on receiving this +message, called a meeting of the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, and +Field-Officers in the garrison, who authorised him to say, that he declined +surrendering on a general summons, without specific terms; but that, if +such were proposed as he could with honour accept, he would then give his +answer. This drew a reply from M. d'Estaing, in which he affirmed, that it +was customary, not for besiegers, but for those who were besieged, to +propose terms of capitulation; stated, that he had no objections to allow +the General every indulgence consistent with his duty; and informed him +that, as it was his intention next day to form a junction with the army of +the United States of America, if his answer was not immediately ready, he +must in future treat with General Lincoln and him. General Prevost, in +return, demanded a cessation of hostilities for 24 hours; as a time +absolutely necessary for deliberation, and for the discussion of various +interests. Towards the evening of the 16th, the Compte d'Estaing returned +an answer, in which he consented to this demand. The two armies joined on +the 17th, and formed separate but contiguous encampments. + +It was during this parley, that the detachment under Lieutenant-Colonel +Maitland, consisting of upwards of 1,000 men, arrived from Beaufort. The +enemy well knew, how important it would be to their interests to prevent +this junction; and for that purpose, had attempted an enterprise, which +proved unsuccessful, by their pilots refusing to undertake to place the +French frigates in the necessary stations, for enabling them to cut off +Colonel Maitland's communication with Savannah. Of this circumstance the +Colonel availed himself: and after undergoing immense fatigues, joined +General Prevost in the evening of the 16th, with 500 men; and the remainder +of his detachment arrived about noon the next day. As he found the enemy in +possession of the ship-channel, the Colonel had been obliged to come round +Dawfaskie, and land on the marshes; and after dragging his boats (empty) +through a cut, got into the Savannah river above the French frigates, and +from that came down to the town. A Council of War was held, in which it was +determined to defend the place to the last extremity: and notice of this +resolution was sent to the besieging Generals. To this M. d'Estaing +returned an answer. Hostilities immediately recommenced: and the British +tars could not refrain from giving three huzzas from their batteries. Both +sides now exerted themselves with the utmost assiduity. When the town was +first summoned, there were not above eight or ten guns mounted; but so +indefatigable were the exertions of Captain Moncrieffe, the senior engineer +in the place, in putting it in a proper state of defence, that, by adding +the guns landed from the ships to those which were in store, he had, in the +course of a few days, nearly 90 pieces of cannon ready to oppose to the +enemy, as soon as their batteries should open. He had likewise erected many +redoubts, batteries, and other works, to retard their progress. In all +these operations, the soldiers and sailors, with the utmost cheerfulness, +worked day and night in the face of hostile troops flushed with conquest: +the enemy were greatly astonished at the activity of the garrison. + +From the accounts given to M. d'Estaing, of the situation of things at +Savannah, he considered his success against it as certain. He had made +repeated declarations to the Americans, that, as the season of the year was +so far advanced, he could not remain more than ten or fifteen days on +shore, lest his fleet should be injured on such a dangerous coast. The +reinforcement which the garrison had received, reduced the besiegers to +the alternative of either storming or besieging the town of Savannah. The +latter plan was adopted, and they took their measures accordingly. + +As it was apprehended, that the enemy's ships might come too near the town, +and annoy the rear of the British lines, Captain Moncrieffe had some +fire-rafts prepared, and in readiness to act against them, if they should +make the attempt. It was also judged expedient, in order effectually to +prevent it, to sink a number of vessels to stop up the passage. As his +Majesty's ship the Rose was in so very bad a condition, that, by the report +of shipwrights lately employed to survey her, she could not swim above two +months; as her guns, ammunition, and stores, had been landed; and as her +weight would keep her across the channel, when lighter vessels might shift, +owing to the rapidity of the current, and to the hardness of its sandy +bottom, in which they could have little hold, Captain Henry selected her as +a vessel proper to be sunk. The Savannah armed ship, and four transports, +were also scuttled and sunk, and by these the channel was blocked up. Above +the town several smaller vessels were sunk, and a boom was laid across the +river, to prevent the enemy from sending down fire-rafts among the +shipping, or landing troops in the British rear. Previous to the vessels +being sunk, the Fowey, Keppel brig, Comet galley, and Germain provincial +armed ship, were got up to the town: and the latter having guns, was placed +off Yamairaw, to flank the lines. While the enemy's batteries were getting +ready to play against the town, three French frigates advanced up the river +to Mud-flat. One of them, having twelve-pounders, and two rebel galleys, +carrying each two eighteen-pounders in their prows, anchored in Five Fathom +Hole; from which one of the frigates sailed into the back river, with a +design to cannonade the rear of the British lines. She fired a great number +of shot; which, being at their utmost range, did no execution. The galleys +advancing nearer, did some damage to the houses; but a few shot now and +then from the river battery, made them keep a respectable distance. + +Two sallies, one of them on the 24th; commanded by Major Graham, of the +16th regiment; and another on the 27th, commanded by Major M'Arthur, of the +71st regiment; were admirably well conducted, did the enemy considerable +mischief, and killed and wounded a great many of their best troops, while +the loss on our side was very inconsiderable; In the first sally, Major +Graham artfully drew the enemy into a snare, by which the French and the +rebels fired on each other, and had near 50 men killed before the mistake +was discovered. + +The batteries played on every place where the enemy were perceived to be at +work; and more than once obliged them to discontinue their labour. It was +the 3rd of October, before they opened any of their batteries: and then, +about midnight they began to bombard from nine mortars of eight and ten +inches, and continued the bombardment about two hours. At day-light, their +fire commenced again from the nine mortars, and also from 37 pieces of +cannon from the land side, and 16 from their shipping: and in this they +persisted with little variation during several days. The execution done by +this heavy fire, was much less than could have been imagined. It consisted +in killing a few helpless women and children, and some few negroes and +horses in the town, and on the common. On the 6th, the enemy threw some +carcasses into the town, which burnt one wooden house: and about 11 +o'clock, the General sent a letter, by a flag of truce, to M. d'Estaing, +requesting permission to send the women and children out of the place, on +board of ships and down the river, under the protection of a French ship of +war, until the siege should be ended. After three hours, and a deal of +intermediate cannon shot and shells, an insulting answer was returned by +Messrs. Lincoln and d'Estaing, in which they refused to comply with this +reasonable and humane demand. + +The garrison, undismayed by this brutal conduct on the part of their +opponents, kept up a smart fire against them; and during the night were +extremely busy in adding to their works, and in repairing such of them as +had sustained damage. Thus things went on until the morning of the 9th; +when, a little before day-break, after a heavy, and as usual, incessant +cannonade and bombardment, the enemy attacked General Prevost's lines. + +The attack being upon the left of his centre, in front of the French; and +very soon after, upon his left and right. It was yet dark, and the darkness +was increased by a very thick fog, which made it impossible to determine +with precision, where the real attack was to be made, or how many assaults +were intended. No reinforcements therefore were sent; but every thing was +kept in readiness for that purpose, and the troops waited with the greatest +coolness in their different posts, for the approach of the enemy. Those in +the lines were prepared to charge them, wherever they should attempt to +penetrate: and the General had the greatest hopes, that the fire of the +field artillery, which was placed to support the advanced redoubts, would +enable him, while the enemy were entangled among these, to throw them into +some confusion; and, perhaps, with a good prospect of success, to order his +corps de reserve to sally forth and charge them. The ground toward both his +flanks, owing to its natural defects, which the utmost efforts of Captain +Moncrieffe had been unable effectually to remove, was but too favourable +for an enemy. On the right was a swampy hollow, by which they could +approach under cover to within fifty yards of his principal works, and in +some places still nearer; and there, he supposed, that the rebels would +make their assault. On the left, the approach was neither so well covered, +nor of so great an extent as that on the right; but as it was sufficiently +large to admit troops to act, as the ground was firm and clear, and as it +was near their encampment, he expected that the French regulars would make +their attack there: but in this he was mistaken. A real attack did take +place there: but the principal attack, composed of the flower of the French +and rebel armies, and led by the Compte d'Estaing in person, assisted by +all the principal officers of both, was made upon his right. Under cover of +the hollow, they advanced in three columns; but, owing to the darkness, +took a wider circuit than they needed or intended to have done, and went +deeper into the bog. These circumstances prevented them from beginning the +attack so soon as they had concerted; and besides occasioning a loss of +critical time, produced considerable disorder in their ranks. The attack, +however, was very spirited, and for some time obstinately maintained; +particularly at a redoubt on the Ebenezer road, which was a scene of hot +action, great loss, and consummate bravery. Two stand of colours were +actually planted, and several of the assailants killed upon the parapet; +but they met so determined a resistance, that they could not, with all +their efforts, force an entrance. It was now, that the skill and design of +the defences raised by Captain Moncrieffe, were fully displayed; for, while +the conflict was still dubious and bloody, the field-pieces, from three +batteries which were manned by the sailors, took them in every direction, +and made such havock in their ranks, that they were thrown into confusion, +and compelled to make a pause. At this critical moment, Major Glacier, of +the 60th regiment, with the grenadiers of that corps and the marines, +advanced rapidly from the lines; in the most impetuous manner, charged the +enemy with their fixed bayonets; and plunging among them, into the ditches +and works, drove them, in an instant, from the ditches of the redoubt, and +from a battery a little to the right of it. Following up the blow, they +forced them to fly, in great confusion, over the abatis, and into the +swamp. On this occasion, Captain Wickham, of the 2d battalion of the 60th +grenadiers, greatly distinguished himself. When the grenadiers advanced, +three companies of the second battalion of the 71st regiment were ordered +to sustain them: and although they were posted at no considerable +distance, and marched forward with the usual ardour of that corps, such was +the rapidity with which the grenadiers had made their attack, and so +precipitate was the enemy's retreat, that they could not come in for a +share of the victory. One of the enemy's columns a little more to their +left, in every attempt which it made to come out of the hollow, was +repulsed by the brisk and well directed fire of a redoubt, where the +militia were posted, aided by Hamilton's small corps of North Carolinians, +who were on the right, and moved there with a field-piece to bear obliquely +against it, while one of the seamen's batteries took it directly in flank. +It was now day-light: but the fog was not sufficiently cleared off, to +enable General Prevost to judge with any degree of certainty of the +strength, disposition, or further intentions of the enemy on the right. On +the left, and in the centre, the fog, with the addition of the smoke, was +still impenetrably close: and a smart firing being still kept up there, the +General thought it would be improper to draw from it a number of troops +sufficient to make a respectable sortie. By these means, an opportunity was +lost of taking complete advantage of the confusion of the enemy, by +charging them in their retreat; but they did not get off without being +severely cannonaded by the batteries and field-pieces, as long as they were +in sight, or judged to be within reach. They were every where repulsed: and +those on the left were only heard, being concealed from view by the +thickness of the fog. + +Lieutenant-Colonel de Porbeck, of Weissenbeck's Hessian regiment, was +field-officer of the right wing: and being in the redoubt when the attack +began, had an opportunity, which he well improved, of signalizing himself +in a most gallant manner. It would not be doing justice to the different +corps who defended the redoubt, if we neglected to mention them. They were +part of the South Carolina Royalists; and the light dragoons dismounted, +and commanded (by special order) by Captain Tawae, a good and gallant +officer, who nobly fell with his sword in the body of the third man he had +killed with his own hand. The loss on the part of the British in this +battle, consisted of one captain, and fifteen rank and file killed; one +captain, three subalterns, and thirty-five rank and file wounded. The loss +sustained by the enemy, as acknowledged by the French, was about a thousand +or twelve hundred men killed and wounded; of these, they lost forty-four +officers and seven hundred men: and the deserters, of whom there were a +great many, all declared, that the loss on the part of the rebels was not +less than four hundred men. Among the wounded was M. d'Estaing, (in two +places) M. de Fontange, Major-General; and several others of distinction. +Count Polaski, (who has been mentioned in the course of these Memoirs), a +Colonel of cavalry in the rebel service, in making a desperate push at the +British lines, was mortally wounded. + +About ten o'clock, the enemy requested a truce, and leave to bury their +dead, and carry off their wounded men. This was granted for those who lay +at a distance from the lines, or out of sight of them: but those within or +near the abatis were interred by the British. Their numbers were on the +right, two hundred and three; on the left, twenty-eight. One hundred and +sixteen prisoners, most of them mortally wounded, were delivered to the +enemy. To this loss, considerable of itself, must be added, the numbers +buried by them, the numbers who perished in the swamp, and many who were +carried off by them when they retreated. + +From this time to the 18th, nothing very material happened. Several flags +of truce were sent during that period by the enemy, and a great deal of +civility passed mutually between the French and British. Many apologies +were made for their refusal to allow the women and children to be sent out +of town: and the blame of this base conduct was laid, by a French Colonel, +Compte O'Duin, entirely on the scoundrel Lincoln, and the Americans.[100] +The offer was then made with great earnestness, that the ladies and +children should be received by the Chevalier du Romain, on board of the +Chimere; but the answer given to it was blunt and soldierly, that what had +once been refused, and that in terms of insult, was not in any +circumstances deemed worth acceptance. All the French officers seemed quite +ashamed of this affair. As it was with them only, that the British had any +intercourse after the repulse on the 9th, the sentiments of the Americans +could not be so well known. But, as the letter was signed by d'Estaing, as +well as by Lincoln, their imputing this harsh, cruel, and unprecedented +refusal, entirely to the brutality of the American General, may serve to +shew their consciousness, that it was altogether indefensible; but is by no +means sufficient to exculpate the French Commander, from his share of the +blame and disgrace, inseparable from it. An author,[101] who is extremely +partial to the American cause, endeavours to defend this measure from +motives of policy: "The combined army (says he) was so confident of +success, that it was suspected, that the request of sending away the women +and children, proceeded from a desire of secreting the plunder lately taken +from the South Carolinians, and artfully covered under the specious veil of +humanity. That the Commanders were suspicious, considering the stratagem +Prevost had practised after being summoned, is not strange. It was also +presumed, that a refusal would expedite a surrender." There does not seem +to have been much cordiality between the French and Americans in this +enterprise. M. d'Estaing would have been well pleased to have done the +business without them, by summoning the place to surrender to his Most +Christian Majesty. This, the latter took much amiss, as they considered +themselves as principals, and the French only as auxiliaries: and for this +piece of presumption, some concessions were made. When the time assigned by +M. d'Estaing for this expedition had elapsed, and still more was required +by the engineers, if it was expected that the garrison should be compelled +to surrender by regular approaches, he became extremely impatient to bring +matters to a quick decision, and urged giving the assault to the place. +This measure, says Mr. Gordon, was forced on M. d'Estaing by his naval +officers, who had remonstrated against his continuing to risk so valuable a +fleet in its present unrepaired condition, on such a dangerous coast in the +hurricane season; and at so great a distance from the shore, that it might +be surprised. These remonstrances were enforced, by the probability of +their being attacked by the British fleet completely repaired, with their +full complement of men, soldiers, and artillery on board, when the ships of +his Most Christian Majesty were weakened, by the absence of a considerable +part of their crews, artillery, and officers, employed at the siege of +Savannah. These reasons had great weight with M. d'Estaing: and he +prevailed on General Lincoln to storm the place without farther loss of +time. The Americans seemed to think, that by a little more patience and +perseverance, the town must have submitted; as in a few days, the lines of +the besiegers would have been carried quite close to the works of the +besieged. Their allies, however, judged themselves to be in so critical a +situation, that they acquiesced in M. d'Estaing's proposal; for, if the +French had retired to their ships, the siege must have been raised, so that +there remained only one alternative for them to adopt. The repulse which +they had received, was not followed by mutual accusations of want of +courage or conduct in either party; but the French, in all their +conversations, spoke of the Americans with the greatest contempt. + +It was not perceived until the 18th, that the enemy had raised the siege; +but, the fog clearing up in the morning of that day, it was found that they +had moved off. For some days previous to this, they had been busy in +drawing off their cannon and mortars, and in embarking their sick and +wounded, of whom they had a great number. General Prevost immediately +detached parties in pursuit of them; but they had got to such distance +before it was discovered they had retreated, that they could not overtake +them: the enemy in their march having broken down all the bridges. The +French embarked in Augustine creek, and the rebels crossed the river +Savannah, at Zubley's ferry, and got into South Carolina. The enemy's fleet +quitted the coast on the 26th October, and their frigates and galleys on +the 2d of November, as soon as an exchange of prisoners had taken place. +The balance of prisoners was in the enemy's favour: for while they were off +this coast, on the 11th of September, his Majesty's ship, Ariel, of 24 +guns, was taken by the French frigate, the Amazon, of 36 guns; and besides +taking the Experiment, they took also the Myrtle, navy victualler; and +Champion, storeship. The last of these was a prize of considerable +importance to them, for their fleet was very badly manned, their crews +sickly, their ships in bad condition, short of anchors and cables, and no +running rigging to reeve, but this ship afforded them a supply. She had +been sent from New York, with naval stores for the ships and vessels, under +the command of Captain Henry. + + +No. II. + +_Address from the Council and House of Representatives of St. Vincents to +Lieut.