the assailants so well-directed a fire that they were driven back. Their rout was completed by a stratagem of General Brown, by which he induced them to re-embark so rapidly as to leave behind most of their wounded and prisoners. Their loss was twenty-four killed, twenty-two wounded, and thirty-three taken prisoners; that of the Americans one hundred and fifty-six in killed, wounded, and missing. Shortly after this important victory, General Brown was appointed brigadier-general in the regular army.

N the 20th of July the British and Indians made another attack upon Fort Meigs, where they were again defeated after a siege of eight days. General Proctor, with five hundred regulars and eight hundred Indians then determined upon an attack on Fort Stephenson, garrisoned by one hundred and fifty men under Major Croghan. The British landed on the first of August, and opened a heavy fire from some six-pounders and a howitzer. The Americans had but one piece of artillery, which was moved from place to place, so as to make the enemy believe there were several. The firing continued all next day until late in the evening, when, after skilful manoeuvring, the British marched to the attack in two columns, led by Colonels Short and Warburton. The first, numbering three hundred and fifty men, had

arrived as far as the ditch, when the piece of artillery opened upon them with fearful effect, killing their colonel, with numbers of his men, and driving the remainder into the woods. A similar fate attended the other column. Proctor immediately withdrew his forces, leaving behind, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, about one hundred and fifty men. To the wretched sufferers in the ditch the brave garrison extended all the aid in their power, carrying them water and other necessaries at the risk of their own safety, and even making an opening in the picketing, so that they could crawl in. For this brilliant defence, which was one of the most glorious achievements of the war, Croghan and his men received the thanks of Congress.

Meanwhile the earnest representations of General Harrison had awakened government to the necessity of obtaining a naval superiority on Lake Erie, so that two brigs and several schooners were ordered to be built at the port of Erie, under the directions of Commodore O. H. Perry. On the 2d of August this officer was enabled to sail in quest of the enemy, whom he encountered on the 10th of September. The American fleet consisted of nine small vessels, carrying fifty-four guns; the British of six vessels, carrying sixty-three guns. The battle commenced about noon, between Perry's flag-ship, the Lawrence, of twenty guns, and the whole British fleet. After a

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close contest of two hours, during which the remaining American vessels were unable to come up, the Lawrence was silenced, and every thing seemed to promise the British a speedy victory; but, at

this crisis, Perry crossed to the second ship, Niagara, in an open boat, renewed the action with the greatest vigour, and soon compelled the opposing fleet to strike its colours.

This victory was bought with the loss of two officers, and twenty-five men killed, and ninety-six wounded; the British had forty-one killed, and ninety-four wounded. Not only did the event occasion the greatest joy throughout the

country, as being the first victory gained over a British fleet, but also, inasmuch as it gave the American army under General Harrison an opportunity to cross into Canada, and retrieve the losses of the former campaign.

On receiving information of the loss of his fleet, Proctor immediately abandoned Malden, which was taken possession of by Harrison and Governor Shelby. On the 2d of October the Americans moved forward in pursuit of the British, whom they overtook on the 5th, drawn up in line of battle, on a narrow isthmus covered with trees. The regulars, under Proctor, were covered by the river, and Tecumseh's Indians by a morass. Colonel Johnson, with the mounted volunteers, was ordered to charge the Indians, while the main army, under Harrison, charged the British. So impetuous was the onset, that both the enemy's lines were immediately broken, and to the number of eight hundred men they threw down their arms and surrendered. Proctor effected his escape. Notwithstanding this loss, the Indians continued to fight with desperate valour, until their great chief Tecumseh was killed, when they fled in all directions.

In this decisive action the victors had only seven killed, and twenty-two wounded. The British and Indians lost nearly one hundred in killed and wounded, together with large quantities of arms and military stores. Harrison now left part of his troops at Detroit under General Cass, and sailed with the remainder to Buffalo.

ARLY in the spring of this year, a British order in council declared the American coast, from the Chesapeake to Rhode Island, in a state of blockade. In March, Commodore Beresford made a demand for provisions on the inhabitants of Lewistown, with an offer of payment. Being refused, he opened a bombardment on the 6th of April, which, after continuing for twenty-two hours with no effect upon the Americans, he abandoned, and sailed for Bermuda. About the same time a squadron of four ships of the line and six frigates, under Admiral Cockburn, arrived in the Chesapeake. This officer signalized himself by pillaging country seats, farm-houses, and small vessels, plundering public and private property, and firing the villages of Frenchtown, Havre de Grace, Frederickton, and Georgetown. The British were then reinforced by large bodies of troops under Sir John Warren and Sir Sidney Beckwith. These officers made a combined attack upon Norfolk, but were gallantly repulsed by the seamen and militia in that vicinity. They then proceeded against Hampton, eighteen miles from Norfolk, which they carried after an obstinate resistance. The town was given up to the soldiery, who perpetrated outrages upon

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person and property too revolting to be described. Not long after, Admiral Cockburn, with a considerable fleet, perpetrated similar devastations along the coast of North Carolina.

While these events were transpiring in the north and along the coast, serious disturbances had taken place among the southern Indians. These warriors had been excited by a visit from Tecumseh, who had used all his eloquence and influence to bring them into the confederation he was at that time forming against the United States. In September, 1812, the Creeks defeated a body of Georgia volunteers, but were soon afterwards overawed by the appearance of General Jackson in their territory, with twenty-five hundred volunteers.

On the 30th of August, Fort Mimms, with its garrison of about three hundred planters and settlers, was attacked by six hundred Indians under the chief Weatherford. After a close conflict, the assailants cut their way into the works, drove the besieged into houses, and set them on fire. Out of three hundred men, women, and children, only seventeen escaped. To revenge this massacre, General Jackson was sent against the savages with an army of thirtyfive hundred militia. On the 2d of November he sent General Coffee with nine hundred men against a body of Indians posted at Tallushatchee. The attack was made early on the following morning, and after a sanguinary conflict terminated in the annihilation of the enemy. A number of women and children were taken prisoners. General Coffee lost five killed, and forty wounded.

On the 7th of November Jackson marched with two thousand men to relieve some friendly Indians at Talladega, which was then threatened by the enemy. The enemy were attacked on the 9th; and, after a close struggle, compelled to fly, leaving behind them more than three hundred dead warriors. The Americans lost fifteen killed, and eighty wounded. A short time subsequent to this, General White destroyed the principal town of the Hillabee tribe, killing sixty of their warriors, and capturing two hundred and fifty prisonAnother victory was obtained over the Indians at Autossee, by a force under General Floyd. After a contest of two hours' duration, two hundred of their warriors were killed, while the Americans lost eleven killed, and fifty-four wounded.

ers.

On the 22d of January, 1814, General Jackson, with a large force, fought a decisive battle at Emuckfaw Creek, near a bend of the Tallapoosa. The Indians attacked at daylight; and, after a warm action of half an hour, were driven back; but, returning in a little