The New Hampshire Gazette

Niagara Frontiers.

On our Western frontier, in a letter from a gentleman of intelligence and observation in the county of Ontario, to the printers of the Albany Gazette, dated Bloomfield, June 13, 1813.

Messrs. Websters & Skinner

The following detail of the events of the war on our Western frontier, is collected from numerous and authentic sources, and will be found in the main to be correct.

It will be remembered that the American forces (supposed to consist of 6 or 7000 men) under General Dearborn, made a landing at Newark, on Thursday morning, the 27th of May; the British, after a short contest, retreating to 40 mile creek about 35 miles distant from Fort George, and that the next day Col. Preston, with a small body of men, entered Fort Erie, without resistance. The British had destroyed or removed all the public property at that post, and on their whole line on the river except a small quantity of flour, which fell into our hands near Queenstown, and was destroyed by a party of British, under Col. Thos. Clark, the same night.

On the 31st of May, our fleet sailed from Newark for Sackett's Harbor, as it was understood to protect that place. On Tuesday, the 1st June, Gen. Winder, with 2000 American troops, left Fort George, and moved towards the 40 mile creek, where it was now ascertained the British had posted themselves, in formidable intrenchments. On Friday morning, June 4, another body of American troops, stated at 2000 men, under command of Gen. Chandler, marched to reinforce Gen. Winder, in the meditated attack on British, at the 40 mile creek. The baggage of the army was sent on by water, in boats.

On the approach of the American army, under Gen. Winder, the British left their post at the 40 mile creek, and retired about 20 miles, where they threw up intrenchments on a rising ground. The American force advanced beyond the 40 mile creek 10 miles, and encamped, on Saturday evening, the 5th.

Two hours before day light, on the morning of the 6th, the British advanced guard composed entirely of regulars, and consisting of about 500 commanded by Gen. Vincent, broke into the American encampment. This was effected with great success on their part. By some means the enemy had obtained our countersign—It has been conjectured by the desertion of some of the inhabitants, who had joined the American army in its advance. The American picket guard who were within one fourth of a mile of the main body were entirely cut off; the sentinels surprised and taken prisoners, and no alarm given until the enemy set up in the midst of the camp the Indian war whoop. With this cry they rushed into the American encampment, and took possession of a number of cannon, which they fastens turned against our troops. The confusion became general. Winder was taken prisoner by mistaking a body of the enemy who were directing the cannon—Chandler was twice captured, after having his horse shot under him, and himself slightly wounded—Maj. Van Deventer is among the prisoners of this day with about 20 of our men. The number of killed is stated to have been 30 on the American side and 90 on the British among whom is Maj. Clark, supposed of the 49th regiment.

The same day, Sunday the 6th, in the forenoon, the American force retired in great disorder, under command of Col. Buel of the 11th U.S. infantry leaving their camp equipage and heavy baggage in their retreat they were joined by the reinforcement which left Newark on Friday previous, under command of Gen. Chandler. The news of this disaster reached Newark by express on Sunday night. Generals Lewis and Boyd, at 10 o'clock on Monday morning, left that place to take command of our retiring forces, and joined them on the same day.

On Tuesday morning at an early hour the British fleet made their appearance off the 40 mile creek where the American army then lay, and demanded by a flag an immediate surrender. Gen. Lewis received and treated this demand with great indignation. An attack was then made upon the American boats, all of which escaped excepting two, containing baggage of the officers, and the rescue of which was prevented by the British landing a force to protect them. After the rencontre the residue of the American army effected a retreat to Fort George—having lost in the different engagements [from the taking of Fort George to the return from 40 mile creek] 1000 men, in killed, wounded and prisoners. They reached Fort George on Thursday at night. We are further informed, that on Saturday evening preparations were making for a retreat from Newark, boats being stationed along the east bank of the river. Great consternation prevailed at that place. Col. Procter and forces had joined Gen. Vincent, and were on Friday, it is said, within 20 miles of Fort George. Our fleet is in Sackett's Harbor waiting the out fit of the new frigate. Gen. Dearborn being quite ill, was to have left Newark on Sunday the 13th for Albany.

Copy of a letter from Maj. General Lewis, to the Secretary of War dated Niagara June 14, 1813.

Sir—You will perceive, by the enclosed copy of orders marked A. that General Dearborn, from indisposition has resigned his command, not only of the Niagara army but of the District. I have some doubt whether he will ever again be fit for service. He has been repeatedly in a state of convulsion; but relapses on the least agitation of mind.

In my last I mentioned the unfortunate circumstance of the capture of our two Brigadiers, Chandler and Winder. The particulars are detailed in the report of Col. Burn, which he gives from the best information he could collect. His corps lay a considerable distance from the scene of operation, as you will perceive by the enclosed diagram, which is on a scale of about 100 yards to the inch. The light corps spoken of were Captain Hindman's, Nicholas's and Biddle's companies of the 2d artillery, serving as infantry. These three gentlemen and Captains Archer and Towson of the same regiment and Leonard of the light artillery, are soldiers who would honor any service. Their gallantry & that of their companies was equally conspicuous on this occasion as in the affair of the 27th ultimo.