-Col. Prevost, p. 7._ + +"SIR, + +The Committee of His Majesty's Council, and of the Representatives of the +Inhabitants of St. Vincents, deeply impressed with the many and eminent +services you have rendered this colony, beg leave to offer their most +grateful thanks to you, not only on their own account, but on that of the +community at large. It might be irksome to you to minutely particularize +these services: the Committee, however, cannot forbear mentioning your +voluntary and unsolicited return to the defence of the Colony, and to +participate in a most laborious and perilous war, against an inglorious +enemy. Such zeal, Sir, strongly characterizes the soldier. The happy +consequences to the public cause, although unfortunate to yourself, of your +late gallant attack on the enemy's advanced post, demand the warmest +acknowledgments, and the universal wish that you may speedily recover from +your wounds, and that our gracious Sovereign may discern, and properly +reward such distinguished merit. + +"_10th March, 1796._" + + +No. III. + +_Letter from the Duke of Portland to Brigadier-General Prevost, p. 7._ + + "_Whitehall, 29th April, 1801._ + +"SIR, + +"The satisfactory manner in which you have conducted the Administration of +Public Affairs in St. Lucie, and the representations made to the King in +your behalf by the Members of the Court of Appeal, have induced His Majesty +to appoint you Lieutenant-Governor of that Island. I transmit to you +inclosed His Majesty's Commission; and I have only to add, that I am +persuaded that your conduct in the administration of your Government will +continue to justify the very flattering and favorable intentions of the +Court of Appeal, to contribute to the support of the respectability of your +civil station. + + "I am, Sir, + + "Your most obedient humble servant, + + (Signed) "PORTLAND." + + +No. IV. + +_Address to Brigadier-General Prevost from the Inhabitants of St. Lucie, p. +7._ + + Les Habitans de l'Isle de St. Lucie, a Son Excellence + Monsieur le Brigadier-General George Prevost, + Lieut.-Gouverneur de cette Isle, &c. + +Monsieur le Gouverneur, + +Lorsque le paix, objet de tous ties voeux, fait rentrer l'Isle de Sainte +Lucie sous la domination Francaise, c'est un hommage bien legitime que de +vous rendre au nom de tous les Colons un temoignage public de l'amour, du +respect, et de la reconnoissance que votre gouvernement doux et paternel, +et votre sage administration, ont fait naitre dans tous les coeurs. Les +avantages sans nombre dont vous avez fait jouir la Colonie, depuis que vous +en avez pris le Commandement, l'attachent hautement. En effet, M. le +Gouverneur, l'amour constant que vous avez manifeste pour le bien public; +les soins infinies que tous avez pris pour rendre et faire rendre la +justice dans un tems ou toutes les loix etaient en oubli; le zele +infatigable avec lequel vous tous etes occupe des discussions des interets +des Colons; votre gouvernement paternel, qui, en vous conciliant tous les +esprits, a detruit les divisions qui pouvaient exciter, a fait regner +l'union et la concorde parmi les habitans, et a fait renaitre la confiance, +et la prosperite. Enfin, votre gouvernement tutelair, qui a fait cherir +l'authorite de sa Majeste dans la votre, sont autant de bienfaits dont vous +avez fait jouir les habitans de la Colonie, et dont ils conserveront +eternellement le souvenir. + +Mais il en etait un plus grand que le zele et l'amour du bien public, qui +vous animaient, reservoit a la Colonie; c'est votre sollicitude paternelle +qui a emploie et obtenue, pour nous, de sa Majeste, qu'elle nous rendit nos +loix, non tribunaux, nos magistrats, c'est-a-dire, le temoignage le plus +convaincant qu'elle preferait au droit de nous traiter comme un peuple +conquis, la douceur de nous adopter pour ses enfans, et de nous rendre les +objets de sa tendresse. Nous en sommes tellement convaincus, M. le +Gouverneur, que nos infortunes ont ete adoucis, et que nous en avons +ressentis les plus grands effets. Le bonheur, la tranquillite et la +prosperite dont les habitans de la Colonie out jouis jusqu'a present, ils +les tiennent de la bonte du Roi, et de votre administration paternelle, M. +le Gouverneur; et si notre reconnoissance ne trouve pas d'expressions assez +forte pour vous peindre aussi vivement que nous le sentons, notre +admiration pour vos talens, notre veneration pour vos vertus, et notre +amour profonde pour votre personne,--daignez permettre que la Colonie vous +presente, comme un foible temoignage, une epee, sur la lame de laquelle +seront grave ces mots:--_La Colonie de St. Lucie reconnoissante._ + +Jouissez, M. le Gouverneur, du bien que vous avez fait a la Colonie; et les +voeux des Colons pour votre gloire et votre bonheur vous suivront a votre +patrie. + + +No. V. + +_Letters from Sir Thomas Trigge, Commander of the Forces in the West +Indies, p. 7._ + +"Sir, + +"I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th +inst., and feel very great regret, that your state of health is such as to +render your returning to England necessary, by that means depriving His +Majesty and myself of your services in this country. You may rely I shall +not fail to express my sentiments on this subject when I write home, as in +rendering this tribute of justice to your character, I shall discharge the +most pleasing and gratifying part of my duty. I beg you will be pleased to +signify to the council, that in consequence of your absence, I have +appointed Brigadier-General G. H. Vansittart, to succeed to the civil and +military command of the Island of St. Lucie, per interim, in order that he +may be recognised accordingly, and take upon him the functions and +authorities of that situation. + +"I have now, Sir, to take my leave, and to offer my best wishes for your +welfare and happiness; entertaining the firmest hope and assurance, that +you will meet on your arrival in England those marks of approbation, which +in every instance you have so highly and eminently merited. + +"With sentiments of the purest esteem and regard, I have the honor to be, +Sir, + + "Your most obedient and faithful humble servant, + + (Signed) + + THOS. TRIGGE, + Lieut.-General." + +_Sir Thomas Trigge to Colonel Brownrigg._ + + * * * * * + +"Sir, + +"The return of Brigadier-General Prevost to England, calls on me to express +to His Royal Highness, the Commander-in-Chief, the opinion with which his +conduct has impressed me, both in his civil and military capacities during +his command in the island of St. Lucie, as, did I fail to point out those +officers who are deserving of His Royal Highness's countenance and support, +I should be as wanting in justice to the individual, as deficient in point +of duty to the Commander-in-Chief. + +"I cannot but view with infinite regret Brigadier-General Prevost's +departure from this country, as he has invariably conducted his command in +the most satisfactory manner. The zeal and unremitting exertion which he +has on every occasion shewn, and the exact attention which he has paid to +the several duties of his situation, point him out as a distinguished and +excellent officer, and whom it is my duty to recommend in the strongest +terms to His Majesty, and to the Commander-in-Chief. + + "I have the honor to be, Sir, &c. &c. + + (Signed) + + "THOS. TRIGGE, + Lieut.-General." + + +No. VI. + +_Account of the Capture of St. Lucie and Tobago, from the Annual Register +for 1803, p. 8._ + +"On the 22nd June, the island of St. Lucie was taken by General Grinfield +and Commodore Head. The French Commander, General Nagues, refused to +capitulate, and the expectation of approaching rains rendered it necessary +to get possession of the Morne Fortunee with as little delay as possible. +It was therefore determined to attack it by storm; the defence was gallant; +yet, by the determined bravery of the British soldiers and seamen, the +works were carried in about half an hour, not without some loss, chiefly, +among the officers. This conquest was of considerable importance as a naval +station. The island as a colony is valuable, but the climate is unhealthy. + +"The British commanders lost no time in pursuing their victorious career; +and on the 25th, they sailed for Tobago, which they reached on the 30th. It +was defended by General Berthier, an officer of note in the French service; +but being apprised of the number of the British, and of the gallantry they +had displayed at St. Lucie, he did not think it prudent to risk an +engagement. A capitulation was agreed to on the same day, upon the most +liberal terms, the garrison marching out with the honours of war, and to be +sent back to their native country."--_Annual Register_ for 1803, p. 283. + + +No. VII. + +_Extract of a Letter from Major-Gen. Grinfield relative to the expedition +against St. Lucie and Tobago, p. 8._ + +"It is with real satisfaction I send you the enclosed extract from Colonel +Clinton's letter to me." + + * * * * * + +_Extract of a Letter from Colonel Clinton to Lieutenant-General Grinfield, +dated_ + + "_Horse Guards, 3rd Sept. 1803._ + +"This despatch, addressed to the Commander-in-Chief, bears testimony, in +the handsomest terms, to the meritorious services of Brigadier-General +Prevost; and to the zealous promptitude with which he left his government +of Dominica, to fulfil your wishes. In reply, I am directed to acquaint +you, that His Royal Highness is perfectly sensible of the zeal, which +induced Brigadier-General Prevost to volunteer his service on the late +occasion, under your command; a circumstance which redounds much to his +credit; and which, on a proper opportunity, His Royal Highness will not +fail to mention to His Majesty." + + * * * * * + +_Extract of a Letter from Lord Hobart to Brigadier-General Prevost._ + +"I cannot omit to congratulate you upon the complete success of the +expeditions against St. Lucie and Tobago, in which you were so actively and +honourably engaged; and I have the satisfaction of acquainting you, that +His Majesty has been graciously pleased to notice, with particular +approbation, your conduct upon those services." + + +No. VIII. + +_Letter to Brigadier-General Prevost from General Nagues, p. 9._ + +"Depuis la prise du Morne Fortune, je ne cease d'eprouver de la part du +General en Chef des egards que j'aie du attribuer a un caractere de loyaute +qui se remarque des que l'on se trouve en rapport avec le General +Grinfield. + +"Mais je n'ignore pas, General, qu'anime des memes principes, je dois a vos +dispositions particulieres une partie des precedes genereux dont je me suis +vu comble. Avant de vous temoigner toute ma reconnoissance, laissez moi, je +vous prie, m'arreter sur un fait qui vous est personnel, je veux parler de +l'humaine prevoyance que vous avez eue de placer, a votre arrivee au Morne, +une Sauve Garde a l'hopital militaire pour la surete de nos malades. Citer +un pareil trait c'est assez dire pour le Guerrier qu'il honore et +distingue. Je viens maintenant, General, aux sentimens que vous m'avez +inspire, et je vous prie de croire que je n'y mets point de reserve. +Veuillez donc bien m'agreer l'hommage, et recevoir mes tres humbles +salutations. + + (Signed) "NAGUES."[102] + + "_Caseuge, + le 6 Messidor, an 11._" + + +No. IX. + +_Account of the Attack upon Dominica by a French Squadron, p. 9._ + +"It may easily be supposed that much alarm prevailed at home, when it was +known that two such formidable fleets[103] of the enemy were actually at +sea, and which were aggravated by reports of strong detachments of the +Brest fleet having also escaped, with a view to some grand combined +exertion of the enemy. Where the blow was to fall, occupied the public +mind. Malta, Brazil, the British West Indies--a general junction of the +whole of the combined force of the enemy, in order to cover a descent upon +Ireland. In short, every possible point of annoyance or attack was warmly +agitated in the public mind. At length intelligence was received on the 6th +May, from the British Commander-in-Chief of the forces in the windward and +leeward islands, that Dominica had been attacked on the 22nd February +preceding, by a French armament of one three-decker, and four other line of +battle ships, three frigates, two brigs of war, and a schooner, with about +4,000 landmen on board. Brigadier-General Prevost, the Governor of the +island, immediately made the best dispositions for its defence, and +opposed, with the small force under his command, the landing of the French +inch by inch. At length the whole of the enemy's force, consisting of 4,000 +men, under the cover of the tremendous fire of the Majestueux, of 120 guns, +four 74's, and the frigates, having landed, and having made such a +disposition as threatened to cut off the retreat of the Governor, and his +few remaining troops from the town and fort of Prince Ruperts, and thereby +reduce the whole island; General Prevost, with the utmost promptitude and +presence of mind, directed the regular force, under Captain O'Connell, to +make a forced march across the island, and join him at Prince Ruperts; to +which place he himself repaired attended only by his staff, and arrived in +24 hours: the troops also arriving there with their wounded, after four +days continued march, through the most difficult country existing. The +Governor immediately took the necessary precautions to place the fort in +the best state, and his appearance was so formidable, that the French +Commander-in-Chief, after having in vain summoned him to surrender, thought +proper, after levying a contribution upon the inhabitants of Roseau, which +town had been set on fire, in the moment of attack, and had suffered +severely by the conflagration, on the 27th, to reimbark his whole force; +and after hovering a day or two in the bay, and about the port of Prince +Ruperts, made easy sail towards Guadaloupe. Throughout the whole of this +transaction, the highest praise is due to the Governor, and the British +troops under his command. At one period 200 of the latter were opposed to +more than 2,000 of the enemy, and under the command of the gallant Major +Nunn, who unfortunately received a mortal wound in the action, and +subsequently under Captain O'Connell, succeeded in withstanding them for +more than two hours, and then effected their retreat, after having made +much slaughter of the invaders. Nor should the militia of the island be +without their due share of praise, for their exemplary bravery and +steadiness. Upon the whole it may be stated, with perfect propriety, in the +words of General Myers, that in this affair, had not the town of Roseau +been accidentally destroyed by fire, we should have little to regret, and +much in which to exult."--_Annual Register_ for 1805, p. 220. + + +No. X. + +_Public Despatches and Letters relative to the Attack of the French upon +Dominica, in 1805, p. 9._ + + +_From Lieut.-Gen. Sir William Myers to Earl Camden._ + + "_Barbadoes, March 9th._ + +"MY LORD, + +"I have the honour to enclose to your Lordship, a copy of a despatch from +Brigadier-General Prevost, dated Dominica, 1st March. The details contained +therein, are so highly reputable to the Brigadier-General, and the small +portion of troops employed against so numerous an enemy, that I have great +satisfaction in recommending that their gallant exertions may be laid +before his Majesty: the zeal and talents manifested by the +Brigadier-General, upon this occasion, it is my duty to present to his +royal consideration, and, at the same time, I beg to be permitted to +express the high sense I entertain of the distinguished bravery of His +Majesty's troops, and the militia of the colony, employed upon that +service. The vigorous resistance which the enemy have experienced, and the +loss which they have sustained in this attack, must evince to them, that +however inferior our numbers were on this occasion, British troops are not +to be hostilely approached with impunity; and had not the town of Roseau +been accidentally destroyed by fire, we should have little to regret, and +much to exult in. Your Lordship will perceive by the returns, that our loss +in men, compared to that of the enemy, is but trifling; but I have +sincerely to lament that of Major Nunn, of the 1st West India regiment, +whose wound is reported to be of a dangerous kind; he is an excellent man, +and a meritorious officer. + + "I am, &c. + + (Signed) "W. MYERS." + + * * * * * + + _"Head-quarters, Prince Ruperts, + Dominica, March 1st._ + +"Sir, + +"About an hour before the dawn of day, on the 22nd ult. an alarm was fired +at Scotshead, and soon after a cluster of ships was discovered off Roseau. +As our light increased, I made out five large ships, three frigates, two +brigs, and small craft, under British colours, a ship of three decks, +carrying a flag at the mizen. The frigates ranged too close to Fort Young; +I ordered them to be fired on, and soon after 19 large barges, full of +troops, appeared coming from under the lee of the other ships, attended and +protected by an armed schooner full of men, and seven other boats, carrying +carronades. The English flag was lowered, and that of France hoisted. A +landing was immediately attempted on my left flank, between the town of +Roseau and the post of Cachecrow. The light infantry of the 1st West India +regiment, were the first on the march to support Captain Serrant's company +of militia, which, throughout the day, behaved with great gallantry. It was +immediately supported by the grenadiers of the 46th regiment. The first +boats were beat off, but the schooner and one of the brigs coming close in +shore, to cover the landing, compelled our troops to occupy a better +position, a defile leading to the town. At this moment I brought up the +grenadiers of the St. George's regiment of militia, and soon after the +remainder of the 46th, and gave over to Major Nunn these brave troops, with +orders not to yield the enemy one inch of ground. Two field-pieces were +brought into action for their support, under the command of Serjeant Creed, +of the 46th regiment, manned by additional gunners and sailors. These guns, +and a 24-pounder from Melville's battery, shook the French advancing +column, by the execution they did. I sent two companies of the St. George's +militia, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Constable, and a company of the +46th, to prevent the enemy from getting into the rear of the position +occupied by Major Nunn. On my return, we found the Majestueux, of 120 guns, +lying opposite to Fort Young, pouring into the town and batteries her +broadsides, followed by the other 74's and frigates, doing the same. Some +artillery, several captains of merchantmen, with their sailors, and the +artillery-militia, manned five 24-pounders, and three 18's at the fort, and +five 24's at Melville's battery, and returned an uninterrupted fire. From +the first post red-hot shot were thrown. At about ten o'clock, a. m. Major +Nunn, most unfortunately for His Majesty's service, whilst faithfully +executing the orders I had given, was wounded, I fear mortally. This did +not discourage the brave fellows. Captain O'Connell, of the 1st West India +regiment, received the command and a wound almost at the same time; +however, the last circumstance could not induce him to give up the honour +of the first, and he continued in the field, animating his men, and +resisting the repeated charges of the enemy, until about one o'clock, when +he obliged the French to retire from their advanced position with great +slaughter. + +"It is impossible for me to do justice to the merit of that officer. You +will, I doubt not, favourably report his conduct to His Majesty, and, at +the same time, that of Captain James, who commanded the 46th, and Captain +Archibald Campbell, who commanded the grenadiers of the 46th. Foiled and +beat off on the left, the right flank was attempted, and a considerable +force was landed near Morne Daniel. The regulars not exceeding 200, +employed on the left in opposing the advance of their columns, consisting +of 2,000 men, could afford me no reinforcement; I had only the right wing +of the St. George's regiment of militia to oppose them, of about 100 men. +They attacked with spirit, but, unfortunately, the frigates stood in so +close to the shore, to protect their disembarkation, that after receiving a +destructive fire, they fled back and occupied the heights of Woodbridge +Estate. Then it was that a column of the enemy marched up Morne Daniel, and +stormed the redoubt, defended by a small detachment, which, after an +obstinate resistance, they carried. On my left Captain O'Connell was +gaining ground, notwithstanding a fresh supply of troops, and several +field-pieces, which had been brought on shore by the enemy. I now observed +a large column climbing the mountain to get in his rear. The town, which +had been for some time in flames, was only protected by a light howitzer, +and a six-pounder to the right, supported by part of the light company of +St. George's regiment. The enemy's large ships in Woodbridge-bay out of the +reach of my guns, my right flank gained, and my retreat to Prince Ruperts +almost cut off, I determined on one attempt to keep the sovereignty of the +island, which the excellent troops I had, warranted. I ordered the militia +to remain at their posts, except such as were inclined to encounter more +hardships and severe service; and Captain O'Connell, with the 46th under +the command of Captain James, and the light company of the 1st West India +regiment, were directed to make a forced march to Prince Ruperts. I then +allowed the President to enter into terms for the town of Roseau; and +demanded from the French general, that private property should be +respected, and that no wanton or disgraceful pillage should be +allowed. This