course of the summer, a treaty of peace was dictated to them, by Jackson, on severe but just terms. They agreed to yield a portion of their country as an indemnity for the expenses of the war.

CHAPTER XLV.

WAR OF 1812.-Operations on the northern frontier-Affair of La Cole Mill-Operations on lake Champlain-Naval affairs on lake Ontario -Capture of a British force at Sandy Creek-Operations on the Niagara frontier-Gallant exploit of Captain Holmes-War on the Atlantic coast-Attack of Saybrook-Gun-boat battle in Long Island Sound -Capture of Eastport-Bombardment of Stonington-Invasion of Maine-Cruise of the Constitution-Capture of the Epervier, Reindeer and Avon-Loss of the President-Capture of the Cyane and Levant -Cruise of the Hornet-Capture of the Penguin-Gallant exploit of the privateer Armstrong.

THE northern army remained in their winter quarters, on the St. Lawrence, till the end of February, 1814, when, in pursuance of orders from the secretary at war, they removed to Plattsburg. From this place a body of two thousand men were marched to Sackett's Harbor, under General Brown, with a proportion of field-pieces and battering cannon. Towards the end of March, Wilkinson determined to erect a battery at a place called Rouse's Point, on lake Champlain, where his engineer had discovered a position from which the enemy's fleet, then laid up at St. John's, might be kept in check. The ice breaking up on the lake sooner than usual, defeated his plan. A body of the enemy, upwards of two thousand strong, on discovering his design, had been collected at La Cole Mill, three miles from Rouse's Point, for the purpose of opposing him. With a view of dislodging this party, and, at the same time, of forming a diversion in favor of Brown, who had marched against Niagara, Wilkinson, at the head of about four thousand men, crossed the Canada lines on the 30th of March.

After dispersing several of the enemy's skirmishing parties, he reached La Cole Mill, a large fortified stone house, occupied by the British. An eighteen-pounder was ordered

ap, but, owing to the nature of the ground over which it had to pass, the transportation was found impracticable;`a twelve-pounder and a five-inch howitzer were therefore substituted. These arrangements being made, the battery opened upon the house, and the fire was promptly returned. The different corps were greatly exposed to the fire from the house. It was found impossible to effect a breach, although the guns were managed with great skill. Captain M'Pherson was wounded at the commencement of the attack, but continued, notwithstanding, at his post, until a second shot had broken his thigh. His next officer, Larabee, was shot through the lungs. Lieutenant Sheldon kept up the fire until the end of the affair, and behaved in a manner which drew forth the praise of his general. The British commander, perceiving that the Americans persisted in bombarding the house, made a desperate sortie, and several times charged upon the cannon, in which he was repulsed by the covering troops, and compelled to retire to his fortress with loss. It being now found impracticable to make an impression on this strong building, whose walls were of unusual thickness, the commander-in-chief, calling in his different parties, fell back in good order. The loss of the Americans in this affair was upwards of one hundred and forty in killed and wounded; that of the British is not ascertained. Many were the difficulties under which the army labored, besides the deplorable incapacity of their general. Lack of system, a severe climate, sickness, unforeseen expenses, abuses in every department, want of experience and education in the subalterns, and the disgraceful conduct of many of the frontier inhabitants, in supplying the enemy with provisions, are among the number of misfortunes under which the country labored; besides which, the enemy was regularly informed of everything which transpired on the American side."

Shortly after the affair of La Cole, the greater part of the British force was collected at St. John's and the Isle Aux Noix, for the purpose of securing the entrance of the squadron into lake Champlain, on the breaking up of the ice. This was effected early in May. Some time before this,

on the suggestion of Wilkinson, Commodore M'Donough had fortified the mouth of Otter river, so as to secure a passage for his flotilla, which then lay at Vergennes, higher up the river, waiting for its armament. This precaution proved of great service. The commodore had labored with indefatigable industry, to provide a naval force on this lake, to cope with that of the enemy. The vessels had been built during the autumn and winter, but their armament did not arrive before spring.

The first object of the enemy, when they found the navigation open, was to attempt the destruction of the American fleet, before it could move upon its element, prepared to meet them. On the 12th of May, not long after the erection of the battery on the cape, at the entrance of the river, a bomb vessel, and three large galleys, were stationed by the enemy across the creek, for the purpose of blockading the squadron, and, at the same time, to intercept naval supplies, which, it was supposed, would be sent by water, for the purpose of completing its armament. Captain Thornton, of the light artillery, and Lieutenant Cassin, with a number of sailors, were ordered to the defence of the battery. Indications being, at the same time, discov-ered of an attempt by the enemy to assail the battery in the rear, General Davis, of the Vermont militia, called part of his brigade, in order to oppose the landing. At daybreak, on the 14th, the enemy commenced an attack upon the works, but were so effectually resisted, that they were compelled to withdraw from their position with the loss of two galleys, which they were obliged to abandon. Soon after, the whole squadron moved down the lake, but not without some skirmishing with General Wright, of the militia, as they passed Burlington. Commodore M'Donough had attempted to bring some of the American vessels to the mouth of the river, but the British squadron had disappeared before he could attain his object.

While the naval preparations were making on lake Champlain, the winter and spring were taken up with the preparations for a contest of superiority on lake Ontario. The British converted it, however, into a contest in build

ing the greatest number and the largest ships. At Kingston a ship of extraordinary size was building; for the enemy no longer trusted, as they had done with other nations, to superior seamanship and valor. Commodore Chauncey was under the necessity of building additional vessels, for the purpose of maintaining, as nearly as possible, an equality of force. On the 25th of April, 1814, three of the enemy's boats, provided with the means of blowing up the vessels, succeeded in getting close into Sackett's Harbor undiscovered, but before they could execute their purpose, they were detected, and fired upon by Lieutenant Dudley, the officer of the guard, on which they threw their powder into the lake, and pulled off. Failing in all these attempts, from the vigilance of the Americans, they next formed the determination to intercept the naval stores on their way from Oswego, where they had been deposited. Thither Sir James Yeo proceeded with his whole fleet, and having on board a large body of troops, under General Drummond, proceeded, on the 5th of May, with the determination of storming the town, and capturing the equipments destined for the new vessels.

The British commenced a heavy bombardment, which was kept up for several days. The unexpected and gallant resistance of the garrison, consisting of three hundred men, under Lieutenant-Colonel Mitchell, was in vain against such superior force. The schooner Growler, then in Oswego Creek to receive the cannon, was sunk, to prevent her from being taken, and all the tents that could be procured were pitched on the village side, to give the appearance of a large force of militia. At one o'clock, fifteen barges, filled with troops, moved towards the shore, preceded by several gun-boats, while a heavy cannonade was commenced by the larger vessels. They were so warmly received by the battery on shore, that the boats were twice repulsed, and one of the largest fell into the hands of the Americans. The squadron now stood off, but this was evidently for the purpose of renewing the attack, in such a manner as to render it effectual. They again approached on the 6th, having