A view of Gen. Chandler's encampment will be sufficient to show that disaster was owing to its arrangement. Its centre being its weakest point, and that being discovered by the enemy in the evening, received the combined attack of his whole force, and his line was cut. The gallantry of the 5th, 25th and part of the 23d and light troops, saved the army—Of the 5th, it is said, that when the day broke not a man was missing—and that a part of the 23d under Major Armstrong was found maintaining its left flank. Their fire was irresistible—and the enemy was compelled to give way.
Louis had been pursued the next morning in vain; his destruction was inevitable. He was dispersed in every direction, and even his commanding general was missing without his hat or hair. I understand he was found the next morning almost famished, at a distance of 4 miles from the scene of action.

Lieut. M'Cheney's gallantry recovered a piece of artillery and prevented the capture of others. He merits promotion for it.

On the evening of the 6th of June, I received the order No. 4, and joined the army at five in the afternoon of the 7th. I found it at the 4 mile creek, to less in the rear of the ground on which it had been encamped, on a plain of about a mile in width with its right flank on the lake, and its left on the creek which skirts the base of a perpendicular mountain of considerable height. On my route I received Nos. 5 and 6 enclosed.

At six in the evening the hostile fleet hove in sight though its character could not be ascertained with precision. We lay on our arms all night. At dawn of day struck our tents, and descried the hostile squadron abreast of us, about a mile from the shore. Our boats, which supported the principal part of our baggage and camp equipage, lay on the beach—it was a dead calm—and about 6 the enemy towed in a large schooner, which opened her fire on our boats. As soon as he stood for the shore, her object being evident, I ordered down Archer's and Towson's companies, with four pieces of artillery to resist her attempts. I at the same time sent Capt. Totten of the engineers (a most valuable officer) to construct a temporary furnace for heating shot, which was prepared and in operation, in less than thirty minutes. Her fire was returned with a vivacity and effect (excelled by no artillery in the universe) which soon compelled her to retire. A party of savages now made their appearance on the brow of the mountain (which being perfectly bald, exhibited them to our view) and commenced a fire on our camp.

I ordered Col. Christie to dislodge them, who entered on the service with alacrity, but found himself anticipated by Lt. Eldridge, the adjutant of his regiment, who with a promptness and gallantry highly honourable to that young officer, had already gained the summit of the mountain, with a party of volunteers and routed the Barbarian allies of the defender of the Christian faith. This young man merits the notice of government.

These little affairs cost us not a man. Sir James L. Yeo being disappointed of a tragedy, next determined, in true dramatic style, to amuse us with a farce. An officer with a flag was sent to me from his ship, advising me that as I was invested with savages in my rear, a fleet in my front, and a powerful army on my flank, he and the officers commanding his Britannic Majesty's land forces, thought it their duty to demand a surrender of my army. I answered that the message was too ridiculous to merit a reply.

No. 7 was delivered to me about six this morning; between seven and eight o'clock the four waggons we had being loaded with the sick and next with ammunition, &c. the residue of camp equipage and baggage was put in the boats and a detachment of 200 men of the 6th regiment detailed to proceed in them. Orders were prepared to be given them to defend the boats, and if attacked by any of the enemy's small vessels, to carry them by boarding.

By one irregularity which I have not been able to discover, the boats put off without the detachments, induced, probably by the stillness of the morning. When they had progressed about three miles a breeze sprung up and an armed schooner overhauled them; those who were enterprising kept on and escaped, others ran to the shore and deserted their boats; we lost twelve of the number, principally containing the baggage of the officers and men.

At ten I put the army in motion on our return to this place. The savages and incorporated militia hung on our flanks and rear throughout the march, and picked up a few stragglers. On our retiring the British army advanced, and now occupies the ground we left.

The enemy's fleet is constantly hovering on our coast, and interrupting our supplies. The night before last, being advised of their having chased into 18 mile creek two vessels laden with hospital stores, &c. I detached at midnight 75 men for their protection. The report of the day is (though not official) that they arrived too late for their purpose, and that the stores are lost.

Gen. Armstrong

Return of the Killed, Wounded and Missing in the action of the 6th inst. at Stoney Creek.

Killed—1 sergeant, 1 corporal, 15 privates.

Wounded—1 captain, 1 sergeant, 2 corporals, and 48 privates.

Missing—Brigadier General, 1 Major, 3 Captains, 1 Quartermaster, 9 sergeants, 4 corporals, & 60 privates.

Total, killed, wounded and missing—154.

Correct return from the Reports of the different corps in the action of the 6th inst. at Stony Creek.

J. JOHNSON, Asst. Adj. Gen.