done, only attended by Brigade-Major Prevost, and +Deputy-Quarter-Master-General Hopley, of the militia forces, I crossed the +island, and in 24 hours, with the aid of the inhabitants, and the exertions +of the Caribs, I got to this garrison on the 23rd. After four days +continued march, through the most difficult country, I might almost say, +existing, Captain O'Connell joined me at Prince Ruperts, wounded himself, +and bringing in his wounded, with a few of the royal artillery, and the +precious remains of the 46th regiment, and the 1st West India light +company. I had no sooner got into the fort, than I ordered cattle to be +drove in, and took measures for getting a store of water from the river in +the bay. I found my signals to Lieutenant-Colonel Broughton, from Roseau, +made soon after the enemy had landed, had been received; and that in +consequence, he had made the most judicious arrangements his garrison +would allow of, for the defence of this important post. On the 25th, I +received the letter of summons I have now the honour to transmit, from +General of Division La Grange, and without delay, sent the reply you will +find accompanying it. On the 27th the enemy's cruizers hovered about the +head; however, the Centaur's tender (Vigilante) came in, and was saved by +our guns. I landed Mr. Henderson, her commander, and his crew, to assist in +the defence we were prepared to make. As far as can be collected, the enemy +had about 4,000 men on board, and the whole of their force was compelled to +disembark before they gained an inch of ground. I trust this despatch by +Capt O'Connell, to whom I beg to refer you; his services entitle him to +consideration. I am much indebted to the zeal and discernment of +Foot-Adjutant Geraly, who was very accessary to the execution of my orders. +I cannot pass unnoticed the very soldier-like conduct of Lieut. Wallis, of +the 46th regiment, to whom I had entrusted the post of Cachearn or +Scotshead; perceiving our retreat, he spiked his guns, destroyed his +ammunition, and immediately commenced his march to join me at Prince +Ruperts, with his detachment; nor that of Lieutenant Shaw of the same +regiment, who acted as an officer of artillery, and behaved with uncommon +coolness and judgment, whilst on the battery, and great presence of mind in +securing the retreat of the additional gunners belonging to the 46th +regiment. + +"On the 27th, after levying a contribution on Roseau, the enemy reimbarked, +and hovered that day and the next about this port. This morning the French +fleet is seen off the south end of Guadaloupe, under easy sail. Our loss +you will perceive by the returns I have the honor to transmit, was +inconsiderable, when compared with that acknowledged by the enemy, which +included several officers of rank, and about 300 others. + + "GEO. PREVOST." + +"P.S. As I find I cannot spare Captain O'Connell from the duty of this +garrison, I must refer you to the Master of a Montreal vessel, who has +engaged to deliver this despatch." + + * * * * * + + "_Au Quartier-General au Roseau, + le 5th Ventose, An 13._ + +"Le General de Division Lagrange, Grand Officier de la Legion de l'Honneur, +&c. &c. + +"Monsieur le General, + +"Avant de commencer les operations militaires contre le fort ou tous +paraissez tous etre retire, je viens remplir une prealable autorise et +pratique, entre les nations civilisees. + +"Vous connoissez aussi bien, M. le General, votre position, et peut-etre +meme, l'inutilite d'une nouvelle effusion de sang; vous avez du gemir en +voyant le malheureux sort de la ville de Roseau; mon premier soin en y +entrant a ete de donner des ordres pour arreter l'incendie: mais par +malheur le mal etait deja trop grand. Le besoin en subsistence produit +toujours des effete cruels, et le resultat peut en etre calcule plus +positivement que celui de toute autre chose. Ne fut-ce que cette +consideration, elle est plus que suffisante sous la circonstance ou vous +vous trouvez pour accepter les conditions honorables que je suis dispose a +vous accorder, et soustraire ainsi par un arrangement les habitans +interessants de cette colonie a des nouveaux malheurs presque toujours +inseparable des evenemens de la guerre. Veuillez, M. le General, me faire +connoitre bientot votre reponse; en attendant, recevez l'assurance de la +haute consideration que j'ai pour vous. + + "J'ai l'honneur de vous saluer, + + (Signed) "LAGRANGE." + + * * * * * + + "_Head-Quarters, Prince Ruperts, + Feb. 25th, 1805._ + +"Sir, + +"I have had the honour to receive your letter. My duty to my King and +country is so superior to every other consideration, that I have only to +thank you for the observations you have been pleased to make on the often +inevitable consequences of war. Give me leave, individually, to express the +greatest gratitude for your humanity and kind treatment of my wife and +children; at the same time to request a continuance thereof, not only to +her and them, but towards every other object you may meet with. + + "I have the honor to be, &c. &c. + + (Signed) "G. PREVOST." + + * * * * * + +Copy of a Letter from Lord Camden. + + _Downing Street, 18th May, 1805._ + +"Sir, + +"Your letter to me of the 1st of March, containing your reports to +Lieut.-General Sir William Myers, of the attack made by a French squadron +with a considerable body of troops on the Island of Dominica, of the +gallantry with which they were opposed, and of their retreat from that +Island on the 27th February has been laid before the King. I have it in +command from His Majesty to express his entire satisfaction in the +judicious and brave exertions which you displayed in this emergency; and +you will signify to the officers and men of the Regular and Militia forces +under your command, His Majesty's entire approbation of their spirited and +meritorious services. + + "I have honor to be, &c. &c. + + (Signed) "CAMDEN." + + +No. XI. + +_Letter from His Royal Highness the Duke of York to the Earl of Camden, p_. +9. + + "_Horse Guards, Nov. 26th, 1805_. + +"MY DEAR LORD, + +"I have to acknowledge your lordship's letter of yesterday, recommending +Major-General Prevost to my peculiar protection, from the military spirit +and knowledge which he displayed in the late affair with the enemy at +Dominica, and I request your lordship will be persuaded of the high sense I +entertain of the services and exertions of Major-General Prevost, and that +I shall be happy in availing myself of any opportunity to recommend him for +a mark of His Majesty's favor. + + "I remain, my dear Lord, + + "Yours sincerely, + + "FREDERICK." + +"_To the Earl of Camden, K. G. +&c. &c. &c._" + + +No. XII. + +_Letter from the Speaker of the House of Assembly of Dominica to General +Prevost, p. 10._ + + "_Dominica, 17th May, 1805_. + +"SIR, + +"I have the honor of transmitting to your Excellency, by desire of the +House of Assembly, a copy of their Resolutions of the 2d instant, +expressive of their thanks of your late gallant defence of the colony +against a French force so very superior, and appropriating the sum of 1,000 +guineas for the purchase of a Sword, and a service of Plate to be presented +to you in testimony of their gratitude and approbation. + +It affords me a peculiar gratification to be the organ of the House on the +present occasion, because I am thus furnished with an opportunity of +expressing the high esteem I entertain for your Excellency's character, not +only as a brave, judicious, and experienced officer, in which capacity your +merit has long stood conspicuous, but as a man of strict probity, and as a +Governor whose public measures have uniformly been directed by views of +general utility. When I say that it is with the deepest regret I +contemplate the departure of your Excellency from this colony, I speak the +language of every respectable member of the community--but you go to reap +in the approbation of your Sovereign, and the applauses of your country, +the well-earned reward of your unremitting vigilance and indefatigable +exertions, and I am persuaded that you carry with you from hence the +earnest wishes of all good men for the happiness and prosperity of yourself +and your family. + + "I have the honor to be, + + "With the highest respect, &c. &c. + + (Signed) "J. LUCAS, + + "Speaker." + + * * * * * + +_The Governor's Reply._ + + "_Prince Ruperts, 3d June._ + +"Sir, + +"You have conveyed to me, in terms most flattering, the thanks of the House +of Assembly for my endeavours to save this colony from the misery of a +foreign and oppressive yoke. As the organ of that body you have expressed +its partial sentiments with a friendly zeal, that has made on my mind an +impression not to be effaced. + +Allow me, Sir, through you, to offer to the House of Assembly my unfeigned +thanks for the token I have received of its partial consideration of my +services. That unanimity which has been our strength, uninterrupted, may +render Dominica, even in the present perilous moment,[104] almost +invulnerable. Whilst danger exists, I will never abandon my post; nor shall +I ever cease to entertain a grateful recollection of the sentiments the +occasion has called forth. + +So much of the resolutions of the House as we not personal to myself, I +have caused to be given out in General Orders, to the Regular and Militia +Forces. + + "I have the honor to be, &c. + + (Signed) "G. PREVOST." + + +No. XIII. + + _His Honor the President and Council, and the Speaker + and Gentlemen of the Assembly, to His Excellency the + Governor in Chief, p. 10._ + +The Board and House having come to the following Resolution of voting the +sum of 1,000_l._ sterling, for the purpose of purchasing a Sword and +Service of Plate to be presented to his Excellency Governor Prevost, in the +name of the Colony, as a token of its gratitude for the gallant defence +thereof by his Excellency on the memorable 22d February last, + +Also a sum not exceeding 300_l._ sterling, for defraying the expense of a +Monument to the memory of the late Major Nunn who gallantly fell on the +same memorable occasion, + +Also the sum of 100 guineas for the purchase of a Sword to be presented to +Major O'Connell, And 300_l._ sterling to be presented to Captain James, +commanding the 46th regiment, to be laid out in the purchase of a Service +of Plate for the use of the officers' Mess of that regiment--request your +Excellency's' assent thereto, and that you will issue your warrants to the +Treasurer accordingly. + + T. METCALF, President. + J. LUCAS, Speaker. + +_Council Chamber, 12th May, 1805. +House of Assembly, 15th May, 1805._ + + +No. XIV. + +_Resolutions of the Patriotic Club, and Letter of the Chairman to General +Prevost, p. 10._ + + _Patriotic Fund, Lloyd's, May 14, 1805._ + +At a Special General Meeting of the Committee held this day, + +JOSEPH MARRYAT, Esq. in the Chair, Read, from the London Gazette of the +7th of May, a letter from Lieut.-General Sir William Myers, Bart. +commanding His Majesty's troops in the Windward and Leeward Islands, to +Earl Camden, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, inclosing +a letter from Brigadier-General Prevost, Governor of Dominica, relating to +the vigorous and gallant resistance made by the troops and militia under +his command, against the very superior force with which the French landed +at Roseau, on the 22d of February last; his retreat to the fort at Prince +Ruperts; and the resolution he expressed, in answer to the summons of +General Lagrange, of defending it to the last extremity; in consequence of +which the enemy abandoned the enterprise, and evacuated the Island. + +Resolved, + +That a Sword of the value of 100_l._, and a Piece of Plate, of the value of +200_l._, with appropriate inscriptions, be presented to Brigadier-General +Prevost, for the distinguished gallantry and military talents he displayed +on that occasion, by which the sovereignty of the Island was preserved to +His Majesty's arms. + +That a Sword of Fifty Pounds value, and a Piece of Plate, of the value of +100_l._, with appropriate inscriptions, or that sum in money, at his +option, be presented to Major Nunn, wounded while faithfully executing the +orders of General Prevost, "Not to yield to the enemy one inch of ground." + +That a Sword of 50_l._ value, and a Piece of Plate, of the value of +100_l._, with appropriate inscriptions, or that sum in money, at his +option, be presented to Captain O'Connell, whose wound did not induce him +to forego the honour of the command to which he succeeded on Major Nunn +being disabled; and in which he resisted the repeated charges of the enemy, +notwithstanding their great superiority in numbers, till he obliged them to +retire with great slaughter. + +That the sum of 100_l._ be presented to Captain Colin Campbell, wounded. + +That the sum of 40_l._ each be given to the men whose wounds have been +attended with disability or loss of limb. + +That the sum of 20_l._ each be given to the other men severely wounded. + +And the sum of 10_l._ each, to the men slightly wounded, including the +Militia of the Island. + +That Brigadier-General Prevost be requested to advise the Committee of the +mode in which the Resolutions respecting himself, Major Nunn, and Captain +O'Connell, can be most acceptably carried into effect--to distribute the +sums voted to the men wounded, and draw for the amount--furnishing the +Committee with the names of the parties, and the sums respectively paid +them--and to forward to the Committee the best information he can procure +respecting the families of the men killed, including the Militia of the +Island, that relief may be afforded to such widows, orphans, and aged +parents, as depended upon them for support. + + JOSEPH MARRYAT, Chairman. + + * * * * * + +(Copy.) + + _London, May 15, 1805._ + +"Sir, + +"I have the honor to inclose you the resolutions of the Committee of the +Patriotic Fund, on their taking into consideration the official account of +the gallant and successful defence, made by you, and the brave men under +your command, against the very superior force with which the enemy invested +Dominica, on the 22d February last. That the sovereignty of the Island was +preserved to the British Crown, must be in a great degree ascribed, under +Divine Providence, to the talents with which you conducted the military +operations; to the confidence which those who served under you had in those +talents; and the animation with which they were inspired by your example. + +"The primary object of this Fund being the relief of the wounded, and the +families of those killed in the service of their country, the Committee, on +every occasion, restrict their votes of honorary marks of distinction for +gallant conduct, to the commanding officers. This, they trust, will +satisfactorily explain to those brave officers, to whose merit you bear +such honorable testimony, the reason of their not being noticed in these +resolutions. + +"The Committee, cannot but remark the very distinguished manner in which +the inhabitants of Dominica have displayed those gallant exertions against +the enemy, to which they so readily came forward to animate others, by +contributing to this fund. The Committee trust, that in attending to the +other objects of the inclosed resolutions, you will be particularly careful +to recommend to their consideration, the distressed relatives which any of +the Militia of the Colony may have left unprovided for. Your bills, at +three days sight, on Sir Francis Baring, Bart., Chairman of the Patriotic +Fund, at Lloyds, for the amount of the sums voted to the wounded men, will +be immediately honored. As those who are disabled, will be invalided and +sent home, the Committee submit it to your discretion, whether the +gratuities to them had not better be paid them on their arrival here, under +your certificate of their claims. + +"You will be pleased to accompany your draft, with a letter, giving the +names of the parties wounded, and the sums respectively paid to each; which +the Committee leave to your judgment, according to the nature and extent of +the injuries they have received, instead of waiting for further information +to act upon themselves. + + "I have the honor to be, Sir, + + "Your most obedient humble servant, + + "JOSEPH MARRYAT, + Chairman." + +"_Brigadier-General Prevost._" + + +No. XV. + + _At a General Meeting of West India Planters and + Merchants, held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate + Street, May 22, 1805, p. 10._ + +Resolved unanimously, + +That the thanks of this Meeting be given to his Excellency +Brigadier-General Prevost, Governor of the Island of Dominica, for the +distinguished gallantry and high military talents he displayed on the 22d +of February, 1805, in the defence and effectual protection of that Colony +against a numerous, powerful, and unexpected force from France. + +And that this resolution be communicated to General Prevost, in a letter +from the Right Honorable Lord Penrhyn, the Chairman of this Meeting. + + * * * * * + +Resolved unanimously, + +That this Meeting, impressed with the highest sense of the important +service rendered to all the West India Colonies, by the able resistance +made by General Prevost to the landing of the enemy on the 22d of February, +1805, do request that he will accept from the general body of West India +Planters and Merchants, a Piece of Plate, of the value of 300 guineas, with +an inscription expressive of the sense of this resolution. + + * * * * * + +Resolved unanimously, + +That the thanks of this Meeting be given to the Field-Officers, Captains, +and other Commissioned Officers of the Royal Artillery, the 46th regiment, +the 1st West India regiment, and also to the officers of the Colonial +Militia, for the gallant conduct they respectively exemplified, and the +zealous co-operation they afforded on the same occasion, and that his +Excellency the Governor be requested to communicate the same. + + * * * * * + +Resolved unanimously, + +That his Excellency General Prevost be requested, in a letter from the +Chairman, to signify to the Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates of his +Majesty's Regular and Militia forces at Dominica, the high sense this +Meeting entertains of their services in resisting the French force on the +22d of February, 1805. + + +No. XVI. + +_Extract from the Dominica Journal, of Saturday, July 6th, 1805, p. 10._ + + _Roseau, July 6th, 1805._ + +Yesterday afternoon, embarked from Roseau, in the Garrison-boat, (under a +salute from Fort Young and Scot's Head) for Prince Ruperts, to join his +amiable family, who left town the day preceding, his Excellency +Major-General George Prevost, our worthy and highly respected Governor, a +gentleman who retires from his government with the pleasing gratification +of the consciousness of having faithfully discharged his duty to his +Sovereign, at the same time that he has, as conscientiously, studied the +interests of the people, over whom he has for nearly three years most +uprightly and honorably presided. + +We presume not to arrogate to ourselves talents capable of becoming the +panegyrists of a Prevost--we shall confine ourselves to observing that his +remembrance will be ever held dear in the breast of every worthy inhabitant +of this Colony; and by declaring that it is our sincere prayer that his +merit may meet its due reward from our most Gracious Sovereign, and that +himself and family may pass their future days in the enjoyment of every +earthly felicity. + + +No. XVII. + +_Dispatches from Sir George Beckwith, and Letter from Lord Castlereagh, p. +11._ + +_Downing-street, March 27._ + + The following despatches have this day been received + from Lieut.-General Beckwith, Commander of His + Majesty's Forces in the Leeward Islands, addressed to + Lord Viscount Castlereagh. + + "_Martinique, Feb. 1._ + +"My Lord, + +"In my last, No. 42, I had the honour to report to your Lordship the +sailing of the army from Carlisle Bay upon the 28th ult. I have now the +satisfaction to acquaint your Lordship that we landed in two divisions upon +the 30th; the first division, under the orders of Lieutenant-General Sir G. +Prevost, consisting of between 6 and 7,000 men, at Bay Robert, on the +windward coast, in the course of the afternoon, without opposition; and, +notwithstanding the difficulties of the country, we occupied a position on +the banks of the Grand Lezard River before day-break of the 31st, with a +corps of nearly 4,000 men, after a night march of seven miles through a +difficult country. These services were greatly facilitated by the judicious +and manly conduct of Captain Beaver, of His Majesty's ship Acasta, who led +into the Bay in a bold and officer-like manner, preceded by His Majesty's +brig Forester, Captain Richards. The exertions and success of this measure +were completely effective, two transports only striking in the narrow +passage at the entrance of the Bay. Hitherto we have experienced no +resistance from the militia of the country; and they manifest a disposition +every where to return to their homes, in conformity to a joint proclamation +by the Admiral and myself, which is obtaining a very extensive circulation. +The second division of the army, consisting of upwards of 3,000 men, under +the command of Major-General Maitland, landed near St. Luce and Point +Solomon on the morning of the 30th; but, as our communication with that +corps is not yet established, I cannot enter into any details. +Lieutenant-General Sir G. Prevost, with the advance in my front, will take +possession of the heights of Bruno in the course of this day; and I am led +to expect will there, for the first time, feel the pulse of the regular +troops of the enemy. The port of Trinite, which lies beyond the line of our +operations, will, by order of Captain Beaver, of the navy, be taken +possession of this day, by a detachment of seamen and marines from the +squadron to windward, under the command of Captain Dick, of the Penelope. +The Admiral, with the body of the fleet and store-ships, is in the vicinity +of Pigeon Island, at the entrance of Fort Royal Bay. Our operations to +windward have been vigorous and effectual in point of time; and the +privations of the troops have been considerable, and borne in a manner +worthy of the character of British soldiers. From what has passed, I am of +opinion the inhabitants of the country manifest a friendly disposition; and +after the heights of Surirey shall be carried, which I expect will be +strongly contested, the campaign will be reduced to the operations of a +siege, and the defence of the fortress.