Daily National Intelligencer

MEMOIR

OF

MAJOR GENERAL RIPLEY.

The Boston Patriot contains an interesting biographical memoir of Major General Ripley, which, for the gratification of our readers, we would very gladly copy entire, did not its great length prevent us. We cannot, however, pass it by without offering such selections as our limits will allow us to make.

Eleazer Wheelock Ripley, was born at Hanover, New-Hampshire, the seat of Dartmouth College, April 15th, 1782. He is the grandson of the venerable and pious founder of that institution, Dr. Eleazer Wheelock, whose name he bears, and nephew of the present learned President, Hon. John Wheelock, L.L.D. His father, the Rev. Sylvanus Ripley, a graduate of the first class, and the first Professor of Divinity in the College, died in the beginning of the year 1787 universally respected and beloved. Of the young family of six children, thus left, in circumstances not affluent, to the care of an intelligent and pious mother, the subject of this sketch was the second son, then in the fifth year of his age.

A copious view is here given of Gen. R's early life, his studies, high standing at college, and literary attainment; his eminence at the bar, and distinction in the Legislature, in which he served as Speaker; his entrance into the army, and valuable services at York, on the St. Lawrence, and other active operations during the campaigns of 1812 and 13, up to the commencement of the glorious actions achieved by the left division on the plains of Chippewa & Bridgewater.

On the arrival of Gen. Brown at Buffalo in June, 1813, it was determined to invade the Upper Province, in order to attack Fort George and recover Fort Niagara, and hence to march round the Lake to Kingston. This project Gen. Ripley opposed with all his talents, for he was confident that the army, which consisted of less than 3000 regular troops, was too feeble to accomplish the proposed object. He had already accompanied three invasions of Canada with an incompetent force. He knew that Fort Erie, directly opposite to Buffalo, must immediately fall; but in respect to the ultimate objects, he saw no prospect of success. Although the invasion has brought high honor to our arms--in gaining which he had a full participation--yet the result has justified his opinions. Not one of the grand objects proposed has been accomplished.

In making the necessary arrangements, the 9th, 11th, and 25th regiments were assigned to the brigade of Gen. Scott, while Gen. Ripley had the 21st, under Major Gaton, with which were incorporated, during the campaign, one company of the 17th under Capt. Chunn, and one do. of the 19th under Lieut. McDonald. He had also a battalion of the 23d regiment under Major M'Farland, consisting principally of recruits lately received and imperfect in discipline. The four regiments first mentioned were of New-England, and the last one of New-York.

On the 5th of July the army crossed the Niagara river. Gen. Scott with the main body crossed from the boats below Fort Erie, while Gen. Ripley with the 21st in two U.S. schooners passed up the lake and disembarked a mile above the fort, which was immediately invested. It was surrendered the same day without the necessity of firing a gun. The next day the army marched to Chippewa, at which place Gen. Brown arrived with the reserve under Gen. Ripley at 1 o'clock at night. The battle of July 5th covered Gen. Scott and his brigade with merited honor, for in the open field and fair combat he achieved a complete victory over superior numbers. Gen. Ripley had no opportunity to encounter the enemy. Our army was encamped on the south side of Street's creek, distant two miles and a half from the enemy's strong work on the north side of Chippewa creek. The action was fought on the intermediate plain. For a considerable time after the engagement commenced, Gen. Ripley's brigade remained, drawn up in order of battle, exposed to the fire of the enemy's artillery, the shot from which ranged through his line--although he was very solicitous to advance. At length he was ordered, but at too late a period, to take the 21st regiment and "pass to the left of the camp, skirt the woods so as to keep out of view, and fall upon the rear of the enemy's right flank." "This order," says Gen. Brown, "was promptly obeyed, and the greatest exertions were made by the 21st regiment to gain their position and close with the enemy, but in vain." Gen. Ripley was obliged to ford Street's creek to the left of the bridge, crossing a morass almost impassable. When he arrived on the Chippewa, the battle was over. Had this detour been suffered to be made as soon as the action commenced, the enemy must have lost many prisoners; and if the retreat across Chippewa drawbridge to his works could have been cut off, Gen. Riall's whole force would inevitably have been captured. Prudence indeed might forbid the commanding General to send out a party of his reserve on such a duty at the very beginning of an action, the result of which was doubtful; but the detour was ordered before the result of the action could be foreseen. Gen. Brown says--"from General Ripley and his brigade, I have received every assistance that I gave them an opportunity of rendering."

