tacking party designed to make off, and advancing hastily in
considerable numbers, rifles, militia, cavalry, regular infantry, and
Indians, the British, unable to retreat, were overpowered, the captured
being with difficulty rescued by their humane American enemies, from
the tomahawks and scalping knives of the Indians.

On Lake Champlain an attempt was made on the 14th of May, to capture or
destroy two new American vessels building at Vergennes, by Captain
Pring, of the Royal Navy, but finding the enemy prepared to receive him
more warmly than courteously, Captain Pring desisted and returned to
Isle-aux-Noix.

About the end of June, the Americans concentrated at Buffalo, Black
Rock, and other places, on the Niagara frontier, for the invasion of
Upper Canada, only waited for the co-operation of the fleet, which had
not, as yet, come out of Sackett's Harbour. The army was commanded by
General Brown, however, an officer, of considerable judgment, and now
not by any means inexperienced in the art of war, who could not remain
long inactive. On the 3rd of July, he despatched Brigadiers Scott and
Ripley, with their two strong brigades, to effect a landing on the
Canada shore. They landed from boats and batteaux, at two different
points. One brigadier landed above Fort Erie, and the other below it,
the brigades being two miles apart, and the fort in the centre. Captain
Buck, of the 8th regiment, was in command of Fort Erie, and, oddly
enough, although he had put it in a tolerably good state for defence,
he at once surrendered it, and his garrison of seventy men, to the
enemy. Scott and Ripley now marched on Chippewa, and were making
preparations to carry that post when they were met by General Riall,
with fifteen hundred regular troops, and a thousand Indians and
militia, and offered battle. The offer was no sooner made than
accepted, and at five in the afternoon, a battle was commenced, which
proved disastrous to Riall. The enemy were overwhelmingly numerous.
Riall's militia and Indians attacked the American light troops
vigorously, but they were unable to cope with Kentucky riflemen,
sheltered behind trees. Death came with every rifle flash, and the
militia and Indians must have given way, had not the light companies of
the Royal Scotts and 100th regiments come to their relief. Now came the
main and, on the part of Riall, ill-judged attack. He concentrated his
whole force, while the Americans stretched out in line. He appro