--The services rendered by the +captains and officers of the navy to windward have been great and +essential, and the exertions of Captain Withers of the navy, principal +agent for transports, peculiarly meritorious. + + "GEO. BECKWITH, + Com. Forces." + + * * * * * + + "_Martinique, Heights of Surirey, Feb. 3._ + +"My Lord, + +"In my letter of the 1st inst. I had the honour to report, for His +Majesty's information, the progress then made in our operations against the +enemy. My expectation that Lieutenant-General Sir G. Prevost would meet +them upon Morne Bruno, and that the heights of Surirey would be warmly +contested, was realized in the course of the same day; and both were +carried under the direction of the Lieutenant-General, with that decision +and judgment which belong to this respectable officer, and much to the +honour of Brigadier-General Hoghton, the officers and men of the Fusileer +brigade and light battalion, engaged on that service. On the 2nd, it +appeared to me to be desirable to extend to the right of our position; +which was effected in a spirited manner by the King's infantry. An exertion +was then made to carry the advanced redoubt; but, having soon reason to +believe that it would have been acquired with a loss beyond the value of +the acquisition, the troops were withdrawn; and the enemy abandoned it +during the night, with another redoubt contiguous to it, with evident marks +of disorder: both will be occupied and included in our position this night. +Pigeon Island surrendered at discretion yesterday, which enables the +shipping to enter Fort Royal Bay; all the batteries on the Case Naviere +side have been destroyed and abandoned, a frigate and some other +merchant-vessels burned, the lower fort abandoned, and all their troops +withdrawn from Fort Royal to the principal fortress. I consider the +investiture to be nearly completed, and we must now look for the operations +of a siege. Time does not admit of details; but your Lordship will perceive +that these operations have been effected in eight days from our quitting +Barbadoes, notwithstanding heavy rains and most unfavourable weather, in +which the troops have borne every species of privation in a manner worthy +their character as British soldiers. + + "GEO. BECKWITH, + Com. Forces." + + * * * * * + + "_Camp, Heights of Surirey, + Martinique, Feb. 10._ + +"My Lord, + +"Having, in my communications of the 1st and 5th instant, submitted to your +Lordship's consideration general reports of the operations of the army I +have the honour to command, I now beg leave to inclose the special reports +of the General Officers commanding divisions, and of Brigadier-General +Hoghton, whose brigade was in action upon the 1st; with separate returns of +our loss upon the 1st and 2nd, which, I am inclined to believe, will +terminate our operations in the field.--The lower fort, formerly Fort +Edward, was taken possession of before day-break in the morning of the 8th, +by Major Henderson, commanding the Royal York Rangers, with that regiment, +without resistance, and we now occupy that work. St. Pierre surrendered to +Lieutenant-Colonel Barnes, of the 46th, the day before yesterday; and I +have not yet received the details. In the course of all these services, +where the co-operation of the navy was practicable, the greatest exertions +have been made by the Rear-admiral; and the important advantages rendered +on shore by that excellent officer, Commodore Cockburn, in the reduction of +Pigeon Island, and the landing cannon, mortars, and ammunition at Point +Negroe, and conveying them to the several batteries on that side, have been +of the highest importance to the King's service. + + "GEO. BECKWITH, + Com. Forces." + + * * * * * + + "_Martinique, Heights of Surirey, Feb. 2._ + +"Sir, + +"In conformity with your orders, I disembarked on the 30th ult. with the +Fuzileer brigade of the 1st division of the army, at Malgre Tout, in the +Bay Robert, at four o'clock, p. m. and proceeded from thence to De +Manceau's estate, where I arrived late, in consequence of the difficulties +of the country, and the unfavourable state of the roads for the movement of +cannon. Before the dawn of the next day, I reached Papin's, and proceeded +from thence with the advance, composed of the Royal Fusileer regiment, and +the grenadier company of the 1st West India regiment. The enemy retiring +before me, I reached the heights of De Bork's estate towards evening, where +I was joined at day-light on the 1st inst. by Brigadier-General Hoghton, +with the 23rd regiment and the light infantry battalion, under the command +of Major Campbell, of the Royal West India Rangers. I lost no time after +this junction, and pushed forwards the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Pakenham, +with the Royal Fusileers, to possess himself of Morne Bruno; this movement +I supported by the light infantry battalion, under Brigadier-General +Hoghton, who was ordered, after uniting the two corps, to proceed to force +the heights of Desfourneaux, whilst I held the Royal Welsh Fusileers in +reserve, to strengthen such points of attack as might require it. On my +coming on the heights of Surirey, I had innumerable proofs of the valour +and judgment of the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Pakenham, of the excellence of +the Fusileer brigade, and of the spirited and judicious exertions of +Lieutenant-Colonel Ellis, and Majors Pearson and Ostley, of the 23rd or +Royal Welsh Fusileers; also of the bravery of Major Campbell and the light +infantry battalion; all of which have enabled me to retain this valuable +position without artillery, within 300 yards of the enemy's intrenched +camp, covered with guns. The officers belonging to my staff distinguished +themselves by their zeal and activity during the heat of the action. I have +to lament the loss of Captain Taylor, Acting Deputy-Quarter-Master-General, +who was severely wounded whilst rendering effectual services to his +country.--I cannot omit acknowledging, that to Lieutenant Hobbs, of the +Royal Engineers, I am indebted for the rapidity of our movements, and +ultimate success, from his acquaintance with this country, which enabled +him to guide and direct our movements. + + "GEO. PREVOST, + Lieut.-Gen." + + * * * * * + +(Private.) + + "_Downing-street, May 25th, 1809._ + +"Dear Sir, + +"I beg to congratulate you on the successful termination of the operations +in Martinique, in which you bore so distinguished a part. I hope that this +will find you safely returned to Nova Scotia, without having suffered in +your health from your West India campaign. + + "I remain, dear Sir, + + "Your faithful and obedient servant, + + "CASTLEREAGH." + +"_Lieut.-Gen. Sir G. Prevost, +&c. &c. &c._" + + +No. XVIII. + + _Addresses presented to Sir George Prevost, on his + Arrival at the Islands of Dominica and St. Christopher, + p. 11._ + +_To His Excellency Lieut.-Gen. Sir George Prevost, Bart. &c. &c. &c._ + +"May it please your Excellency, + +"We, His Majesty's loyal subjects, the Members of the House of Assembly of +the Island of Dominica, avail ourselves of the occasion of your +Excellency's visit to your late government, to repeat to you the assurances +of the high esteem which we have ever entertained for the character of your +Excellency, and to express our most grateful sense of the unabated zeal +which your Excellency has evinced, on every occasion, to promote the +welfare and prosperity of this colony, as well as to add glory to the arms +of your country. + +"With every anniversary of the 22nd February, will the services rendered by +your Excellency recur to our memory, not only from the gallantry displayed +by your Excellency upon that occasion, when opposed to so superior a force, +but for your subsequent exertions in favour of the unfortunate sufferers by +the fire, to which may be chiefly attributed the relief afforded them by +the mother country. + +"We beg leave to congratulate your Excellency upon the brilliant result of +the operations against the enemy's most important colonial possession, and +by which, an opportunity has been afforded you, of acquiring fresh laurels, +in addition to those which already grace your Excellency. + +"We most heartily and sincerely wish your Excellency a prosperous and +pleasant passage to your government, and we anticipate that reward which +awaits you (ever most pleasing to a soldier)--the approbation of your +sovereign. + + "JNO. HY. HOBSON, + Speaker." + +"_House of Assembly, +15th March, 1809._" + + * * * * * + +_Reply of Sir George Prevost._ + +"Mr. Speaker, and + +"Gentlemen of the House of Assembly, + +"I feel flattered by your expressions of personal consideration, and highly +gratified that my exertions in favour of the sufferers on the memorable 22d +of February, 1805, were attended by some success. + +"I thank you for your congratulations on the favourable termination of a +short, but brilliant campaign. + + "GEORGE PREVOST." + +"_Government-House, 15th +March, 1809._" + + * * * * * + +_To His Excellency Lieut.-Gen. Sir George Prevost, Bart. &c. &c. &c._ + +"May it please your Excellency, + +"We the merchants and inhabitants of this His Majesty's Island of Saint +Christopher, beg leave to approach your Excellency with the warmest +congratulations on your arrival in this colony; and to assure your +Excellency that could any circumstance enhance the satisfaction we receive +upon this occasion, it must proceed from the happy contemplation of the +recent success which has crowned the exertions to which you have so +pre-eminently contributed in the reduction of the Island of Martinique to +His Majesty's arms: a conquest which has at once given additional splendour +to the British name, and added another signal example of your merit, +perseverance, and intrepidity. + +"Although pre-eminent as your Excellency is viewed, by every class of your +heroic brothers in arms, we cannot, however, but assure your Excellency, +that the high and general estimation which every inhabitant of the sister +colony (hitherto entrusted to your command), feels toward you, (and which +colony you so gallantly defended against a superior force), contributes +most powerfully to endear you to every individual of this island, in the +united character of a brave soldier and a good citizen. + +"We trust your Excellency's stay amongst us will be protracted for a time +equal to the wishes of this community, who anxiously express the most +ardent desire of offering to your Excellency every testimony of the high +consideration they entertain of you, and the brave soldiers under your +command. + +"A great and good King, who can appreciate merit and bestow reward, will +add stability to our expressions, and pronounce to the world, by his +commendations, that we have not presumed to announce your merits, but from +the truest heralds of your fame--men who have shared your dangers and +received your smiles--the British soldiery." + + "_Basseterre, March 21st, 1809._" + + * * * * * + +_Reply of Sir George Prevost._ + +_To the Merchants and Inhabitants of the Island of St. Christopher._ + +"Gentlemen, + +"Highly flattered as I feel by the address of the merchants and inhabitants +of His Majesty's Island of St. Christopher; the gratification I derive from +this testimony of their consideration, increases my very sincere regret +that the interest of the public service deprives me of the opportunity of +indulging my private feelings in making a longer stay than my duty will in +the present instance permit;--I shall ever most eagerly and joyfully avail +myself of every occasion of testifying to this island, my sincerest and +best wishes for its welfare and prosperity. + + (Signed) "GEORGE PREVOST." + + "_Basseterre, March 21st, 1809._" + + +No. XIX. + +_Address from the Inhabitants of Halifax, p. 12._ + +_To His Excellency Sir George Prevost, Bart. &c. &c. &c._ + +"Sir, + +"Your Excellency intending shortly to leave this Province, the inhabitants +of Halifax cannot omit expressing to you their unfeigned regret on the +occasion, and, at the same time, testifying their gratitude for the many +real benefits which the province has derived from your short administration +of the government. + +"We have often been induced to come forward to manifest our esteem for many +valuable and respectable characters, who have filled high stations in this +country, for it has been our good fortune to have had many men of tried +worth at the head of the civil, naval, and military departments here; but +believe us, Sir, we use not the language of flattery, when we say, that we +have never felt more sincere regret, than for your departure from us. + +"Equity has been the ruling principle of your administration, and the most +unremitting attention to public business its invariable practice: your +indefatigable zeal carried you into the most remote parts of the province, +and you became early acquainted with our situation and our wants. The +confidence with which you inspired the legislative body, induced them to +provide ample supplies for the different branches of the public service. +The wisdom with which they have been appropriated, equals the liberality +with which they were granted, and must produce extensive and permanent +benefits to the country at large. + +"Your ears have been open to the petitioners of every class, and your ready +attention to their wants and their claims, has left no cause for complaint. +With the sentiments of affectionate and respectful regard which you have +excited in our breasts--while we deplore our loss, we cannot but derive +consolation from the justly merited honours that cause your removal. + +"We consider your appointment to the supreme command of British North +America, as an earnest of the blessing which His Majesty's subjects, on the +western side of the Atlantic, are to enjoy under the government of the +august personage, the anniversary of whose birth we this day assemble to +commemorate. At this critical period, when the prejudices and misguided +councils of a neighbouring nation render it not improbable that we may be +called upon to defend the invaluable privileges of Englishmen, it must be a +source of satisfaction to every loyal subject, that His Royal Highness, in +the name of our venerable sovereign, has entrusted the defence of these +colonies to an officer, who has so frequently proved himself worthy of +commanding British colonies. May he ever, Sir, be thus influenced in his +nominations to offices of great trust and high responsibility, by the merit +of those on whom they are to be conferred. We thank you for your +condescension in permitting your portrait to be taken and left with us. It +will be a perpetual memorial of a personage, whose public conduct and +private virtues have been so beneficial and endearing to His Majesty's +subjects in this province. + +"You go, Sir, to a more exalted station; but you cannot go where you will +be more beloved or respected. In taking our leave of you, permit us to +assure you of our warmest wishes, that every blessing may be yours, and +every happiness attend your amiable and exemplary lady, and each individual +of your excellent family. + + "_Halifax, 12th August, 1811._" + + +No. XX. + + _Addresses from the Clergy of Nova Scotia, &c. &c. to + Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart. &c. &c. + &c. p. 12._ + +"Sir, + +"Although the clergy of the established church of Nova Scotia most +cordially join in the general tribute of respect, which is now offered to +your Excellency; and very largely share in the sincere regret, so +universally excited by your intended departure from this province; the +important benefits which you have rendered to the sacred objects of our +profession, by your Excellency's exertions in their behalf, impel us to a +more particular expression of our gratitude, and our grief. + +"Your Excellency has a claim upon the best acknowledgments we can offer, +for every mark of respect to our office, and every condescending attention +to ourselves, that we could receive at your hands; accompanied by +continual endeavours to promote the cause of literature and religion in +this colony. + +"Through your Excellency's attentive kindness, and your representations to +the throne, the most benevolent assistance has been extended to our +churches, and in every part of the province they are now receiving +improvement and enlargement. While our dutiful and affectionate gratitude +is directed towards the royal source of these great benefits, we cannot be +wanting in warm and grateful respect, for the channel through which they +have been obtained. + +"Nor are we under less obligation, for the uniform and exemplary attention +of your Excellency, and your family, to the public and private duties of +religion. You will permit us, Sir, though duly sensible of your other +numerous and distinguished merits, to consider this among the brightest +ornaments of your character. It supplies us with most gratifying evidence, +to an important truth, that the ablest and best servants to their King and +country, must be sought among those who are most faithful to their God. + +"Feeling as we do the extensive and peculiar benefits of your Excellency's +residence among us, it is impossible that we should not have the deepest +regret for your departure. But it will be our duty to seek for alleviation +for our sorrow, in grateful recollection of the benefits we have already +received, and in humble hope that the influence of your example will +remain, when we can no longer enjoy the advantages of your presence. We +have unfeigned satisfaction also, in the increased honours, and more +extensive command, to which you are called, by the discerning favour of +your Prince; and we shall have much comfort in reflecting, that although +your Excellency will be advanced from the particular charge of this +province, we shall still have the happiness of being under your general +government. + +"Permit us to assure you, Sir, that our sincerely affectionate respect and +esteem will ever follow you; and that our fervent prayers are now offered, +and will be long continued, for every blessing to yourself and family; for +every honour you can now enjoy; and for unfading glory when all the honours +of the world shall have passed away." + + "_Halifax, Aug. 15th, 1811._" + + * * * * * + +_His Excellency's Reply._ + +"I received with sentiments of peculiar satisfaction, the address of the +Right Reverend the Bishop and the clergy of Nova Scotia. + +"My fervency in that important cause they especially promote, renders their +favourable consideration of my government, an act at once gratifying for +the past, and encouraging for the future, under whatever situation my +sovereign's commands may place me. I am well aware, that if our revered and +pious King could investigate the course of my administration in this +province, there is no part of it which would ensure me his royal favour, +equal to the testimony with which I am honoured in this address. + + "GEORGE PREVOST." + +"_Government House, +15th August._" + + * * * * * + + _Halifax, August 19._ + +The following addresses were presented to his Excellency Sir George +Prevost, Bart. last week. + +_The Address of the Council to his Excellency Sir George Prevost, Bart. +Lieut.