Our troops had gained a splendid victory, but the enemy was yet secure in a position of great strength behind a deep creek, which could not be forded within a distance of forty miles. It was determined to construct a bridge and force a passage. July 8th, Gen. Ripley was detached on this duty. Crossing the bridge over Street's creek, he opened a road two or three miles through the woods on the left, and reaching the Chippewa one or two miles above the enemy, planted his heavy train of artillery for the protection of the artificers, and even began to construct the bridge without exciting alarm or being molested. But the enemy soon appeared with several pieces of artillery, and opened a fire of shells and round shot, which was returned so vigorously with grape and cannister, as to force them to retreat. Hearing this tremendous cannonade of our 18 pounders at a point which he supposed inaccessible to our artillery, Gen. Riall instead of strengthening the party which he had detached, immediately abandoned his strong position, and retired precipitately upon Queenstown. Our whole army encamped the same night in the enemy's works, having encountered but little of the resistance, which might have been made to the passage of the Chippewa, and which perhaps could have been made with complete success.

July 9th, our army proceeded to Queenstown. Gen. Riall retired to Fort George, leaving a sufficient garrison encamped at 12-mile Creek, 8 miles distant from our camp, making every exertion to call out the militia, and sending down the Lake for regular troops. Gen. Ripley, persuaded that this was a favorable moment for a decisive action, strongly urged the necessity of immediately pursuing the enemy. But our troops remained ten days idle at Queenstown, and then attempted to besiege Fort George. In the mean time Gen. Riall's army recovered from the late panic, and was strengthened by the large numbers of militia, called out en masse. Had our troops remained three days longer before Fort George, their safety would have been put to the most imminent hazard, for within that time strong reinforcements arrived from Kingston to the enemy, so that Riall would have been emboldened to seize a strong position in our rear. This position must have been carried by our army in order to effect a retreat; for being destitute of boats, it was impossible to cross the Niagara below the Falls. But on the 22d of July our troops fell back to Queenstown Heights, and on the 24th to Chippewa.

About this time Gen. Ripley's brigade was strengthened by the veteran battalion of the 23d regiment, under Major Brooke, from Plattsburg: and Col. Miller, who was promoted to the 21st, arrived and took command of that regiment.

The memorable battle of Niagara Falls, July 25th, covered Gen. Ripley and his brigade with military glory; which, though not so durable as the thunder of the Cataract, will yet be as permanent as the memory of the action and as the honors which are awarded to the brave.

The enemy, having received strong reinforcements from Kingston, was put in motion in pursuit of our army. A column of five hundred men, under Lieut. Col. Tucker, was detached to Lewiston on the American side of the Niagara, to capture our sick and baggage; Gen. Riall advanced from his encampment at 12 mile Creek by the Lundy's Lane road, which intersects the river road just below the Falls; and Gen. Drummond marched up from Fort George on the river road direct to Chippewa. General Brown, who, as he states, was now meditating the pursuit of Gen. Riall and a long march to Burlington Heights, did not apprehend that the enemy was near him, and in a capacity to fight him. To recall Col. Tucker from the American side of the river and to prevent his marching towards Buffalo, Gen. Brown determined to make a movement towards Queenstown, seven miles below the Falls. General Scott, who was detached with about 1000 men, marched in the afternoon; but when he reached the junction of the Lundy Lane road with the road down the river, he found Gen. Riall, who had just arrived from the 12-mile Creek, occupying a strong position. The action immediately commenced, at the distance of about 3 miles from the American camp. As soon as the firing was heard, Gen. Ripley formed his brigade, and by order of Gen. Brown advanced to the support of Gen. Scott. His brigade that morning reported 730 men fit for duty; of these a hundred or more were on guard, or out of camp when he was ordered to march. He proceeded instantly and with his uncommon rapidity, his men actually running a part of the way, and arrived on the ground between sunset and dark. At this time Gen. Scott's brigade, having suffered extremely by the tremendous fire of the enemy's artillery of nine pieces planted on a height in the centre of their line, was covered in the woods. General Ripley, as is stated by General Brown, was ordered to disengage and relieve Gen. Scott by forming a new line: but the precise order was, that he should form on the right of Gen. Scott, and this was the only order which he received except the order at the close of the action to retire from the field. His aid Lieut. M'Donald, bringing intelligence that the right of Gen. Scott would bring him in the woods out of the fight, he resolved to advance directly towards the enemy. As he advanced, the fire of the battery was directed at his brigade. Two Shrapnell shells only, striking the 23d regt. killed and wounded 24 men. To remain exposed to this dreadful fire, was impossible, for his brigade also would soon be cut to pieces. There was no alternative but either to carry the battery, or to abandon the field. Having made his decision Gen. Ripley put his brigade in motion to execute the desperate enterprize. Regardless of the enemy's fire, he marched down the road until he arrived within a short distance in front of the height. Here the smoke and darkness favoured him, and being in a hollow, the shot passed over his head. In order to execute his intentions he formed in line his gallant 21st regt. in which as well as in Col. Miller he had perfect confidence directly fronting the battery. He determined to lead himself the 23d regt. which consisted partly of recruits and required his presence, and attack the enemy's left flank to divert their attention from the 21st.

