27th [1812].--It was sunrise when the troops began to embark,
and so tardy were the movements that it was late in the afternoon when
all was ready. General Smyth did not make his appearance, and all the
movements were under the direction of his subordinates. A number of
boats had been left to strand upon the shore, and became filled with
water, snow, and ice; and as hour after hour passed by, dreariness and
disappointment fell upon the spirits of the shivering troops. Meanwhile
the enemy had collected on the opposite [British] shore, and were
watching every movement. At length, when all seemed ready and impatience
had yielded to hope, an order came from the commanding general '_to
disembark and dine_.' The wearied and worried troops were deeply
exasperated by this order, and nothing but the most positive assurances
that the undertaking would be immediately resumed kept them from open
mutiny. The different regiments retired sullenly to their respective
quarters, and General Porter, with his dispirited New York volunteers,
marched in disgust to Buffalo.

"November 28th [1812].--Smyth now called a council of officers. They
could not agree. The best of them urged the necessity of crossing in
force at once, before the (Canadian) enemy could make formidable
preparations for their reception. The General decided otherwise; and
doubt and despondency brooded over the camp that night. The ensuing
Sabbath brought no relief. Preparations for another embarkation were
indeed in progress, while the (Canadian) enemy, too, was busy in
opposing labour. It was evident to every spectator of judgment that the
invasion must be attempted at another point of the river, when, towards
evening, to the astonishment of all, the General issued an order
perfectly characteristic of the man--for the troops to be ready at
eight (November 30) o'clock the next morning for embarkation. 'The
General will be on board,' he pompously proclaimed. 'Neither rain, snow,
or frost will prevent the embarkation,' he said. 'The cavalry will soon
scour the fields from Black Rock to the bridge, and suffer no idle
spectators. While embarking, the bands will play martial airs; _Yankee
Doodle_ will be the signal to get under way. * * The landing will be
effected in despite of cannon. The whole army has seen that cannon is to
be but little dreaded. * * Hearts of war! to-morrow will be memorable in
the annals of the United States.'

"'To-morrow' came, but not the promised ac