The Great Republic by the Master Historians The Charge at Lundy's Lane byBancroft, Hubert H.
[The war, during its first two years, was confined, as we have seen, to the
Canada frontier and to naval conflicts. In the latter the Americans had been
remarkably successful. In the former the successes and failures were somewhat
evenly balanced. Each side had invaded the territory of the other to some small
distance, but at the opening of the campaign of 1814 the antagonists stood
facing each other on their respective borders in much the same positions as at
the opening of the war. There were important differences in the military
situation of both the combatants, however, and the year 1814 was destined to be
one of bolder movements of invasion and more effective fighting. The fall of
Napoleon in Europe had released the armies and fleets of England and permitted a
more energetic prosecution of the war in America. On the other hand, the militia
of America had been converted into regulars by two years' experience in
fighting, while the "plentiful lack" of the necessaries of war at the beginning
of the conflict had been overcome sufficiently to put the American armies in
efficient fighting condition.
An act was passed increasing the regular army to sixty-six thousand men. At the
same time propositions for peace were listened to, and commissioners appointed,
consisting of John Quincy Adams, James A. Bayard, Henry Clay, Jonathan Russell,
and, afterwards, Albert Gallatin. These peace sessions were held at Gottenburg,
the terms demanded by America being a discontinuance of search and impressment,
while the offer was made to exclude British seamen from American vessels and to
surrender deserters.
Meanwhile, the war went on with new vigor. In the South Jackson continued the
conflict with the Creeks, until it was brought to a conclusion by his signal
victory at Horse-Shoe Bend early in the year. In the North an effort was made to
retake Mackinaw, which proved a failure. Wilkinson made preparations for a
reinvasion of Canada, but suffered himself to be so easily repulsed that he was
tried for want of generalship before a court-martial. He was acquitted by the
court, but condemned by public opinion.
The active work of the Northern armies was performed on the line of the Niagara
River, where the hardest fighting of the whole war took place. An invasion of
Canada was still projected, as a preliminary to which General Brown, in command
of that division of the army, began operations in the section of country between
Lakes Erie and Ontario. On the evening of July 2 he crossed the Niagara at
Buffalo, and invested Fort Erie, which quickly surrendered. Advancing from this
point, he encountered the British force under General Riall at Chippewa Creek.
The American advance fell behind Street's Creek, where they were joined by the
main body on the morning of the 5th. While the brigade under General Scott was
engaged in a dress-parade, the advance of the British came up, and opened fire
from behind the screen of trees that fringed the creek. Scott's men were already
on the bridge, and as other troops were hurried up Riall's force was attacked
with energy and effect. A furious battle ensued. The British line becoming
somewhat separated, the exposed flank was attacked, and the gap widened. The
line gave way before this assault, and was driven back in rout, Riall retreating
with a part of his force to Burlington Heights, and sending the remainder to the
forts at the mouth of the Niagara. Brown now determined to move upon Kingston by
the lake shore, driving back the foe, and reducing the forts. But, failing to
gain the expected co-operation from the fleet on the lake, and learning that
Riall had readvanced to Queenstown and had been reinforced by General Drummond
from York, he felt compelled to give up his project of invasion and withdraw
from his advanced position to Chippewa. General Winfield Scott was sent forward
with a corps of observation, and found himself suddenly confronted by the whole
British force, drawn up at Lundy's Lane, near Niagara Falls. The fiercest land-
battle of the war ensued, a description of which we select from Brackenridge's
"History of the Late War between the United States and Great Britain."]
