Taking of Fort Erie—Battle of Chippewa—Service rendered by the Indians—
General Porter’s account of the campaign—Red Jacket commended—Withdrawal
of Indian forces—Other successes—Conclusion of peace.
Directly across from Buffalo, at the head of Niagara
river, on the Canada side, stood Fort Erie. Chippewa,
at that time head-quarters of the British army, was
eighteen miles below, on the same side. Fort Erie
was garrisoned by about one hundred and seventy men;
at Chippewa and within available distances from it,
was stationed the principal part of the British force
in this region.
The plan with which it was proposed to open the campaign
of 1814, contemplated an attack on both of these places.
The campaign of the previous year, though favorable
in a good degree, did not close with entire success
to the American arms. The idea was entertained
of descending the St. Lawrence, with a view of capturing
Montreal, a design which signally failed. Taking
advantage of the feeble defense of our frontier, by
the withdrawal of the regular troops for the purpose
named, the enemy, on the 18th of December, surprised
and took Fort Niagara, and sweeping along our frontier
settlements on the Niagara river, ravaged the country
by fire and sword, as they passed rapidly on, carrying
the works at Lewiston, and Manchester, and laying in
ashes the thriving villages of Black Rock and Buffalo.
They burned also without opposition, a village of
the Tuscaroras.
The voice of Red Jacket was thereupon heard, arousing
his people again, to the necessity of taking up arms.
And as the result, about six hundred warriors, mostly
from the Seneca nation, were in readiness to offer
their services, at the opening of the present campaign.
Buffalo was the appointed place of rendezvous, and
on the first of July, General Brown, who commanded
our forces, regarding them as sufficient to warrant
the commencement of the plan of operations, began by
reconnoitering Fort Erie. During the night of
the second of July, General Ripley, with a part of
his brigade, embarked in boats, with a view of landing
on the opposite shore, one mile above the Fort, at
about day break the next morning.
General Scott with his brigade was to cross the Niagara
river, through a difficult pass in the Black Rock
Rapids, and make a simultaneous landing below the
fort. The two brigades enclosing the fort, could
prevent the escape of the garrison, until artillery
to reduce it, should be brought from Buffalo.
General Scott with his usual promptness, made good
his landing, and was on the ground at the hour appointed,
and by the aid of a few Indians and volunteers who
accompanied him as guides, invested the fort, so as
to secure its garrison. General Ripley though
prompt in his departure, was delayed in reaching his
position, by a dense fog which misled his pilots.