Having made his arrangements, he marched off the 23d regiment a little to the right, then giving it a direction towards the battery led his troops to the attack, being himself on horseback. Receiving the fire of the enemy, the regiment faltered, but he immediately rallied it and renewed the action. Col. Miller made the assault in front with determined bravery; and the line of infantry, posted for the support of the artillery, being dispersed by the attack on the flank, the battery was carried at the first charge. Confident that the utmost efforts would be directed to the recovery of this position and of the artillery, General Ripley immediately sent his aid to General Brown, to apprise him of what had been done, and to request him to remove and secure the cannon; but the request was disregarded. Advancing his line some distance in front of the battery, the 23d regiment, with Towson's artillery, was formed on the right of the 21st. A part of the 1st regiment, under Lieut. Colonel Nicholas, was stationed on the left, and on the extreme left the brave Gen. Porter with his volunteers. Before the close of the battle, the 25th regiment also, under Maj. Jessup, was directed to be brought up, and was formed on the right of the whole. In this order the attack was awaited. Gen. Ripley directed the front rank to kneel, and not a gun should be fired until the enemy had delivered his fire--then that deliberate aim should be taken. As the British advanced to the attack, they received such a deadly fire, as to be driven again down the hill. These charges were repeated five or six times with the same result. At this period General Scott, eager to strike a decisive blow, threw himself before General Ripley's line, without apprising him of the movement, attacked the enemy, but was wounded and repulsed. Being between two fires, it is supposed, that in consequence of the darkness and confusion, he suffered from both. Obstinate and indignant at the loss of the battery and at the result of every attempt to recover it, the British forces advanced with heroic determination. General Ripley's brigade, and the other troops under his command, were formed as before. Notwithstanding a most destructive fire, the enemy pressed on and engaged with the point of the bayonet. Overcome by numbers, our troops on the right and left gave way; Towson was obliged to spike and abandon his pieces; and total discomfiture seemed unavoidable. But a part of the central brigade, animated by the gallantry of their commander, remained firm; the flanks were rallied by his exertions, and the exertions of the brave officers, and the enemy was again forced down the hill. This was the termination of the conflict, for at this period, after the enemy had been repulsed in the last attack, Gen. Ripley received an order from Gen. Brown to collect his wounded and retire immediately to camp. Upon going to his rear, and finding that the cannon had not been removed, and "the trophies of victory had not been accomplished" according to his request, he ordered a detachment of Porter's volunteers to drag them off the ground; but the want of ropes rendered it necessary to leave them behind. Besides, the men, after fighting five or six hours, were exhausted by fatigue, and were incapable of exertion. Nor was it safe to linger in the rear, for the enemy immediately pressed up the hill, and actually took several prisoners by the side of the artillery. As Gen. Ripley marched from the field of battle, but two platoons of General Scott's brigade, under Major Leavenworth, could be collected; and of the whole army, it was estimated by several officers, that no more than five hundred men returned with him to camp, the rest having been dispersed.

Such was the heroic enterprize, which was projected, ordered and executed by General Ripley, who was on horseback, and frequently in front during the whole engagement. Two musket balls pierced his hat, another struck a button of his coat, and another wounded his horse: The principal officer belonging to his brigade, that fell, was the brave Major M'Farland of the 23d. Of six generals present, four were severely, and one slightly wounded. General Ripley alone, although exposed to every danger, was unhurt. In this action, there was a greater loss of men in killed and wounded, than occurred in any battle during the war of the revolution--the British acknowledging a loss of 878; and our loss but 743. The last charge, about the hour of midnight, was a fearful and tremendous conflict.