Lieutenant-General Drummond, mortified that his veteran troops should have been
beaten by what he considered raw Americans, was anxious for an opportunity of
retrieving his credit. He had collected every regiment from Burlington and York,
and, the lake being free, had been able to transport troops from Fort George,
Kingston, and even Prescott. General Riall took post at Queenstown immediately
after it was abandoned by the Americans in their retreat to Chippewa; thence he
threw a strong detachment across the Niagara to Lewistown, to threaten the town
of Schlosser, which contained the supplies of General Brown, and also his sick
and wounded, and at the same time despatched a party in advance of him on the
Niagara road. With the view of drawing off the enemy from his attempt on the
village across the river, General Brown, having no means of transporting troops
to its defence, directed General Scott to move towards Queenstown with his
brigade, seven hundred strong, together with Towson's artillery and one troop of
dragoons and mounted men. At four o'clock in the afternoon of the 25th, General
Scott led his brigade from the camp, and, after proceeding along the Niagara
about two miles and a half from the Chippewa, and within a short distance of the
cataracts, discovered General Riall on an eminence near Lundy's Lane, a position
of great strength, where he had planted a battery of nine pieces of artillery,
two of which were brass twenty-four-pounders. On reaching a narrow strip of
woods which intervened between the American and the British line, Captains
Harris and Pentland, whose companies formed a part of the advance, and were
first fired on, gallantly engaged the enemy. The latter now retreated, for the
purpose of drawing the American column to the post at Lundy's Lane. General
Scott resolutely pressed forward, after despatching Major Jones to the
commander-in-chief with intelligence that he had come up with the enemy. He had
no sooner cleared the wood, and formed in line on a plain finely adapted to
military manoeuvres, than a tremendous cannonade commenced from the enemy's
battery, situated on their right, which was returned by Captain Towson, whose
artillery were posted opposite and on the left of the American line, but without
being able to bring his pieces to bear on the eminence. The action was continued
for an hour, against a force three times that of the American brigade. The
Eleventh and Twenty-Second Regiments having expended their ammunition, Colonel
Brady and Lieutenant-Colonel McNeill being both severely wounded, and nearly all
the other officers either killed or wounded, they were withdrawn from action.
Lieutenant Crawford, Lieutenant Sawyer, and a few other officers of those
regiments attached themselves to the Ninth, in such stations as were assigned
them. This regiment, under its gallant leader, Lieutenant-Colonel Leavenworth,
was now obliged to bear the whole brunt of the action. Orders had been given him
to advance and charge on the height, and with the Eleventh and Twenty-Second
Regiments to break the enemy's line; but, on information being communicated to
General Scott of the shattered condition of the latter, the order was
countermanded. Colonel Jesup, at the commencement of the action, had been
detached, with the Twenty-Fifth Regiment, to attack the left of the enemy's
line.
The British now pressed forward on the Ninth Regiment, which with wonderful
firmness withstood the attack of their overwhelming numbers. Being reduced at
length to not more than one-half, and being compelled at every moment to resist
fresh lines of the British, Colonel Leavenworth despatched a messenger to
General Scott to communicate its condition. The general rode up in person,
roused the flagging spirits of the brave men with the pleasing intelligence that
reinforcements were expected every moment, and besought them to hold their
ground. Lieutenant Riddle, already well known as a reconnoitring officer, was
the first to come to their assistance, having been drawn to the place by the
sound of the cannon while on a scouring expedition in the neighboring country.
The same circumstance advised General Brown of the commencement of the action,
and induced him to proceed rapidly to the scene, after giving orders to General
Ripley to follow with the Second Brigade. He was already on his way when he met
Major Jones, and, influenced by his communication, he despatched him to bring up
General Porter's volunteers, together with the artillery.
The situation of Scott's brigade was every moment becoming more critical. Misled
by the obstinacy of their resistance, General Riall overrated their force, and
despatched a messenger to General Drummond, at Fort George, for reinforcements,
notwithstanding that the number engaged on his side, thus far, had been more
than double that of the Americans. During the period that both armies were
waiting for reinforcements, a voluntary cessation from combat ensued; and for a
time no sound broke upon the stillness of the night but the groans of the
wounded, mingling with the distant thunder of the cataract of the Niagara. The
silence was once more interrupted, and the engagement renewed with augmented
vigor, on the arrival of General Ripley's brigade, Major Hindman's artillery,
and General Porter's volunteers, and at the same time of Lieutenant-General
Drummond with reinforcements to the British. The artillery were united to
Towson's detachment, and soon came into action; Porter's brigade was deployed on
the left, and Ripley's formed on the skirts of the wood, to the right of Scott's
brigade. General Drummond took the command in person of the front line of the
enemy with his fresh troops.