-Governor of Nova-Scotia, &c. &c. &c._ + +"Sir, + +"His Majesty's Council cannot take leave of your Excellency at this Board, +without an expression of those sentiments which they cordially feel upon +the painful eve of your departure. + +"The general regret of the province upon this occasion, pervading every +class, and flowing from the purest of sources, must afford you, Sir, the +most satisfactory evidence, that you have lived here in the hearts of His +Majesty's subjects;--and that you have well merited the affection they +manifest: to us who have had the honour of a closer communication with your +Excellency, and have, thus, become intimately acquainted with your talents +and your virtues, you have been more perfectly known;--by us, you will of +course be doubly regretted. + +"We early discovered your vigilance, and energetic zeal for the good of the +province,--your acute discernment of its best interests,--your perseverance +in the pursuit of every object that could lead to its welfare,--and your +unwearied attention to its minutest concerns;--we soon discovered that +excellent understanding, which has so well fitted you to govern, and that +integrity and independence, which have rendered your government so beloved, +and so respectable. + +"It is, however, to these talents and virtues, that we are to impute our +present loss;--the discerning mind of our excellent Prince has called you +to a higher appointment, and our fellow subjects of a sister colony will +have the satisfaction of receiving that boon, with which we are now +parting;--we have a consolation, however, in reflecting, that we are still +to remain within the influence of your valued abilities, and that we may +feel the effects of their spirited exertions, in a contiguous, and more +extensive quarter of the British empire;--wherever your duties, civil or +military, may call you, to the cabinet as a statesman, or to the field as a +soldier, we are confident you will deserve well of your country, and +justify, to the fullest extent, the very high opinion upon which your +preferment has been founded. + +"As your council,--with whom you have ever advised, upon terms of the most +unreserved candour and harmony,--as your friends,--with whom you have ever +associated, upon terms of the most affectionate condescension; we, Sir, +with feelings of the purest regret,--and with the sincerest wishes for the +welfare of yourself and your family,--earnestly bid you farewell." + + * * * * * + +_Answer._ + +"Gentlemen, + +"The expressions of general esteem and approbation, with which I have been +honoured, concurring with the sentiments of His Majesty's Council, is a +circumstance peculiarly gratifying to me. You, gentlemen, are intimately +acquainted with the principles upon which my conduct has been founded, +others can only judge from the effects produced by the measures pursued +during my administration. + +"If my endeavours in the public service have been successful, I may ascribe +much of that success to the able assistance I have received from you. + +"Your advice, ever springing from a perfect knowledge of the true interests +of the province, a due regard to the just rights of the people, and a +zealous attachment to His Majesty's person and government, has enabled me +to accomplish objects of much promise to the future prosperity of this +province. + +"Having expressed the obligations I feel on public ground, I am not the +less sensible of those of a personal nature. + +"I shall ever reflect with satisfaction on the happy state of our +intercourse during the period of my administration.--It is, therefore, with +feelings of the sincerest regard, I repeat your farewell. + + "GEORGE PREVOST." + +"_Government House, +16th Aug. 1811._" + + * * * * * + + _To his Excellency Sir George Prevost, Bart. + Lieut.-Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His + Majesty's Province of Nova Scotia, &c. &c. &c._ + +"We the undersigned representatives for the county and townships within the +county of Hants, as well for ourselves as our constituents: the clergy and +magistrates in the same county, beg leave to address your Excellency upon +your departure from this government. + +"We have recently heard with mingled joy and concern, that His Majesty has +raised you to the distinguished, but well-merited favour of being appointed +Governor-General of the British Provinces in North America, and that your +Excellency will immediately proceed to your government. Upon this occasion +we cannot forbear expressing our grateful sense of your wise and mild +administration. + +"The ardour manifested by your Excellency, in promoting the true interests +of this province, has made a deep impression upon the minds of the people +of this happy and highly-favoured colony. + +"Under your government, Sir, though a short one, the agriculture, commerce, +and fisheries of the province have rapidly increased; religion has been +cherished, schools established, extensive roads of communication with the +capital opened and improved, the militia organized and disciplined, and +under the most salutary regulations rendered efficient. + +"The inhabitants of the county of Hants, deeply impressed with a sense of +the benefits they have received, will ever retain a grateful recollection +of them, and while they lament the departure of your Excellency from this +government, are made happy by the consideration that your Excellency has +experienced an additional mark of the Royal favour. + +"We earnestly pray that your Excellency, Lady Prevost and family, may have +a pleasant voyage, and arrive in safety at the seat of your government, and +be attended throughout life with the choicest blessings of Providence. + + [Signed by the Representatives, Magistrates, + Clergy, and other principal Inhabitants.] + +"_Windsor, 13th August, 1811._" + + * * * * * + +_Reply._ + +"Gentlemen, + +"With feelings of satisfaction and gratitude, I return you my best thanks +for the warm assurance of your regard, so kindly manifested in your address +upon my departure. + +"Your high approbation of my measures I shall ever retain as an additional +pledge of the general esteem of this province, which it has been my +ambition to acquire; and, believe me, that among those of His Majesty's +subjects, who have favoured me with their good opinion and good wishes, I +feel much pleasure in receiving the affectionate address of the flourishing +county of Hants. + + "GEORGE PREVOST. + +"_Government House, +16th Aug. 1811._" + + * * * * * + + _To His Excellency Lieut.-General Sir George Prevost, + Bart. Lieut.-Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and + over His Majesty's Province of Nova Scotia, and its + Dependencies, &c. &c. &c._ + +"May it please your Excellency, + +"The magistrates and militia officers of King's County, humbly intreat, +that they may be allowed to offer their assurance of high respect and +unfeigned esteem to your Excellency, on your departure from Nova Scotia. +Your Excellency's unwearied attention to the welfare and best interest of +this province, have engaged admiration, and given you a strong claim to our +gratitude; while the wisdom, mildness, and firmness of your administration +have commanded general confidence; and such are your military talents, +that, though storms have been hovering around us, and threatened to burst +over our heads, with dependence on Divine protection, we have felt secure, +while our armed force was under your direction. + +"The virtues of your character have endeared you to the inhabitants of +Nova Scotia, and we cannot but feel regret at your departure: but a higher +and more important station requires your talents and abilities; and we beg +leave to congratulate you on the flattering testimony you have received of +royal favour and approbation. + +"Permit us to say, that we shall ever feel a lively interest in every thing +that regards your Excellency, and that the name of Sir George Prevost will +ever be dear and honoured among us. + +"To Lady Prevost we beg leave to tender our best respects, and sincere +wishes, for her future happiness. + +"May a pleasant passage await you, and may you continue to receive, from +our gracious Sovereign, those rewards which your services so justly entitle +you to. + + [Signed by the Magistrates, Clergy, + Militia Officers, and other principal + Inhabitants.] + +"_August 15th, 1811._" + + * * * * * + +_Reply._ + +"Gentlemen, + +"Feeling a sincere regard for every class of people within this happy +colony, I need not say that your kind address cannot but add to my +gratification. + +"I have made it my study to become acquainted with every part of the +Province, with its views, its resources, and its advantages; but of your +county I have had the satisfaction to obtain a more particular knowledge. + +"The high state of its cultivation, and the agricultural benefits attending +it, should make you proud of the land on which you live. + +"Permit me, in return for your cordial address, to express my sincere +wishes that your prosperity may continue, and that you may long live a free +and happy people, under the best of governments. + + "GEORGE PREVOST." + +"_Government House, +16th Aug. 1811._" + + +No. XXI.[105] + +_Address from the House of Assembly of Upper Canada to Sir George Prevost, +March 1813, p. 75._ + +"May it please your Excellency, + +"We, his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Commons of Upper +Canada in Provincial Parliament assembled, beg leave to congratulate your +Excellency on your arrival in this Province, and to express the unfeigned +satisfaction it affords us in as much as it is an additional proof of the +high interest your Excellency takes in the general welfare of this colony. + +"We should be wanting to the sovereign, under whose paternal care we have +so long lived, to our country and to ourselves, were we to neglect to offer +to your Excellency at this time, the sentiments of gratitude with which we +feel inspired for the marks of your attention manifested in providing +clothing for a considerable portion of the loyal and brave militia of this +Province, as well as for the active and vigorous exertions which have been +made, and are now making for strengthening our marine force upon the Lakes, +which will enable us to secure and preserve that superiority upon that +favourite element to which Great Britain is indebted for her prosperity and +glory; and on which our safety so materially depends. + +"Emerging from a state of infancy, the inhabitants of this province have +been enabled, by the aid afforded them by your Excellency in his Majesty's +regular forces, to defeat the designs of the enemy; although his numbers +have been in every instance so superior. + +"To suppose your Excellency will not continue to extend every assistance to +us in this emergency, would be the height of incredulity, after the +testimony we have already witnessed of your vigilance and affectionate +solicitude for our preservation. It would be superfluous, therefore, to +suggest how much we stand in need of the fostering hand of our mother +country--to be directed by the wisdom of your Excellency, in order that we +may maintain the laws and constitution so dear to us, and which it is our +sincere hope we may transmit unimpaired to our posterity. + +"We hesitate not to say, that the energy your Excellency may exercise +towards the attainment of this great end, will be zealously seconded by the +people of this Province, and that their efforts under the influence of an +omnipotent power, and the devotion of your Excellency's military skill, +will be eventually successful. + + "ALLAN M'LEAN, + Speaker." + + * * * * * + +_Address from the Inhabitants of York to Sir George Prevost._ + +"May it please your Excellency, + +"We the Magistrates and other inhabitants of the town of York, are happy in +having an opportunity of paying that respect, which we owe to your +Excellency, and of offering our most sincere thanks and acknowledgments for +the attention you have been pleased to shew to this province. + +"The pride and pleasure which we feel from the behaviour of our gallant +militia, is greatly heightened when we consider that their conduct is +honoured with your approbation, and that you are pleased to testify your +sense of their services in ordering clothing for a considerable proportion +of their number; an act of benevolence and humanity which will make a deep +and lasting impression on their minds; and stimulate them to preserve that +high character which they have already acquired. + +"But we should, indeed, be much wanting to your Excellency, as well as to +ourselves, if we did not on this occasion, with gratitude acknowledge the +obligation which this province lies under to the valour and discipline of +his Majesty's regular forces, whose courage and conduct, on the most trying +emergencies, have done honour to the name and to the character of a British +soldier. + +"We are particularly gratified, and offer our most sincere thanks and +acknowledgments for the vigorous exertions which have been made, and are +still carrying on towards the strengthening our provincial marine, by order +of your Excellency, fully convinced that to maintain a superiority upon the +Lakes is an object of the first importance to this Province. + +"Thankful for that success which has hitherto crowned his Majesty's arms +under your command, we earnestly beg for its continuance, entertaining the +pleasing hope, that by our own conduct, and the exertions of our brave +defenders, we, in this Colony, by the blessing of God, may long remain +under the protection of our parent State, a free, brave, and loyal people. + + "THOMAS SCOTT, + Chairman." + + * * * * * + +_Address from the Inhabitants of Kingston to Sir George Prevost._ + +"May it please your Excellency, + +"We, his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the Magistrates, +Officers of the Militia, and other inhabitants of the town of Kingston, and +other parts of the Midland District, beg leave respectfully to express the +high sense we entertain of your Excellency's watchful care for the safety +of this Province, which has led you at this inclement season to undertake a +toilsome journey of many hundred miles for the purpose of visiting and +inspecting its extensive frontiers. Your presence, Sir, cannot but diffuse +fresh energy in all classes of his Majesty's subjects, and encourage them +to continue their zealous co-operation in the common cause; and we trust +that under the judicious arrangement which has been made by your +Excellency's orders, Divine Providence will continue to crown our exertions +in defence of the Province against his Majesty's enemies with the same +success by which they have been hitherto happily distinguished. + +"_Kingston, March 7, 1813._" + + * * * * * + +_Address from the Inhabitants of the Eastern District of Upper Canada to +Sir George Prevost._ + + "To his Excellency Sir George Prevost, Knight and + Baronet, Captain General, &c. &c. &c. The loyal address + of the Inhabitants of the Eastern District. + +"We, his Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, inhabitants of the Eastern +District of Upper Canada, beg leave to present to your Excellency our +unfeigned, and heartfelt congratulations on your safe return from your long +and fatiguing journey to the upper parts of this Province, which your +ardent zeal for the service of your king and country, and paternal +solicitude for the security of this portion of his Majesty's dominions only +could induce you to undertake. + +"We thank heaven for having preserved your Excellency's person from all the +dangers to which you have been exposed, not only from the enemy in the long +line of frontiers through which you had to pass, but from the contagious +diseases, which rage through many parts of these Provinces, and other +dangers incidental to a journey of upwards of a thousand miles in a country +like this, still destitute of inns, and proper accommodations for +travellers, and at the most inclement season of the year. + +"So illustrious an example of despising danger and sacrificing personal +ease and comfort, exhibited by the representative of our beloved sovereign, +both chears and animates us to bear with resignation our individual +privations in the glorious cause in which we have to struggle. We now +experience the truth which we have so often heard with wonder from others, +that your Excellency's prudence carries with it an irresistible attraction +and confidence among all classes of people, wherever you go. We should +consider it criminal to complain of the hardships to which the present +state of warfare has subjected us, in common with all our fellow-subjects +in this Province; perfectly convinced, as we are, of your Excellency's +earnest wish and readiness to alleviate our sufferings as much as lies in +your power. + +"The auspicious event which, in the late brilliant success of His Majesty's +arms at Ogdensburg, so closely followed the arrival of your Excellency in +Upper Canada, flatters us with the hope that this will be but one of the +happy consequences of your visit. We cannot express to your Excellency in +terms sufficiently strong, our satisfaction in thus having an opportunity +of teaching the enemy that their repeated insults, and wanton attacks upon +our shores, are not to be borne with impunity. + +"To your Excellency's active and fertile mind we look up with much +confidence for the vigorous and energetic measures, to prosecute a war, +into which the insidious policy of a faithless and inveterate enemy has +involved our country and ourselves, and in which are feared every thing +which can render life desirable at stake. + +"We are determined to stand or fall by the parent country, and to defend +the crown and dignity of our revered sovereign, our families and our +properties, with the last drop of our blood. We know that justice is on our +side, and we trust that the God of battles will continue to favour our +cause as he has hitherto done. Indeed we do not allow ourselves to +entertain the smallest doubt of a glorious termination of the contest +under your Excellency's government and Heaven's protection. + +"_Glengary, March 8, 1813._" + + +No. XXII. + +_Official Report of Col. Baynes, p. 81._ + + Extract of a Letter from Lieut.-General Sir George + Prevost to Earl Bathurst, dated Head-Quarters, + Kingston, June 1, 1813. + +"Although as your Lordship will perceive by the report of Colonel Baynes, +which I have the honour herewith to transmit, the expedition has not been +attended with the complete success which was expected from it, I have great +satisfaction in informing your Lordship that the courage and patience of +the small band of troops employed on this occasion, under circumstances of +peculiar hardship and privation, have been exceeded only by their intrepid +conduct in the field, forcing a passage at the point of the bayonet through +a thickly wooded country, affording constant shelter and strong positions +to the enemy; but not a single spot of cleared ground favourable to the +operations of disciplined soldiers." + + * * * * * + + "_Kingston, May 30, 1813._ + +"Sir, + +"I have the honour to report to your Excellency, that in conformity to an +arranged plan of operations with Commodore Sir James Yeo, the fleet of +boats assembled astern of his ship, at 10 o'clock in the night of the 28th +inst., with the troops placed under my command, and led by a gun-boat under +the direction of Captain Mulcaster, Royal Navy, proceeded towards Sackett's +Harbour in the order prescribed to the troops, in case the detachment was +obliged to march in column, viz. the Grenadier Company, 100th, with one +section of the Royal Scots, two Companies of the 8th, or King's, four of +the 104th, two of the Canadian Voltigeurs. Two six-pounders, with their +gunners, and a Company of Glengary Light Infantry, were embarked on board a +light schooner, which was proposed to be towed under the direction of +Officers of the Navy, so as to insure the guns being landed in time to +support the advance of the troops. Although the night was dark with rain, +the boats assembled in the vicinity of Sackett's Harbour, by one o'clock, +in compact and regular order; and in this position it was intended to +remain until the day broke, in the hope of effecting a landing before the +enemy could be prepared to line the woods with troops which surround the +coast; but unfortunately, a strong current drifted the boats considerably, +while the darkness of the night and ignorance of the coast, prevented them +from recovering the proper station until the day dawned, when the whole +pulled for the point of debarkation. It was my intention to have landed in +the cove formed by Horse Island, but on approaching it, we discovered that +the enemy were fully prepared by a very heavy fire of musketry, from the +surrounding woods which were filled with Infantry, supported with a +field-piece. I directed the boats to pull round to the other side of the +Island, where a landing was effected in good order and with little loss, +although executed in the face of a corps formed with a field-piece in the +wood, and under the enfilade of a heavy gun of the enemy's principal +battery. The advance was led by the Grenadiers of the 100th regiment, with +undaunted gallantry which no obstacle could arrest; a narrow causeway, in +many places under water, not more than four feet wide, and about four +hundred paces in length, which connected the Island with the mainland, was +occupied by the enemy in great force with a six-pounder. It was forced and +carried in the most spirited manner, and the gun taken before a second +discharge could be made from it: a tumbril, with a few rounds of +ammunition was found; but, unfortunately, the artillerymen were still +behind, the schooner not having been able to get up in time: and the troops +were exposed to so heavy and galling a fire, from a numerous but almost +invisible foe, as to render it impossible to halt for the artillery to come +up. At this spot two paths led in opposite directions round the hill. I +directed Colonel Young, of the King's regiment, with half of the detachment +to penetrate by the left, and Major Drummond, of the 104th, to force the +path by the right, which proved to be more open and was less occupied by +the enemy. On the left the wood was very thick, and was most obstinately +maintained by the enemy. The gun-boat which had covered our landing, +afforded material aid by firing into the woods; but the American soldier, +secure behind a tree, was only to be dislodged by the bayonet. The spirited +advance of a section produced the flight of hundreds; from this observation +all firing was directed to cease, and the detachment being formed in as +regular order as the nature of the ground would admit, pushed forward +through the wood upon the enemy, who although greatly superior in numbers, +and supported by field-pieces, and a heavy fire from their fort, fled with +precipitation to their block-house and fort, abandoning one of their guns. +The division under Colonel Young was joined in the charge by that under +Major Drummond, which was executed with such spirit and promptness, that +many of the enemy fell in their inclosed barracks, which were set on fire +by our troops. At this point the further energies of the troops became +unavailing. Their block-house and stockaded battery could not be carried by +assault, nor reduced by field-pieces, had we been provided with them--the +fire of the gun-boats proved inefficient to attain that end--light and +adverse winds continued, and our large vessels were still far off. The +enemy turned the heavy ordnance of the battery to the interior defence of +his post. He had set fire to the store-house in the vicinity of the fort. +Seeing no object within our reach to attain that could compensate for the +loss we were momentarily sustaining, from the heavy fire of the enemy's +cannon, I directed the troops to take up the position on the crest of the +hill we had charged from. From this position we were ordered to reimbark, +which was performed at our leisure, and in perfect order, the enemy not +presuming to show a single soldier without the limit of his fortress. Your +Excellency having been a witness of the zeal and ardent courage of every +soldier in the field, it is unnecessary in me to assure your Excellency +that but one sentiment animated every breast--that of discharging to the +utmost of their power their duty to their King and country; but one +sentiment of regret and mortification prevailed, in being obliged to quit a +beaten enemy, whom a small band of British soldiers had driven before them +for three hours, through a country abounding in strong positions of +defence, but not offering a single spot of cleared ground favourable for +the operation of disciplined troops, without having fully accomplished the +duty we were ordered to perform. The two divisions of the detachment were +ably commanded by Colonel Young, of the King's, and Major Drummond of the +104th. The detachment of the King's and Major Evans nobly sustained the +high and established character of that distinguished corps; and Captain +Burke availed himself of the ample field afforded him in leading the +advance to display the intrepidity of British Grenadiers. The detachment of +the 104th, under Major Moodie, Captain M'Pherson's company of Glengary +Light Infantry, and two companies of Canadian Voltigeurs, under Major +Herriot, all of them levies of the British Provinces of North America, +evinced most striking proofs of their loyalty, steadiness, and courage. The +detachment of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment behaved with great gallantry. +Your Excellency will lament the loss of that active and intelligent +officer, Captain Gray, acting Deputy-Quarter-Master-General, who fell close +to the enemy's work while reconnoitring it, in the hope to discover some +opening to favour an assault. Commodore Sir James Yeo conducted the fleet +of boats in the attack, and accompanying the advance of the troops directed +the co-operation of the gun-boats. I feel most grateful for your +Excellency's kind consideration in allowing your Aids-de-Camp, Majors Coore +and Fulton, to accompany me in the field; and to these officers for the +able assistance they afforded me. + + "I have the honour to be, &c. &c. + + (Signed) "EDWARD BAYNES. + + "Colonel Glengary Light Infantry + Commanding." + +"_To His Excellency Lieut.