isting of 4,000 men stationed in that
vicinity, selected 2,000 of the most efficient of his division [American
History of the War, published in New York], and on the 22nd of the month
embarked them on board the fleet, with which he ascended the lake, and
with this force appeared off the harbour of York, the capital of Upper
Canada, on the morning of the 27th.

"The enemy appearing to threaten an attack upon the town, General
Sheaffe collected his forces, which consisted of nearly 700 men,
including regulars and militia, with about 100 Indians; and with these
he made a most determined resistance to the landing of the enemy; but at
length, overcome by numbers, he was compelled to retire; by which means
the enemy was enabled to effect his landing a short distance above the
fort, which was situated about two miles to the west of the town, at the
entrance of the harbour.

"So soon as the American troops, who were led on by General Pike, had
made good their landing, they formed into two lines (the first of which
was commanded personally by General Pike, and the rear or reserve line
by General Pearce), and in this order advanced upon the first battery
and carried it by assault; they then advanced towards the citadel in the
same order, and by the same means captured an intervening battery.

"Here the columns halted, in order to dress the lines for an attack upon
the main works. At this moment a large magazine accidentally exploded,
by which a quantity of stones and timbers were thrown into the air, and
in their fall killed and wounded a number on both sides, amongst whom
was the American general, Pike.

"The British regulars and militia performed prodigies of valour, but
were overpowered by a force three times their number, and in a high
state of discipline;[208] they were compelled to retreat towards the
town.

"General Sheaffe then held a Council with his principal officers and
civil authorities of the town, by whom it was advised that he should
retreat towards Kingston with the remainder of his troops; and that the
commandant of the militia, Lieutenant-Colonel Chewett, should treat
with the American commander for terms for the surrender of York.

"At the capture of York the British lost not less than 400 men, 300 of
whom were made prisoners of war, and about forty killed and wounded by
the explosion. The Americans lost 378, thirty-eight of whom were killed
and two hundred and twenty-two wounded by the explosion of the