In the mean time, Colonel Jesup, who, as before mentioned, had been ordered, at
the commencement of the action, to take post on the right, had succeeded during
the engagement, after a gallant contest, in turning the left flank of the enemy.
Taking advantage of the darkness of the night, and the carelessness of the enemy
in omitting to place a proper guard across a road on his left, he threw his
regiment in the rear of their reserve, and, surprising one detachment after
another, made prisoners of so many of their officers and men that his progress
was greatly impeded by it. The laws of war would have justified him in putting
them to death; "but the laurel, in his opinion, was most glorious when entwined
by the hand of mercy," and he generously spared them. One of his officers,
Captain Ketchum, who had already distinguished himself at the battle of
Chippewa, had the good fortune to make a prisoner of General Riall, who on the
arrival of General Drummond had been assigned to the command of the reserve, and
also of Captain Loring, the aide of General Drummond. The latter was a most
fortunate circumstance, as it prevented the concentration of the British forces
contemplated by that officer, before the Americans were prepared for his
reception. After hastily disposing of his prisoners, Colonel Jesup felt his way
through the darkness to the place where the hottest fire was kept up on the
brigade to which he belonged, and, drawing up his regiment behind a fence, on
one side of the Queenstown road, but in the rear of a party of British infantry
posted on the opposite side of the same road, he surprised them by a fire so
destructive that they instantly broke and fled. "The major," said General Brown,
"showed himself to his own army in a blaze of fire." He received the applause of
the general, and was ordered to form on the right of the Second Brigade
General Ripley, seeing the impracticability of operating upon the enemy from the
place at which he had been ordered to post his brigade, or of advancing from it
in line through a thick wood in the impenetrable darkness of the night,
determined, with that rapid decision which characterizes the real commander, to
adopt the only measure by which he saw a hope of saving the First Brigade from
destruction, or of ultimately achieving the victory, and which, when made known
to the commander-in-chief, was instantly sanctioned. The eminence occupied by
the enemy's artillery was a key to the position. Addressing himself to Colonel
Miller, the same who had distinguished himself at Magagua, he inquired whether
he could storm the battery at the head of the Twenty-First Regiment, while he
would himself support him with the younger regiment, the Twenty-Third. To this
the wary but in-trepid veteran replied, in unaffected phrase, "I will try, sir,"
- words which were afterwards worn on the buttons of his regiment, - and
immediately prepared for the arduous effort, by placing himself directly in
front of the hill. The Twenty-Third was formed in close column, by its
commander, Major McFarland; and the First Regiment, under Colonel Nicholas,
which had that day arrived from a long and fatiguing march, was left to keep the
infantry in check. The two regiments moved on to one of the most perilous
charges ever attempted, the whole of the artillery, supported by the fire of a
powerful line of infantry, pouring upon them as they advanced. The Twenty-First
moved on steadily to its purpose: the Twenty-Third faltered on receiving the
deadly fire of the enemy, but was soon rallied by the personal exertions of
General Ripley. When within a hundred yards of the summit, they received another
dreadful discharge, by which Major McFarland was killed, and the command of his
regiment developed on Major Brooks. To the amazement of the British, the
intrepid Miller firmly advanced until within a few paces of their cannon, when
he impetuously charged upon the artilleries, and, after a short but desperate
resistance, carried the whole battery, and formed his line in its rear, upon the
ground previously occupied by the British infantry. In carrying the largest
pieces, the Twenty-First suffered severely: Lieutenant Cilley, after an
unexampled effort, fell wounded by the side of the piece which he took; and
there were few of the officers of this regiment who were not either killed or
wounded. By the united efforts of these two regiments, and the bringing into
line of the First, the fate of this bold assault was determined: the British
infantry were in a short time driven down the eminence, out of the reach of
musketry, and their own cannon turned upon them. This admirable effort
completely changed the nature of the battle: every subsequent movement was
directed to this point, as upon the ability to maintain it the result of the
conflict entirely depended. Major Hindman was now ordered to bring up his corps,
including Captain Towson's detachment, and post himself, with his own and the
captured cannon, to the right of Ripley's brigade, and between it and the
Twenty-Fifth, Jesup's regiment, while the volunteers of General Porter retained
their position on the left of Scott's brigade.