After the return to camp, Gen. Brown, who states that he had assigned the command to General Ripley, yet ordered him, as the day dawned, "to put himself on the field of battle, and meet and beat the enemy, if he appeared." He was ordered to take his own brigade and Porter's volunteers. He marched accordingly; but after crossing the Chippewa, was ordered to furnish refreshments to the men. At this time, and not before, the 1st of Gen. Scott's brigade, was added to his command. Coming in sight of the enemy, and finding that they occupied the battle ground, retaining their cannon, he halted his troops, determined not to risk a general action with an enemy "superior in numbers and position." The wisdom of abandoning the battery in the night, in order to take it again in the morning was to him inexplicable. If he was beaten, he knew that he had no place of retreat, and that the whole army would be lost; whereas, if the enemy, by a miracle, should again be dislodged and beaten, they would retire in safety to Fort George. He therefore determined to exercise that prudence which indeed is not always reputable, but which is essential to the character of a good general, and frequently necessary to the safety of an army. General Porter concurring with him in opinion respecting the impolicy of the proposed attack, he now resolved to be the actual, and not merely nominal; commander of the army. For the sake of harmony, however, he first made a representation to Gen. Brown, who at length ordered the troops to return to camp, and soon crossed over himself to the American side of the river.

Our army, now left in the unquestioned command of Gen. Ripley, was in a critical situation, for the whole effective strength, regulars and volunteers, did not exceed 2000 men. Sending off the sick and wounded, Gen. Ripley burnt the bridge over the Chippewa, and commenced his retreat in good order upon Erie, destroying every bridge, as he passed it, to impede the advance of the enemy. He encamped for the night opposite to Black Rocks. July 27th, he took up a position opposite Buffalo; his right resting on Fort Erie, and his line extending about 800 yards to Snake Hill on the left. Here he determined to fortify, designating himself, the line of defence. Majors M'Ree and Wood were the engineers. The old Fort Erie which was extremely feeble, was strengthened, and a strong work, called Fort Williams or Towson's battery, was constructed on Snake Hill. These two principal works were connected by a line of entrenchments and traverses, which extended also on the right from Fort Erie to Niagara River. On the left, from Snake Hill to the Lake, there was an abattis. Thus a triangular space was enclosed. The whole army labored on the lines through the day, and some of the more athletic in the night. During the whole night, one-third of the officers and men were kept up to the works, attended by General Ripley or some one of his family, ready to resist a sudden attack. By such great exertions a respectable defence was in a few days constructed. It was four or five days before Gen. Drummond, with a much superior force, encamped opposite Black Rock, having unaccountably lost an opportunity, which could not be retrieved. To his surprise he found our troops strongly fortified. Gen. Gaines, who arrived from Sacket's Harbor on the 4th or 5th of August, being superior in rank, took the command at Fort Erie; but the system of vigilance and defence, which had been instituted, was continued. Gen. Ripley resumed the command of his brigade, which was stationed on the left flank.

August 15th is memorable for the attack on Fort Erie and the repulse of the enemy. At 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning, Gen. Ripley was satisfied that the camp was to be attacked. Always vigilant and attentive to every occurrence, he had noticed the cessation of fire from the batteries, which, if continued, might injure a column that should be advancing near the Lake. He had noticed also the barking of a dog in the woods, and seen a distant light on the Lake shore. Ordering up his whole brigade to the works, he dispatched his aid to apprise Gen. Gaines of his conjecture. Gen. Gaines soon rode up, and the piquet fired. He was so satisfied with the arrangements for defending the left flank, that he gave no orders to Gen. Ripley. The column that advanced on the left, by the Point Abino road, was 1500 strong. To approach with secrecy, every flint was taken out of the guns, and reliance was to be placed wholly on the bayonet. When Lieut. Belknap of the 23d, stationed with the piquet guard about 200 yards in front, discovered this large force silently advancing, he gave them his fire and retired in good order; but he was so hard pushed, and so anxious to secure his men before he secured himself, that he was bayoneted as he entered the sally-port, but escaped with his life. The enemy, as he attacked the works, was arrested by such a destructive fire from the 21st regiment, under Major Wood, (Col. Miller being at Buffalo) and from Towson's battery, as to be compelled to retreat.