-General +Sir George Prevost, Bart., &c._" + + * * * * * + +_Return of killed, wounded, and missing, in an attack on Sackett's Harbour, +on the 29th of May._ + +Total.--1 General Staff, 3 Serjeants, 44 Rank and File killed. 3 Majors, 3 +Captains, 5 Lieutenants, 1 Ensign, 7 Serjeants, 2 Drummers, 172 Rank and +File, 2 Gunners wounded. 2 Captains, 1 Ensign, 13 Rank and File wounded and +missing. + + +No. XXIII. + +_Extracts of Letters from Sir George Prevost to Brigadier-General Procter, +p. 92._ + +(Private.) + + "_Castle of St. Lewis, Quebec, + 9th February, 1813_. + +"Sir, + +"I have received your despatch of the 26th ult. addressed to Major-General +Sheaffe, reporting the glorious result of an attack, you had very +judiciously deemed it expedient to make on the 22d, on a division of +General Harrison's army advancing from the river Raisin, upon Sandwich, +commanded by Brigadier-General Winchester. + +"In congratulating you upon so honourable an event, and in expressing my +entire approbation of the zeal and spirit which you have evinced on the +arduous command committed to you, I cannot fail to notice the intrepidity +manifested by Colonel St. George, and the other officers and men, regulars +and militia, serving under your immediate command. + +"Your singular judgment and decisive conduct in the affair of French Town, +shall be pourtrayed for the gracious consideration of His Royal Highness +the Prince Regent, and I will not fail in repeating your warm +recommendation of Lieutenant M'Lean, who is acting as your Brigade-Major. + +"I earnestly recommend upon all occasions a strict adherence to the control +and restraint of our allies the Indians, that we may be enabled to repel +the charges which have not unfrequently, though always falsely, been +brought against our Government for resorting to the employment of them. + + "I have the honour to be, &c. + + (Signed) "GEORGE PREVOST." + +"_To Brigadier-General Procter, Detroit._" + + * * * * * + +"_Kingston, 14th June, 1813._ + +"Sir, + +"I have had the honour of your different letters, of the 14th of May, by +Lieut.-Colonel Boucherville, containing the report of your successful +resistance to the attack of the enemy, on the 5th of that month, and must +heartily congratulate you upon the skill and bravery so invariably +displayed by yourself and the troops under your command, and which have led +to so fortunate a result; I have also to acknowledge the receipt of your +letter, of the 10th inst. and beg leave to assure you that I have not been +unmindful of your situation and wants. Brigadier-General Vincent has +received directions, and I have reason to think he has already adopted +measures for supplying them as far as lies in his power. And whenever the +Indian goods, which are now on their way from Quebec, shall have reached +this post, they shall be forwarded to you without delay. As you have not +acknowledged the receipt of my instructions, transmitted to you by desire, +by Major-General Sheaffe, to avail yourself of any favourable opportunity +of retaliating upon the enemy for the attack upon York, by endeavouring to +annoy their settlements upon Lake Erie, I fear his letter has not reached +you. The arrival of Captain Barclay, who, I trust, with a small +reinforcement of seamen, is with you long before this, will, I hope, enable +you to place your Marine on such a footing as to check any attempts of the +enemy, to gain a superiority on Lake Erie. I am very solicitous to receive +from you a correct statement of the whole of your Marine establishment, and +what is wanted to render it complete. + + "I have, &c. + + (Signed) "GEORGE PREVOST." + +"_To Brigadier-General Procter, Detroit._" + + +No. XXIV. + +_Sentence of the Court-martial on Captain Barclay, p. 112._ + +That the capture of His Majesty's late squadron was caused by the very +defective means Captain Barclay possessed to equip them on Lake Erie; the +want of a sufficient number of able seamen, whom he had repeatedly and +earnestly requested of Sir James Yeo to be sent to him; the very great +superiority of the enemy to the British squadron; and the unfortunate early +fall of the superior officers in the action. That it appeared that the +greatest exertions had been made by Captain Barclay, in equipping and +getting into order the vessels under his command; that he was fully +justified, under the existing circumstances, in bringing the enemy to +action; that the judgment and gallantry of Captain Barclay in taking his +squadron into action, and during the contest, were highly conspicuous, and +entitled him to the highest praise; and that the whole of the other +officers and men of His Majesty's late squadron conducted themselves in the +most gallant manner; and did adjudge the said Captain Robert Heriot +Barclay, his surviving officers and men, to be most fully and honourably +acquitted.--Rear-Admiral Foote, President. + + +No. XXV.[106] + +_Court-martial on General Procter, p. 113._ + + _Horse Guards, 9th September, 1815._ + +At a General Court-martial, held at _Montreal_, in Upper Canada, on the +21st December, 1814, and continued by adjournments to the 28th January, +1815, _Major-General Henry Procter_, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 41st +Regiment, was arraigned upon the undermentioned charges, viz. + +_1st, "That the said_ Major-General Procter, _being entrusted with the +Command of the Right Division of the Army serving in the Canadas, and the +retreat of the said Division from the Western Parts of Upper Canada having +become unavoidable from the loss of the Fleet on Lake Erie, on the 10th +September, 1813, did not, immediately after the loss of the Fleet was known +by him, make the Military arrangements best calculated for promptly +effecting such retreat, and unnecessarily delayed to commence the same +until the Evening of the 27th of the said Month, on which Day the Enemy had +landed in considerable force within a short distance of Sandwich, the +Head-Quarters of the said Division, such Conduct on the part of the said_ +Major-General Procter, _endangering the safety of the Troops under his +Command, by exposing them to be attacked by a force far superior to them, +being contrary to his Duty as an Officer, prejudicial to good Order and +Military Discipline, and contrary to the Articles of War_." + +_2d. "That the said_ Major-General Procter, _after commencing the retreat +of the said Division on the said 27th September, although he had reason to +believe that the Enemy would immediately follow it with very superior +numbers, and endeavour to harass and impede its March, did not use due +expedition, or take the proper measures for conducting the said Retreat, +having encumbered the said Division with large quantities of useless +Baggage, having unnecessarily halted the Troops for several whole Days, and +having omitted to destroy the Bridges over which the Enemy would be obliged +to pass, thereby affording them the opportunity to come up with the said +Division, such conduct betraying great professional incapacity on the part +of the said_ Major-General Procter, _being contrary to his Duty as an +Officer, prejudicial to good Order and Military Discipline, and contrary to +the Articles of War_." + +_3d. "That the said_ Major-General Procter _did not take the necessary +measures for affording security to the Boats, Waggons, and Carts, laden +with the Ammunition, Stores, and Provisions, required for the Troops on +their retreat, and allowed the said Boats, Waggons, and Carts, on the 4th +and 5th October, 1813, to remain in the rear of the said Division, whereby +the whole, or the greater part of the said Ammunition, Stores, and +Provisions, either fell into the Enemy's hands, or were destroyed to +prevent their capture, and the Troops were without Provisions for a whole +day previous to their being attacked on the said 5th of October; such +conduct on the part of the said_ Major-General Procter _being contrary to +his duty as an Officer, prejudicial to good Order and Military Discipline, +and contrary to the Articles of War_." + +_4th. "That the said_ Major-General Procter _having assured the Indian +Chiefs in Council at Amherstburgh, as an inducement to them and their +Warriors to accompany the said Division on its retreat, that on their +arrival at Chatham, they should find the Forks of the Thames fortified, did +nevertheless neglect fortify the same; that he also neglected to occupy +the Heights above the Moravian Village, although he had previously removed +his Ordnance, with the exception of one six-pounder, to that position, +where, by throwing up works he might have awaited the attack of the Enemy +and engaged them to great advantage; and that after the intelligence had +reached him of the approach of the Enemy on the Morning of the said 5th of +October, he halted the said Division, notwithstanding it was within two +miles of the said Village, and formed it in a situation highly unfavourable +for receiving the Attack which afterwards took place, such conduct +manifesting great professional incapacity on the part of the said_ +Major-General Procter, _being contrary to his Duty as an Officer, +prejudicial to Good Order and Military Discipline, and contrary to the +Articles of War_." + +_5th. "That the said_ Major-General Procter _did not on the said 5th day of +October, either prior to, or subsequent to, the Attack by the Enemy on the +said Division on that day make the Military dispositions best adapted to +meet or to resist the said Attack, and that during the Action, and after +the Troops had given way, he did not make any effectual attempt in his own +person, or otherwise, to rally or encourage them, or to co-operate with and +support the Indians who were engaged with the enemy on the right, the said_ +Major-General Procter _having quitted the Field soon after the Action +commenced, such Conduct on the part of_ Major-General Procter _betraying +great professional incapacity, tending to the defeat and dishonour of His +Majesty's Arms, to the sacrifice of the Division of the Army committed to +his charge, being in violation of his Duty, and unbecoming and disgraceful +to his Character as an Officer, prejudicial to good Order and Military +Discipline, and contrary to the Articles of War_." + +Upon which Charges the Court came to the following decision:-- + +"The Court having duly weighed and considered the evidence adduced, as well +in support of the Charges, as in support of the Defence, is of Opinion." + +"That the Prisoner, _Major-General Henry Procter_, Lieutenant-Colonel of +the 41st Regiment, is _not Guilty_ of any part of the _First_ Charge; and +the Court doth therefore _wholly acquit_ him, the said _Major-General +Procter_, of the same." + +"On the _Second_ Charge, the Court is of opinion, that the said +_Major-General Procter_ is _Guilty_ of the following part thereof, _that he +did not take the proper measures for conducting the Retreat_; but the Court +is of Opinion, that the said _Major-General Procter_ is _Not Guilty_ of any +other part of the said Charge, and doth therefore _acquit_ him of the +same." + +"On the _Third_ Charge the Court is of opinion, that the said +_Major-General Procter_ is _Guilty_ of that part thereof in which it is +charged, _that the said Major General Procter did not take the necessary +measures for affording security to the Boats, Waggons, and Carts, laden +with the Ammunition, Stores, and Provisions, required for the Troops on +their retreat_; but the Court is of opinion, that the said _Major-General +Procter_ is _Not Guilty_ of any part of the remainder of the said Charge, +and doth therefore _acquit_ him of the remainder thereof." + +"On the _Fourth_ Charge the Court is of opinion, that the said +_Major-General Procter_ is _Guilty_ of that part thereof, in which it is +charged _that he neglected to occupy the heights above the Moravian +Village, although he had previously removed his Ordnance, with the +exception of one Six Pounder, to that position, where, by throwing up Works +he might have awaited the attack of the Enemy, and engaged them to great +advantage;--and that after the intelligence had reached him of the approach +of the Enemy on the Morning of the said 5th October, he halted the said +Division, notwithstanding it was within two miles of the said Village, and +formed it in a situation highly unfavourable for receiving the attack, +which afterwards took place_;--but the Court is of opinion, that the said +_Major-General Procter_ is _Not Guilty_ of any part of the remainder of the +said charge, and doth therefore _acquit_ him of the remainder thereof." + +"On the _Fifth_ Charge the Court is of opinion, that the said +_Major-General Procter_ is _Guilty_ of that part thereof, in which it is +charged _that he did not on the said 5th day of October, either prior to or +subsequent to, the attack by the Enemy on the said Division on that day, +make the Military dispositions best adapted to meet or to resist the said +attack_; but the Court is of opinion, that that part thereof, in which it +is charged _that during the Action, and after the Troops had given way, he +did not make any effectual attempt in his own person or otherwise, to rally +or encourage them, or to co-operate with and support the Indians who were +engaged with the Enemy on the right_, has not been proved, and the Court +doth therefore _acquit_ him, the said _Major-General Procter_ of the +same;--and the Court is of opinion, that the said _Major-General Procter_ +is _Not Guilty_ of any part of the remainder of the said Charge, and doth +therefore _fully_ and _honourably acquit_ him of the same." + +"Upon the whole, the Court is of opinion, that the prisoner, _Major-General +Procter_, has in many instances during the retreat, and in the disposition +of the Force under his Command, been erroneous in judgment, and in some, +deficient in those energetic and active exertions, which the extraordinary +difficulties of his situation so particularly required." + +"The Court doth therefore adjudge him, the said _Major-General Procter, to +be publicly reprimanded, and to be suspended from Rank and Pay, for the +period of Six Calendar Months_." + +"But as to any defect or reproach, with regard to the personal conduct of +_Major-General Procter_, during the action on the 5th of October, the Court +_most fully_ and _honourably acquits_ the said _Major-General Procter_." + +His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has been pleased, in the name and on +the behalf of His Majesty, to confirm the Finding of the Court, on the 1st, +3d, 4th, and 5th Charges. + +With respect to the _Second Charge_ it appeared to His Royal Highness to be +a matter of surprise that the Court should find the prisoner _Guilty_ of +the offence alleged against him, while they at the same time _Acquit_ him +of all the facts upon which that Charge is founded;--and yet, that in the +summing up of their Finding upon the whole of the Charges, they should +ascribe the offences of which the prisoner has been found Guilty, to Error +in Judgment, and pass a Sentence totally inapplicable to their own finding +of Guilt, which can alone be ascribed to the Court having been induced, by +a reference to the general good character and conduct of _Major-General +Procter_, to forget, through a humane, but mistaken lenity, what was due +from them to the Service. + +Under all the circumstances of the case, however, and particularly those +which render it impossible to have recourse to the otherwise expedient +measure of re-assembling the Court, for the revival of their proceedings, +the Prince Regent has been pleased to acquiesce in, and confirm so much of +the Sentence as adjudges the prisoner to be _publicly reprimanded_, and in +carrying the same into execution, His Royal Highness has directed the +General Officer commanding in Canada, to convey to _Major-General Procter_, +His Royal Highness's high disapprobation of his conduct, together with the +expression of His Royal Highness's regret, that any officer of the length +of service, and of the exalted rank which he has attained, should be so +extremely wanting in professional knowledge, and so deficient in those +active and energetic qualities, which must be required of every officer, +but especially of one in the responsible situation in which the +_Major-General_ was placed. + +His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief directs that the foregoing +Charges preferred against _Major-General Procter_, together with the +Finding and Sentence of the Court, and the Prince Regent's pleasure +thereon, shall be entered in the General Order Book, and read at the Head +of every Regiment in His Majesty's Service. + + By Command of His Royal Highness, + + The Commander-in-chief, + + HARRY CALVERT, + + Adjutant-General. + + +No. XXVI. + +_p. 122._ + + _Adjutant-General's Office, + Head Quarters, Quebec, 26th March, 1814._ + +General Orders, + +His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief and Commander of the Forces feels the +highest gratification in obeying the Commands of His Royal Highness the +Prince Regent, transmitted in a letter from the Right Hon. the Earl +Bathurst, one of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, of which the +following is a Copy, and which His Excellency directs to be published in +General Orders, and read at the Head of all Corps in this Command: + +"His Royal Highness has observed with the greatest satisfaction the skill +and gallantry so conspicuously displayed by the officers and men who +composed the detachment of troops opposed to General Hampton's army. By the +resistance which they successfully made to an enemy so vastly +disproportionate, the confidence of the enemy has been lowered, their plans +disconcerted, and the safety of that part of the Canadian frontier ensured. +It gives His Royal Highness peculiar pleasure to find, that His Majesty's +Canadian subjects have at length had the opportunity (which His Royal +Highness has been long anxious should be afforded them) of refuting, by +their own brilliant exertions in defence of their country, that calumnious +charge of disaffection and disloyalty with which the enemy prefaced his +first invasion of the Province. + +"To Lieut.