Stung with rage and mortification at this most extraordinary and successful
exploit of the Americans, General Drummond, the British commander, now
considered it absolutely essential to the credit of the British army, and to
avoid insupportable disgrace, that the cannon and the eminence on which they
were captured should be retaken. Having been greatly reinforced, he advanced
upon Ripley with a heavy and extended line, outflanking him on both extremes.
The Americans stood silently awaiting his approach, which could only be
discovered by the sound attending it, reserving their fire, in obedience to
orders, until it could be effective and deadly. The whole division of the
British now marched at a brisk step until within twenty paces of the summit of
the height, when it poured in a rapid fire and prepared to rush forward with the
bayonet. The American line, being directed by the fire of the enemy, returned it
with deadly effect. The enemy were thereby thrown into momentary confusion, but,
being rallied, returned furiously to the attack. A most tremendous conflict
ensued, which for twenty minutes continued with violence indescribable. The
British line was at last compelled to yield, and to retire down the hill. In
this struggle General Porter's volunteers emulated the conduct of the regulars.
The gallant Major Wood, of the Pennsylvania corps, and Colonel Dobbin, of the
New York, gave examples of unshaken intrepidity.
It was not supposed, however, that this would be the last effort of the British
general. General Ripley, therefore, had the wounded transported to the rear, and
instantly restored his line to order. General Scott's shattered brigade, having
been consolidated into one battalion, had during this period been held in
reserve behind the Second Brigade, under Colonel Leavenworth, Colonel Brady
having been compelled, by the severity of his wound, to resign the command. It
was now ordered to move to Lundy's Lane, and to form with its right towards the
Niagara road and its left in the rear of the artillery.
After the lapse of half an hour, General Drummond was heard again advancing to
the assault with renovated vigor. The direction at first given by General Ripley
was again observed. The fire of the Americans was dreadful; and the artillery of
Major Hindman, which was served with great skill and coolness, would have taken
away all heart from the British for this perilous enterprise, had not an example
of bravery been set them by the Americans. After the first discharge, the
British general threw himself with his entire weight upon the centre of the
American line. He was firmly received by the gallant Twenty-First Regiment, a
few platoons only faltering, which were soon restored by General Ripley. Finding
that no impression could be made, the whole British line again recoiled, and
fell back to the bottom of the hill. During this second contest two gallant
charges were led by General Scott in person, the first upon the enemy's left and
the second on his right flank, with his consolidated batalion; but, having to
oppose double lines of infantry, his attempts, which would have been decisive
had they proved successful, were unavailing. Although he had most fortunately
escaped unhurt thus far, subsequently, in passing to the right, he received two
severe wounds: regardless of himself, however, he did not quit the field until
he had directed Colonel Leavenworth to unite his battalion with the Twenty-Fifth
Regiment, under the command of Colonel Jesup.