In a short time the charge was renewed at the sound of the bugle, and the attempt was made to force a passage between Towson's battery and the lake--This line of about 30 rods being a solid rock, had no ditch or breastwork. The only defence was a tolerable abattis, behind which were posted three companies of the 21st under Capt. Marston. The enemy were again repulsed, but they renewed the assault, while a detachment of about 200 men waded out into the lake in order to pass around the abattis and thus gain our works. Gen. Ripley observing this movement, ordered down two companies of reserve under Captain Ropes to the water's edge. Again the assault was unsuccessful. Many were killed and floated from the lake down the river and some when attempting to escape by swimming, were taken prisoners.

Thus the enemy on this flank were repulsed in every attack with the loss of 147 prisoners. Although the night was very dark, the most perfect order was observed. So regular and vivid was the fire on this flank, that the enemy called it the light-house. The lines were perfectly manned during the whole action, and Gen. Ripley was able to detach five companies to the aid of the right flank, where the operations were not so successful. The result is well known. The enemy acknowledged a loss of 905, while our loss was only 84 men. On the left flank there was a loss of only five or six bayoneted. Notwithstanding the disparity of loss, and although he had been considerably reinforced, Gen. Gaines did not think it prudent to sally out of the works. After Gen. Gaines was wounded by a shell, August 28, Gen. Ripley again took the command at Fort Erie. In this command he was continued by Gen. Brown at his return to the frontier. During this siege of six weeks he was frequently in imminent danger from the shells and balls continually thrown into camp, some of which pierced his tent as he was sitting in it. About the first of September General Brown's official account of the battle of Niagara was received in camp, in which, to the astonishment of the army, whose confidence Gen. Ripley always enjoyed, he censured him for not "meeting and beating the enemy" on the 26th July, and in which he gave him no praise for his conduct in the battle of the preceding night, although in conversation he had repeatedly commended it in the most emphatic terms. General Ripley immediately requested of Gen. Brown, that an investigation of his conduct should be instituted; but the request being denied, he demanded of the Secretary at War, Court of Inquiry, which was promised as soon as the requisite officers could be spared from active service.

In executing the sortie of Sept. 17th, Gen. Ripley commanded the reserve, which he brought up early to the support of the advance; and after the batteries were carried he was entrusted by Gen. Brown with the command of the whole, to act as circumstances might require. At this time he meditated an attack on the enemy's camp, hoping during the panic of the moment to carry it. But repairing to the position in advance, occupied by the gallant Major Brooke with the 23d regt. to make some necessary inquiries and arrangements, he there received a severe wound, and fell apparently dead, but was conveyed to Fort Erie.

The wound of Gen. Ripley, which was deemed mortal, was occasioned by a musket ball which passed directly through the neck, entering on one side and coming out on the other close to the spine, yet without touching either of the great arteries. Deglutition became difficult, and for several months his arms were paralysed. He suffered excruciating pains from spasms in his arms and shoulders. But although extremely emaciated for months, incapable of leaving his room, the same good Providence which gave the almost miraculous direction to the bullet, and which had preserved him in repeated dangers, favored his recovery. Travelling by slow stages, he at length arrived at Albany in Feb. 1815. His Court of Inquiry not having been yet organized, he now requested the Secretary at War to arrange it. Accordingly Generals Dearborn, Bissel, and M. Porter, were appointed and the witnesses summoned. Soon after the court had commenced business in March, an order arrived from the Secretary at War, by direction of the President of the U. S. for dissolving it. The reasons for this dissolution are not known; but doubtless it was in consequence of some misapprehension:

This circumstance seems to require and to justify this plain narrative of facts by a friend.

But General Ripley has not been destitute of honors. A vote of thanks from the state of Georgia; a vote of thanks and a sword from the state of N. York and a vote of thanks and a gold medal from the Congress of the United States, are testimonies of the estimation in which his services are held.
In his person, General Ripley is tall but not spare, with an open countenance, and strong features; he is amiable in his disposition, and interesting as a companion. The force and versatility of his mind have rendered him conspicuous in the school, the forum, the cabinet, and the field.

Note.—Since the above was written, General Ripley has been honored with a brevet appointment of Major-General, bearing date July 25th, the day of the battle of Niagara.