-Colonel De Salaberry, in particular, and to all the officers and +men under his command in general, you will not fail to express His Royal +Highness's Most Gracious Approbation of their meritorious and distinguished +services. His Royal Highness has commanded me to forward to you by the +first safe opportunity, the Colours which you have solicited for the +embodied Battalions of the Militia, feeling that they have evinced an +ability and disposition to secure them from insult, which gives them the +best title to such a mark of distinction. + + "By His Excellency's Command, + EDWARD BAYNES, + Adjutant-General, N. A." + + +No. XXVII. + +_Extract from Sir George Prevost's Despatch to Earl Bathurst, dated 18th +May, 1814, p. 135._ + +"The principal objects in the attack upon Oswego, being to cripple the +resources of the enemy, in fitting out their squadron, and particularly +their new ship at Sackett's Harbour, their guns and stores of every +description being drawn from the former post, and thus to delay, if not +altogether to prevent, the sailing of the fleet, I determined to pursue the +same policy on Lake Champlain, and therefore directed Captain Pring to +proceed with his squadron, on board of which I had placed a strong +detachment of the 1st battalion of the marines, towards Vergennes, for the +purpose, if practicable, of destroying the new vessels lately launched +there, and of intercepting and capturing the stores and supplies for their +armament and equipment. Captain Pring accordingly sailed on the 9th, and +with the force mentioned in the margin, having been prevented by contrary +winds from reaching his destination until the 14th instant, he found, on +arriving off Otter Creek, the enemy so fully prepared to receive him, their +vessels so strongly defended by batteries, and a considerable body of +troops, that after a cannonading with some effect from his gun-boats, he +judged it most advisable to abandon his intended plan of attacking them, +and return to Isle aux Noix. + +"The appearance of our squadron on the Lake has been productive of great +confusion and alarm at Burlington, and other places, along its shores, and +the whole of the population appeared to be turned out for their defence." + + +No. XXVIII. + + _Extract of a Letter from Major-General Sir James Kempt + to Sir George Prevost, respecting the intended Attack + upon Sackett's Harbour, dated_ + + "_Kingston, 18th Sept. 1814._ + +"Sir, + +"With all due deference to your Excellency's superior judgment, it appears +to me, that an operation of this magnitude, and _probable duration_, should +not be undertaken without the most ample means, and at the very best season +of the year; that not less than 8,000 infantry, with a strong efficient +corps of artillery and engineers, should be employed on this service; that +Watertown and Brownville should be occupied in force by strong corps of +observation, capable of covering the operations; that there should be an +intermediate rendezvous for the assembly of the troops and stores, between +this and the place of debarkation; and, that above all, we should have the +_decided superiority_ on the Lake, before the service is undertaken. + + "I have the honour to be, with great respect, + + "Your Excellency's most obedient + + "And most humble servant, + + "JAMES KEMPT. + Lieut.-Gen." + + +No. XXIX. + +_Extract of a Letter from Sir J. L. Yeo to Sir George Prevost, dated 29th +Aug. 1814, p. 141._ + +"I have this day received a correct statement of all the officers and men +belonging to the establishment on Lake Champlain. + +"I enclose your Excellency a scale of the complement of each vessel, +agreeable to the Admiralty order, by which you will perceive that, after +each complement is complete, there will remain 97 seamen over and above. +Your Excellency must be aware, that when this squadron proceeds up the +Lake, I shall be under the necessity of taking the seamen out of the +gun-boats; neither will the number of seamen we have in this country, +afford a sufficient number of men to man the gun-boats on Lake Champlain, +independent of the ships." + + +No. XXX. + +_Correspondence between Sir George Prevost and Capt. Downie, p. 145._ + + "_Head-Quarters, Plattsburg, + Wednesday, 7 a. m. 7th Sept. 1814._ + +"Sir, + +"The enemy's force in the Bay consists of a ship, inferior to the +Confiance, a brig, a large schooner, a sloop, and seven or eight gun-boats. +When the gun-boats are manned, the remaining craft appear to have but few +men left on board. If you feel that the vessels under your command are +equal to a contest with those I have described, you will find the present +moment offers many advantages which may not again occur. + +"As my ulterior movements depend on your decision, you will have the +goodness to favour me with it, with all possible promptitude. + +"In the event of your coming forward immediately, you will furnish +conveyance for the two 8-inch mortars, ordered from Isle aux Noix, with +their stores, provided you can do so, without delaying the sailing of your +squadron. + + "I have the honour to be, &c. + + (Signed) "G. PREVOST." + +"_To Captain Downie, &c._" + + * * * * * + + "_H. M. S. Confiance, off La Cole, + 7th Sept. 4 p. m. 1814._ + +"Sir, + +"I have the honour of your Excellency's letter of this morning. + +"I am aware of the comparative force of the two squadrons, and am thus far +on my way to find the enemy, conceiving that the moment I can put this ship +into a state for action, I shall be able to meet them. + +"The Confiance at this moment is in such a state, as to require at least a +day[107] or two to make her efficient before the enemy; but with all the +exertion I can use, it will probably be that time at least, before it will +be possible to get her up to Chazy, where I shall be happy to receive any +further communication from your Excellency. + + "I have the honour to be, Sir, + + "Your most obedient servant, + + "GEO. DOWNIE." + +"_His Excellency Lieut.-Gen. +Sir G. Prevost, Bart. &c. &c._" + + * * * * * + + "_Head-Quarters, Plattsburg, + Thursday Morning, 8th Sept. 1814._ + +"Sir, + +"I have just received your reply to my communication of yesterday. + +"As it is of the highest importance the ship, vessels, and gun-boats, under +your command, should commence a co-operation with the division of the army, +now occupying Plattsburg, I have sent my Aid-de-Camp, Major Coore, with +this letter, in order that you may obtain from him correct information of +the disposition made by the enemy of his naval force in this bay. + +"I only wait for your arrival to proceed against General Macomb's last +position, on the south bank of the Saranac. Your share in the operation, in +the first instance, will be to destroy or capture the enemy's squadron, if +it should wait for a contest, and afterwards co-operate with this division +of the army; but if it should run away, or get out of your reach, we must +meet here to consult on ulterior movements. + + "I have the honour to be, &c. + + (Signed) "G. PREVOST." + + * * * * * + + "_H. M. S. Confiance, off Point au Fer, + 8th Sept. 1814._ + +"Sir, + +"I have the honour of your Excellency's letter of this day; and have to +state, that I am advancing with the squadron to Chazy as fast as the wind +and weather will allow. + +"In the letter I did myself the honour to address to you yesterday, I +stated to your Excellency, that this ship was not ready--she is not ready +now; and until she is ready, it is my duty not to hazard the squadron +before an enemy, who will even then be considerably superior in force. + +"I purpose remaining at Chazy until I find myself enabled to move, which I +trust will be very shortly, it depending on my guns being ready. + + "I have the honour to be, Sir, + + "Your most obedient servant, + + "GEO. DOWNIE." + +"_His Excellency Sir Geo. Prevost, +Bart. &c. &c. &c._" + + * * * * * + + "_Head-Quarters, Plattsburg, + Friday, 9th Sept. 1814._ + +"Sir, + +"In consequence of your communication of yesterday's date, I have postponed +moving on the enemy's position, on the south bank of the Saranac, until +your squadron is in a sufficient state of preparation to co-operate with +this division of the army. + +"I need not dwell, with you, on the evils resulting to both services from +delay, as I am well convinced you have done every thing that was in your +power to accelerate the armament and equipment of your squadron, and I am +also satisfied nothing will prevent its coming off Plattsburg the moment it +is ready. + +"I am happy to inform you, that I find from deserters, who have come over +from the enemy, that the American fleet is inefficiently manned, and that a +few days ago, after the arrival of the new brig, they sent on shore for the +prisoners of all descriptions, in charge of the Prevost, to make up a crew +for that vessel. + + "I have the honor to be, &c. + + (Signed) "G. PREVOST." + +"P.S. Captain Watson, of the Provincial Cavalry, is desired to remain at +Little Chazy until you are preparing to get under weigh, when he is +instantly to return to this place with the intelligence." + + * * * * * + + "_H.M.S. Confiance, off Chazy, + 9th Sept. 1814_. + +"Sir, + +"I have the honour to communicate to your Excellency, that it is my +intention to weigh and proceed with the squadron, from this anchorage, +about midnight, in the expectation of rounding into the bay of Plattsburg +about dawn of day, and commencing an immediate attack on the enemy's +squadron, if they shall be found anchored in a position that will afford +any chance of success. + +"I rely on any assistance it may be in your power to give. + +"In manning the flotilla and ships, we are many short. I have made +application to the officer commanding at Chazy, for a company of the 39th +regiment to make up. + + "I have the honour to be, Sir, + + "Your most obedient servant, + + "GEO. DOWNIE." + +"_His Excellency Sir Geo. Prevost, +Bart. &c. &c. &c._" + +"P. S. I have just this moment received your letter of this day, to which +the preceding is, I think, a sufficient answer. + + "G. D." + + * * * * * + + "_Head-Quarters, Plattsburg, + Saturday Morning, 10th Sept. 1814._ + +"Sir, + +"I received, at twelve last night, your letter, acquainting me with your +determination to get under weigh, about that time, in the expectation of +rounding Cumberland Head at dawn of day; in consequence, the troops have +been held in readiness, since six o'clock this morning, to storm the +enemy's works at nearly the same moment as the naval action should commence +in the bay. I ascribe the disappointment I have experienced to the +unfortunate change of wind, and I shall rejoice to learn from you, that my +expectations have been frustrated by no other cause. + + "I have the honour to be, &c. + + (Signed) "G. PREVOST." + +"_To Capt. Downie, &c. &c. &c._" + + +No. XXXI. + +_Extract from Vermont Paper, dated Burlington, Sept. 1814, p. 168._ + +"The articles in your paper of last week, republished from the Montreal +papers, are interesting, as they evince the spirit of our Canada +neighbours, and the high hopes they had entertained from their late +expedition. + +"That the result is not such as they could have wished we believe, but that +its failure should be ascribed entirely to the misconduct of Gov. Prevost +is wholly unaccountable. It is not our business or desire to shield Gov. +Prevost from the censure of his subjects, but after the decision of the +contest between the hostile fleets, we can perceive no object of national +importance which could have justified the further operations of the army. + +"It is possible that an army of 12,000 men might have carried the works at +Plattsburg, but the positive assertions on this subject betray great +ignorance of our resources, and the spirit of our people. Grant, that after +much hard fighting, and the loss of many valuable lives, they had succeeded +in taking the forts, do they suppose they could have retained them against +all the forces we can bring against them? If they do, we can only say, that +they are grossly mistaken. + +"Do they suppose that an army of 12,000 men can march through a country, +every county of which contains more than that number of souls; or do they +suppose their progress would not be obstructed? + +"A large proportion of our citizens are opposed to the present war, and +from principles the most noble and virtuous. They will not, under existing +circumstances, consent to aid in offensive operations against their +neighbours. But let no one suppose their love of peace will destroy their +love of country, and that they can make war upon us without danger. We will +not willingly molest them, but they must not disturb us. He is unworthy any +country who would not protect his own from invasion; and we are happy to +know that this country is inhabited by men who need no additional +inducement to protect their rights and privileges at every hazard. + + "PEOPLE." + +"_Messrs. Hinckley and Fish._" + + +No. XXXII. + + _An Extract from the Address of the House of Assembly, + at the opening of the Session, 30th Jan. 1815, to His + Excellency Sir George Prevost, p. 176._ + +"The operations contemplated on the shores of Lake Champlain, we are led to +believe, by our confidence in your Excellency's judgment, were planned in +consequence of wise combinations, and our proximity to the scene of action +has enabled us to acquire a perfect conviction, that they were frustrated +by causes beyond your Excellency's control. We are equally convinced that +the failure of our naval means rendered necessary at the very onset, an +immediate abandonment of the enterprize. + +"The protecting hand of His Majesty's government has been agreeably felt in +the reinforcements received by your Excellency, for the diminution of the +pressure of the war on the inhabitants of this province. The testimony +which your Excellency is pleased to bear to the zeal and alacrity with +which their services have been rendered, cannot but be more flattering to +their feelings and demands through their representatives, their warmest +acknowledgments. It is under your Excellency's wise and just administration +that their character and conduct have been justly appreciated; and whatever +merit their services may be entitled to, a large portion of it is +unquestionably due to your Excellency, whose well founded confidence in +them, has enabled them, by those services, to testify their faithful, +loyal, and patriotic adherence to His Majesty: of which, under your +Excellency's administration, they hope many opportunities, during a long +time to come, will be afforded them to give additional proofs." + + * * * * * + +_Extract from an Address from the House of Assembly of Lower Canada, to Sir +Geo. Prevost, 20th March, 1815._ + +"We take this opportunity of repeating the expression of our sentiments of +gratitude to your Excellency, for having, by your prudence, by the wisdom +of your measures, and by your ability, preserved to the empire these +important provinces, and for the paternal solicitude with which your +Excellency has watched over the welfare of His Majesty's subjects, and to +pray your Excellency to rest assured, that those benefits will ever remain +deeply engraven on the hearts of the Canadians." + + * * * * * + +_Extract from the Resolutions of the House of Assembly of Lower Canada, +21st March, 1815._ + +"According to order, the resolutions of the Committee of the whole House, +to consider whether it would be expedient to give to his Excellency the +Governor-in-Chief, some mark of gratitude for his distinguished services in +this province, were reported to the House, agreed to, and ordered to be +engrossed. + +"The said resolutions are as follows: + +"Resolved, + +"That this House entertains the highest veneration and respect, for the +character of his Excellency Sir George Prevost, Governor-in-Chief, whose +administration, under circumstances of peculiar novelty and difficulty, +stands highly distinguished for energy, wisdom, and ability. + + * * * * * + +"Resolved, + +"That this House, representing the people of this province, anxiously +desirous of expressing their gratitude to his Excellency, for having, under +Providence, rescued us from the danger of subjugation to our late foe, +have, and do hereby, give and grant a service of plate not exceeding five +thousand pounds, sterling, to his Excellency, as a testimonial of the high +sense this House entertains of his Excellency's distinguished talents, +wisdom, and abilities. + + * * * * * + +"Resolved, + +"That for the better carrying into execution the object this House has in +view, for the purchase of the service of plate for his Excellency, the +Speaker of this House be authorized to give directions to such persons, in +England, as may be best able to execute the same, and that when so +completed, the said service be presented to his Excellency the +Governor-in-Chief, in the name and on the behalf of the Commons of His +Majesty's province of Lower Canada. + + * * * * * + +"Resolved, + +"That an humble address be presented to his Excellency the +Governor-in-Chief, to communicate the above resolutions, humbly praying +that his Excellency will be graciously pleased to advance a sum not +exceeding five thousand pounds sterling, to the order of the Speaker of +this House, for the object stated in the above resolutions; and that this +House doth engage, and hereby pledges itself to make good the said advance +the next ensuing session of this provincial parliament." + + * * * * * + + _Extract from the Speech of the Speaker of the House of + Assembly, on presenting the Money Bills to the + Governor-in-Chief, 23rd March, 1815._ + +"Superior to prejudices which had but too generally prevailed, your +Excellency has derived from the devotion of that brave and loyal, yet +unjustly calumniated people, resources sufficient for disconcerting the +plans of conquest, devised by a foe at once numerous and elate with +confidence. Reinforcements were subsequently received; and the blood of the +sons of Canada has flowed mingled with that of the brave soldiers sent to +its defence. Multiplied proofs of the efficacious and powerful protection +of the mother country, and of the inviolable loyalty of the people of this +province, strengthen their claim to the preservation and free exercise of +all the benefits which are secured to them by their existing constitution +and laws." + + * * * * * + +_Addresses to Sir Geo. Prevost, from the Inhabitants of Quebec and +Montreal, 31st March._ + + _To His Excellency Sir George Prevost, Bart. + Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief, in and over the + Provinces of Lower Canada, &c. &c. &c._ + +"May it please your Excellency, + +"We the inhabitants of the city of Quebec, most respectfully approach your +Excellency, at the moment of your departure for England, to express the +sentiments which we entertain, of a most profound regard for your +Excellency's person and character, and a lively gratitude for the benefits, +which, in common with our fellow subjects throughout the province, we have +derived from your Excellency's administration. + +"At the period of your Excellency's arrival in this country, on the eve of +a war with America, you found the majority of its inhabitants irritated by +the unfortunate effects of misunderstandings of a long duration. Your +Excellency, consulting only the general welfare by a strict adherence to +justice and a well-timed confidence, soon allayed every discontent, and +rallied the whole population for the common defence. Under the happy +influence of harmony thus restored, the militia was assembled and trained, +and an exhausted treasury replenished. The additional means which you +thereby derived from the colony committed to your particular care, enabled +your Excellency to extend the handful of British troops at your disposal, +to the most distant parts of the Upper Province, where the long meditated +attacks of the enemy were met at the onset, and his forces repeatedly +overthrown with disgrace--the happy precursor of the fate which awaited all +his attempts on this province. + +"If the smallness of the regular army with which your Excellency was left +to withstand the whole efforts of the United States for two years, and the +insufficiency of the naval force on the Lakes, have exposed His Majesty's +arms to some reverses, it is nevertheless, true, that under the auspices of +your Excellency, the British arms have acquired new laurels, amidst +circumstances of extraordinary difficulty, unprecedented in European +warfare; the name of the people of this country has been rendered +illustrious, and a vast extent of territory protected from the ravages of +war and preserved to the empire. + +"Your Excellency's name and services will ever be held in veneration and +grateful remembrance by the inhabitants of Quebec. The whole province has +assured you of its gratitude; and the imperishable evidences of your +Excellency's merits, though they could not appease, will easily overcome +your enemies. + +"May your Excellency's voyage be prosperous, and its results correspond +with your wishes. The citizens of Quebec will hail the day of your +Excellency's return to your government, rewarded with the full approbation +of a gracious Prince, as one of the happiest in the annals of Canada. + + [Signed by 1420 persons.] + +"_Quebec, 31st March, 1815._" + +To which his Excellency was pleased to return the following Answer: + +_To the Inhabitants of the City of Quebec._ + +"Gentlemen, + +"I thank you for those sentiments of kindness which now, as at all times, I +have had the gratification to receive from the inhabitants of the city of +Quebec. It is at the moment of separation that such expressions appeal most +forcibly to the heart. + +"If under the authority which His Majesty has deemed proper to place in my +hands, you have been prosperous and happy, the objects of all my exertions, +and my most earnest solicitude has been attained. + +"The time I