Disheartened by these repeated defeats, the British were on the point of
yielding the contest, when they received fresh reinforcements from Fort George,
which revived their spirits and induced them to make another and still more
desperate struggle. After taking an hour to refresh themselves and recover from
their fatigue, they advanced with a still more extended line, and with confident
hopes of being able to overpower the Americans. Our countrymen, who had stood to
their arms during all this time, were worn down with fatigue, and almost
fainting with thirst, which there was no water at hand to quench. From the long
interval which had elapsed since the second attack, they had begun to cherish
hopes that the enemy had abandoned a further attempt; but in this they were
disappointed On the approach of the British for the third time, their courageous
spirit returned, and they resolved never to yield the glorious trophies of their
victory until they could contend no longer. The British delivered their fire at
the same distance as on the preceding onsets. But, although it was returned with
the same deadly effect, they did not fall back with the same precipitation as
before; they steadily advanced, and repeated their discharge. A conflict,
obstinate and dreadful beyond description, ensued. The Twenty-First, under its
brave leader, firmly withstood the shock; and, although the right and left
repeatedly fell back, they were as often rallied by the personal exertions of
the general, and Colonels Miller, Nicholas, and Jesup. At length the two
contending lines were on the very summit of the hill, where the contest was
waged with terrific violence at the point of the bayonet. Such was the obstinacy
of the conflict that many battalions, on both sides, were forced back, and the
opposing parties became mingled with each other. Nothing could exceed the
desperation of the battle at the point where the cannon were stationed. The
enemy having forced themselves into the very midst of Major Hindman's artillery,
he was compelled to engage them across the carriages and guns and at last to
spike two of his pieces. General Ripley, having brought back the broken sections
to their positions and restored the line, now pressed upon the enemy's flanks
and compelled them to give way. The centre soon following the example, and the
attack upon the artillery being at this moment repulsed, the whole British line
fled a third time; and no exertions of their officers could restrain them until
they had placed themselves out of reach of the musketry and artillery. The
British now consented to relinquish their cannon, and retired beyond the borders
of the field, leaving their dead and wounded.
General Brown had received two severe wounds at the commencement of the last
charge, and was compelled to retire to the camp at the Chippewa, leaving the
command to General Ripley. The latter officer had made repeated efforts to
obtain the means of removing the captured artillery; but, the horses having been
killed, and no drag-ropes being at hand, they were still on the place where they
had been captured, when orders were received from General Brown to collect the
wounded and return to camp immediately. The British cannon were therefore left
behind, the smaller pieces having first been rolled down the hill. The whole of
the troops reached the camp in good order about midnight. after an unmolested
march.
[The British force engaged in this battle amounted to nearly five thousand men,
the American to about two-thirds that number. The losses were severe, being
eight hundred and seventy-eight men on the British and eight hundred and fifty-
one on the American side, the proportion of officers killed and wounded being
unusually large. After the battle the army was compelled to fall back to the
camp on the Chippewa, for want of food and water. The enemy claimed the victory,
on the plea of being left in occupation of the field. Ripley was severely blamed
for not bringing off the guns captured by Miller, and for a subsequent retreat
to Fort Erie before the advancing British, with what seemed unnecessary haste.
He was, in consequence, removed from his command, which was given to General
Gaines. Drummond followed the retiring Americans to Fort Erie, and made a
midnight assault upon it, on August 14. This effort proved a disastrous failure,
costing him nearly a thousand men. He then began a regular siege of the fort,
and brought his works so close that shells and hot shot were thrown daily into
it. Drummond's camp was two miles in the rear, a third of his force being sent
each day to work in the parallels. General Brown, who had sufficiently recovered
from his wound received at Lundy's Lane to resume command, sent out, on
September 17 a sudden sortie of two thousand men, which fell upon the British
working-party, dismounted the guns, destroyed the works they had been forty-
seven days in making, and drove them back with a loss of nine hundred men. This
so disheartened Drummond that he abandoned the siege. Shortly afterwards the
Americans destroyed Fort Erie and returned to their own soil. Thus ended the
campaign on the Niagara, with no permanent advantage gained by either party.]
