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63

whilst I examined the Brigs Guns & found them loaded but we had surprised the Crew and they had not time to fire them, I ordered them all haled over to the Starboard side next Fort Erie, to be ready for an attack from the shore, but upon bringing up the second mate he denied having any ammunition on board, and not untill he was brot to by some hard threats did he agree to shew us where his chest was with 42 Rounds of Cartridge in Untill this period the British on shore knew not which party had conquered and they now hailed to know, Lt. Elliott ordered the fire on deck extinguished and the Topsails loosed and when we were hailed again said they would fire if we got under way; and I told Mr Elliott my Guns were all ready when they opened the Ball and all the quick match I had was a bundle of candles held by my Guard in the Companion way -- Whiz comes a shot over our heads. John Bull always aims too high This went about 20 feet over us, ricocheh'd and as our shore was lined with friends anxiously waiting our moments. This firstshot fired from Fort Erie after the declaration of War killed Major Cuyler of the Militia whilst sitting on horseback, Bang! went my Battery of 6 pounders, up helm Boys! stand b- that Cable with an Axe, but away, and now we get the Battery guns on us! Our neighbor Watts and Towson in the other Brig were under weight and this served to distract the Enemys fire;the day dawned, and with it came a light breeze of wind, and we had hopes of getting up against the current into L. Erie. All my cartridges were expended, and now we had quietly to take the penetrating arguments of the Fort to stop us. Excuse shot telling as we had to come nearer the shore, These Buns I fired were the first directed against the Enemy on the Niagara. The Winds became lighter & in place of getting up into the Lake out of the Current & Gunshot We were compelled to shear over to our shore and in our attempts to get into the harbor both our prizes grounded The prisoners all sent on shores. The Caledonia which was full of fires was unloaded and as even preparation was making by the Enemy to burn her the Detroit that night; The Genl. Comdg. ordered Major Chambers to set fire to her in the Evening, the policy of which I could admire -- The Caledonia was saved and added to our fleet aided the Gallant Perry in his victory -

On Mustering our forces we found 2 officers wounded and about 10 men killed and wounded. Our Brother officers on shore praising us extrava- gantly and we well satisfied to have brot ourselves back in a whole skin. Now when it is remembered that our country had been at peace 30 years & all her old soldiers dead or very aged and scarcely a man in our expedi- tion had ever faced an Enemy and that this was the attack of Raw Recruits on Veterans; without flattery it may be said to have been a handsome affair. It had another good effect of giving to our men a little confid- ence and inspiring the whole Brigade with life and ardour -- We now had at Buffaloe a Brigade of U.S. Infantry & Volunteers and at Queenstown 25 miles below Major Gen. Van Ransalear had a large Brigade of the Neigh- boring militia stationed -- at Fort Niagara there was stationed 2 compys of arty and Capt Gibsons Compy of Light arty had just arrived at Levis- town.