have spent in your society has taught me at once to appreciate +its worth, and to regret the loss of it; and, be assured, the testimony of +regard you have now given me, will be treasured up among recollections the +most grateful to my feelings." + + * * * * * + +On Monday last, at twelve o'clock, the Address of the Citizens of Montreal +was presented to his Excellency Sir George Prevost, by their Deputies, J. +M. Mondelet and John M'Donald, Esquires, which Address is as follows: + + _To his Excellency Sir George Prevost, Bart. + Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief, in and over the + Province of Lower Canada, Upper Canada, Nova Scotia, + New Brunswick and their Dependencies, Vice-Admiral of + the same, Lieutenant-General and Commander of all His + Majesty's Forces in the said Provinces, and in the + Islands of Newfoundland, Prince Edward, Cape Breton, + and Bermuda, &c. &c. &c._ + + * * * * * + +"May it please your Excellency, + +"We His Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects, inhabitants of the city of +Montreal and the neighbouring Parishes, have learnt with extreme regret +that your Excellency is unexpectedly about to leave this province. + +"We hasten, before your Excellency separates yourself from us, to convey to +your Excellency the expression of our sorrow for your departure, of our +gratitude for the benefits conferred on us, in common with our fellow +subjects, by your Excellency's administration, and our ardent wish that +your Excellency's absence from this province may be of short duration. + +"These sentiments are naturally produced in our minds by the recollection +of the public and private virtues which have been displayed by your +Excellency in your exalted station, and by the advantages we have +experienced from your Excellency's wisdom and justice in peace, and your +protecting care in war. + +"In your Excellency's civil administration, we have seen conspicuously +evinced an anxious desire to dispense equal justice to His Majesty's +subjects, to obliterate unjust and impolitic distinctions between the +inhabitants of this province, of different origin, and to unite them as +members of one community with the same rights and interests, for the +promotion of their common welfare. Influenced by this wise and just policy, +your Excellency has been enabled to form a correct estimate of the +character and disposition of the population of Canada: and, by reposing in +the loyalty and bravery of His Majesty's Canadian subjects that confidence +which they fully merited, your Excellency has afforded practical evidence +of their devoted attachment to His Majesty's government, and their capacity +to yield it effectual support. + +"While exposed to the pressure of the late unjust and unprovoked war waged +by the United States of America against His Majesty, we experienced the +security derived from your Excellency's indefatigable exertions for the +defence of this Province, and have reason to ascribe its preservation, as +well as that of the Upper Province, to the judicious distribution and +arrangement of the Public Force made by your Excellency, by which the +attempts of the enemy were frustrated, and the honourable character, with +the rights and advantages of British subjects has been secured to the +Inhabitants of the Canadas. + +"Having the greatest confidence in the skill and judgment of your +Excellency, and being fully convinced of the ability and prudence with +which your Excellency has discharged the military as well as civil duties +of your high office, we anticipate, from the investigation for which your +Excellency is preparing, a result honourable to your Excellency's +character, by which your well-earned reputation will be confirmed, the +voice of calumny and detraction silenced, and your Excellency's merits +conclusively established. We persuade ourselves also that the important +services rendered in this country by your Excellency to His Majesty's +Government will be duly appreciated by His Royal Highness the Prince +Regent, of whose discernment and justice we have had so many proofs, and +will procure for your Excellency deserved approbation, and the high rewards +reserved for distinguished merit. + +"We shall not cease to take the warmest interest in the fortunes of your +Excellency; and in expressing our ardent wishes for your prosperity and +that of your family, we join in the general sentiment of the country, whose +affection and unalterable attachment your Excellency will carry with you, +and whose greatest felicity would be experienced in the speedy return of +your Excellency to resume the reins of Government." + + (Signed by 1510 persons.) + + * * * * * + +His Excellency was pleased to make the following answer: + +_To the Inhabitants of the City of Montreal, and the neighbouring +Parishes._ + +"Gentlemen, + +"The alacrity with which you have hastened to prevent the distance of your +residence from being an obstacle to the expression of your kind wishes on +my sudden and unexpected departure, gives to them all the additional value +of eager sincerity. + +"Your good will is to me a most acceptable offering: and as I am now +content if your good opinion of my services during my Administration is +proportioned to my desire to promote your welfare, so shall I ever be +ambitious that your estimate of my exertions may be found as correct as the +favourable judgment which I early formed of His Majesty's subjects in +Canada, which experience has now fully justified." + + * * * * * + +_Letter from M. de Salaberry to Sir George Prevost._ + +A son Excellence Sir George Prevost, &c. &c. + +Qu'il plaise a votre Excellence, + +Me permettre d'ecrire, puisque je ne peux sortir. J'en suis empeche par une +maladie opiniatre et apparemment dangereuse, puisqu'encore hier j'ai tombe +sans connaissance sur le plancher. Je suis bien peine d'etre prive par les +accidens d'aller vous rendre mes respects, avant que vous vous laissiez. + +Sir George, vous portez pour vous justifier--Quoi! une justification de +vous! Qui pouvait s'y attendre? Mais s'il en faut une, la voici d'un mot: +LE CANADA EST ENCORE A L'ANGLETERRE. Cela repond a tout. Le resultat est +tout, il est frappant, il est grand. Voila _un fait_, celui-la: on ne peut +le nier. Devant lui doivent disparaitre les vaines paroles, les accusations +sophistiques; sous lui doivent succomber les efforts de la malveillance, +l'envie, les passions haineuses; mais le merite et la vertu sont sujets a +la persecution. Vous en triompherez glorieusement: j'ose vous le predire +avec assurance, et je la souhaite du profond de mon coeur, comme je +souhaite aussi tous les bonheurs pour vous, Sir George, et pour ce qui vous +est cher. Avec ces vrais sentimens, et ceux du plus grand respect, j'ai +l'honneur de me souscrire, + + Mon General, + De votre Excellence, + Le tres-humble, tres-obeissant + Et tres devoue serviteur, + L. de SALABERRY, Col. M. Quebec. + +_A Beauport, 28 Mars, 1815._ + +P. S. Oui, les Canadas sont encore a l'Angleterre, mais n'y serraient plus +sans un effort perseverant de prudence, d'activite, de patience courageuse, +et d'habilite consommee, dans un commandement et un genre de guerre aussi +difficiles, dont la conduite exige un art tant particulier. Voila ce +qu'avoueront tous ceux qui ont de vraies connaissances de la nature de ces +pays de situations si extraordinaires, a des prodigieuses distances, a +travers des forets immenses. + +Ce ne sont pas des guerres _d'Europe_, ou sous un beau ciel et dans des +riches plaines cultivees, toutes les parties d'armees se touchent, ou sont +toujours a-portee, de se donner la main, dans des localites rapprochees et +dont les communications sont si faciles. Daignez, mon General, traiter mes +reflexions avec indulgence, puis qu'elles viennent d'un vieux et loyal +soldat, qui a commence a faire la guerre il y a precisement quarante ans +cette annee. + + +No. XXXIII. + + _Extract from Christie's Memoirs of the Administration + of the Colonial Government of Lower Canada, by Sir + James Henry Craig, and Sir George Prevost._ + +"The administration of the Civil Government of Lower Canada under Sir +George Prevost, was mild, equitable, and unquestionably popular among the +entire mass of the Canadian population, in whose loyalty from the +commencement, he placed the most implicit confidence. To their fidelity, +and to the prudent and conciliating policy of this Governor, Great Britain +is indebted for the preservation of the Canadas, unavoidably left destitute +of money and troops at the outset of hostilities with America, by reason of +the urgent demands of the war in Spain. The Provincial Legislature, by +giving a currency to Army Bills and guaranteeing their redemption, +effectually removed all apprehensions of a deficiency in the financial +resources of the Colonial Government. The organization of a respectable +force of embodied Militia, and the power delegated to the Governor, of +turning out the whole of the effective male population of the Province, in +cases of emergency, enabled him to withstand the efforts of the United +States, during two successive campaigns, with scarcely any other resources +than those derived from the Colony. They who had been partial to the +preceding Administration, and who probably may have been instrumental in +the arbitrary measures with which it is reproached, were, as might be +expected, adverse to the policy of the present Governor, and spared no +pains to represent in England the affairs of the Colony in the falsest +colours. The disappointments experienced at Sackett's Harbour and +Plattsburg, gave occasion to his enemies to discredit his military +character: but whatever may have been his capacity as a general, (which we +leave to the judgment of military men) it must be admitted, that as a civil +governor, at the head of a people irritated by arbitrary measures under the +preceding Administration, he judiciously explored his way through a period +of unprecedented embarrassments and danger, without a recurrence to Martial +Law, or the least exertion of arbitrary power. His manners are represented +by those who were familiarly acquainted with him as unassuming and social. +His public speeches or addresses partook of even classical elegance. His +smooth and easy temper placed him beyond the ordinary passions of men in +power, and though aware of the intrigues of unprincipled and implacable +enemies labouring at his destruction, and loaded with the obloquy of the +press, he is known to have harboured no resentment against the former, and +to have reasoned with that coolness and unconcern with respect to the +latter, which can only spring from a virtuous and ingenuous mind." + + * * * * * + +_Extract from Bouchette's Topographical Account of Lower Canada, p. 121._ + +"At a time when the military resources of the Province were so greatly +curtailed by the most arduous continental warfare that ever Great Britain +was engaged in, it is a matter of surprise that so much could have been +effected with such slender means. An enemy, emboldened by possessing an +ample force, and inspired by the prospect of obtaining a fertile country, +long the object of inordinate desire, could only be successfully opposed by +a union of the greatest energy with the most active measures; that such was +presented to him is incontrovertible, and the credit of having brought them +into action by unceasing perseverance, will attach to the judicious +dispositions of the Governor-General, Sir George Prevost, and for his +strenuous efforts in turning the enthusiasm of the people into a bulwark +stronger, and more impenetrable than entrenchments or fortresses against an +invader." + + * * * * * + + _The following Extract from James's Naval Memoirs, p. + 411, shewing the opinion of the American Naval + Commander, as to the result of the action on Lake + Champlain, was intended to form a note to page 175._ + +"Commodore Macdonough, taking Lieutenant Robertson, when presenting his +sword, for the British Commanding Officer, spoke to him as follows:--'You +owe it, Sir, to the shameful conduct of your gun-boats and cutters, that +you are performing this office to me; for, had they done their duty, you +must have perceived, from the situation of the Saratoga, that I could hold +out no longer: and indeed, nothing induced me to keep up her colours, but +seeing, from the united fire of all the rest of my squadron on the +Confiance, and her unsupported situation, that she must ultimately +surrender.'--Here is an acknowledgment, candid and honourable in the +extreme." + + +No. XXXIV. + +_Inscription on the Monument erected to the Memory of Sir George Prevost in +Winchester Cathedral, p. 177._ + + Sacred to the Memory + Of Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Baronet, + of Belmont, in this County, + Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of the British + Forces in North America; + In which command, by his wise and energetic measures, + And with a very inferior force, + He preserved the Canadas to the British Crown, + From the repeated invasions of a powerful Enemy. + His Constitution at length sunk + Under incessant bodily and mental exertions, + In discharging the duties of that arduous station, + And having returned to England, + He died shortly afterwards in London, on the 5th Jan. 1816, + Aged forty-eight years; + Thirty-four of which had been devoted + To the service of his Country. + He was interred near the remains of his Father, + Major-General Augustin Prevost, + At East Barnet, in Middlesex. + His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, + To evince in an especial manner the sense he entertained + Of his distinguished conduct and services, + During a long period of constant active employment, + In situations of great trust, both military and civil, + Was pleased to ordain, + As a lasting memorial of His Majesty's Royal favour, + That the names of the Countries, + Where his courage and abilities had been most signally displayed, + The West Indies and Canada, + Should be inscribed on the banners of the supporters, + Granted to be borne by his Family and his descendants. + In Testimony of his private worth, + His piety, integrity, and benevolence, + And all those tender, domestic virtues + Which endeared him + To his Family, his Children, his Friends and Dependants, + As well as to prove her unfeigned love, gratitude and respect, + Catharine Ann Prevost, + His afflicted Widow, + caused this Monument to be erected, + Anno Domini, 1818. + + +No. XXXV. + +_Private Despatch from Sir George Prevost to Earl Bathurst, p. 179._ + +(Private.) + + "_Montreal, 21st Sept. 1814._ + +"My Lord, + +"In my despatch from Plattsburg, of the 11th inst. I reported to your +Lordship the unfortunate event which induced me to withdraw the troops with +which I had advanced into the enemy's territory. My reasons for that +measure I can more fully explain to your Lordship in a private +communication than it might be proper to do in a public letter. + +"Your Lordship must have been aware from my previous despatches, that no +offensive operations could be carried on, within the enemy's territory, for +the destruction of his Naval Establishments, without naval support. Having +ascertained that our flotilla was in every respect equal to the enemy's, +and having received from Captain Downie the assurance, not only of his +readiness, but of his ability to co-operate with the army, I did not +hesitate in advancing to Plattsburg, and confidently relying upon the +successful exertions of the squadron, I made my arrangements for the +assault of the enemy's works the moment it should appear. + +"The disastrous and unlooked for result of the naval contest, by depriving +me of the only means by which I could avail myself of any advantage I might +gain, rendered a perseverance in the attack of the enemy's position highly +imprudent, as well as hazardous. From the state of the roads, each day's +delay at Plattsburg rendered my retreat more difficult. The enemy's Militia +was raising _en masse_ around me, desertion increasing, and our supply of +provisions scanty. + +"Excluded from the use of water communication, and that by roads passing +through woods and over swamps, becoming, from the state of the weather, as +well as from the obstructions made by the enemy, nearly impassable--under +these circumstances, I had to determine whether I should consider my own +fame, by gratifying the order of the troops in persevering in the attack, +or consult the more substantial interests of my country, by withdrawing the +army which was yet uncrippled, for the security of these provinces; in +adopting the latter measure, I feel that I have accorded with the views of +His Majesty's Government, and that a contrary conduct would have been +attended with immediate and imminent danger to this Province. + +"The most ample success on shore, after the loss of the fleet, could not +have justified the sacrifice I must have made to obtain it. Had I failed, +and such an event was possible, after the American army had been cheared by +the sight of a naval victory, the destruction of a great part of our troops +must have been the consequence, and with the remainder I should have had to +make a precipitate and embarrassed retreat, one very different from that +which I have made. + +"These are considerations which, without doubt, will have their due weight +with your Lordship, and induce you, I trust, to view the measures I have +adopted as those best calculated to promote, as well the honour of His +Majesty's arms, as the safety of this part of his dominions. + +"I herewith transmit a comparative state of the force of the two squadrons, +in order that your Lordship may be satisfied with my reasons for not +discouraging a Naval Engagement, in which, if all had done their duty, I +should have had a very different report to make. + + "I have the honour to be," &c. + + "_The Right Hon. Earl Bathurst_." + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[99] Captain Watson of the Tweed; Tate of the Nancy; and Higgins of the +Betsey. + +[100] Compte O'Duin's own expression. + +[101] Gordon, Author of the History of the American Revolution, vol. iii. +p. 328, &c. + +[102] "On the 9th January, 1808, died General Nagues, first Aid-de-Camp, +&c. &c. His loss was strongly felt. This General had conciliated the esteem +of the public by his inclination to do good, his attention to his duty, and +his strict probity. Before he entered into the service of Holland, he had +been Governor of St. Lucie, which he had defended as a brave soldier, and +where he acquired the affection of the Planters."--_Historical Documents +and Reflections on the Government of Holland, by Louis Bonaparte_, vol. ii. +p. 214. + +[103] From Toulon and Rochefort. + +[104] A French Squadron was in the West Indies. + +[105] These addresses are extracted from a work, entitled, "the Canadian +Inspector," published at Montreal, in 1815, for the express purpose of +noticing and confuting the assertions made by the author of the letters +under the signature of Veritas, respecting the measures of Sir George +Prevost, in the prosecution of the war. Upon the authority of these letters +the Quarterly Reviewer has mainly relied, and has had the boldness to +declare, that "_no reply was ever attempted to be made to the statements +contained in them, or doubt ever expressed in the Provinces of their +correctness_."--Review, p. 408. + +[106] Since this work went to press, a positive contradiction to the +Reviewer's assertion, _that Sir George Prevost attempted to affix a stigma +upon the personal character of General Procter, which he was afterwards +obliged to abandon, with a declaration of regret that it was ever made_, +has been received from the Judge-Advocate who officiated at the above +trial, and who is now resident in Canada. From this information it appears, +that so far from the fifth charge being abandoned, the Judge-Advocate in +his reply, although he adverted to the partial failure of the proof in +support of that charge, still asserted that there came out in evidence +strong grounds for making it. In answer to the Reviewer's +misrepresentations as to the delay in assembling the Court-martial, it +appears from the same information that such delay was unavoidable. General +Procter's letter, in explanation of the retreat of the right division, was +not received until late in November, 1813. It was, of course, transmitted +to England, that His Majesty's Government might judge of the necessity of +an investigation. When General Procter applied for this investigation, he +was told that this was the case; and also, what he must have known, that at +all events, no such investigation could then take place, as the principal +witnesses, both for and against him, were then prisoners in the state of +Kentucky. The first orders of the Government for the assembling of the +Court-martial were not received in Canada until the 28th of May, 1814. They +were immediately notified to General Procter. The officers of the 41st were +still prisoners, though they were shortly to be exchanged, but the +exigencies of the war gave such employment to all the officers of proper +rank to form such a Court-martial, as well as to many material witnesses, +that it was impossible, without sacrificing the interests of the service to +comply with General Procter's applications for the assembling of the Court. + +[107] The action was fought on the 11th. + + +J. M'Creery, Printer, +Tooks Court, Chancery Lane. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Some Account of the Public Life of the +Late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart., by E. B. 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