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The Documentary History of the Campaign on the Niagara Frontier in 1814, Vol. 2
Excerpt from The Documentary History of the Campaign on the Niagara Frontier in 1814, Vol. 2
General P01ter's command on that day consisted of two col umns. The right column was to attack the batteries ln the rea1. The left, which was stationed directly back of it, was kept in reserve to meet the reinforcements which were expected from the enemy's main army. General Porte1 was with the right column until the blockhouse and third battery were carried; he then set out, accompanied by only two or three persons, to go to the left column, where some skirmishing had already commenced with the reinforcements. He had proceeded but a sho1t distance in the woods. When he found himself within a few yards of 60 or 80 of the enemy who had just emerged from a ditch, and who, discover ing probably that ou1 tr00ps we1e in their rear, stood f01med intwo lines with their arms at rest, apparently hesitating which way to go or how to act. General Porter, finding himself within their power, and seeing that the occasion required resolution and decision, instantly left his company and running to them with the greatest boldness, exclaimed, That's right, my good fellows, surrender and we will take care of you, - and coming up to the man on the left he took his musket out of his hand and threw it on the ground, at the same time pushing him forward towards the fort. In this way he proceeded nearly through the first line, most of the men volun taril y throwing down their arms and advancing to the front when all of a sudden a soldier, whose musket he was about to take, stepped back and, presenting his bayonet to General Porter's breast, demanded his surrender. The General seized the musket and was wresting it from him when he was assaulted by an officer who stood next in the ranks, and three or four soldiers, who after a short scuffle brought him to the ground. He, however, soon recov ered his feet, when he found himself surrounded by 15 or 20 men with their guns presented to him, demanding his surrender. By this time several of our officers were advancing with their men to the scene of action, and General Porter, assuming an air of compo sure and decision, told the enemy that they were surrounded and prisoners, and that if they fired a gun they should all be put to the sword. Without venturing to fire, they still continued to vocif erate, Surrender, you are my prisoner, when Lieutenant Chatfield of the Cayuga Riflemen, who had got near the spot, ordered his men to fire. This drew their attention from the General, and after a momentary scene of confusion and carnage the enemy were all either killed or taken prisoners. In this affair Captain Knapp of the New York Volunteers was badly wounded by a musket ball in the side, and General Porter in the hand by the cut of a sword.
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Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
General P01ter's command on that day consisted of two col umns. The right column was to attack the batteries ln the rea1. The left, which was stationed directly back of it, was kept in reserve to meet the reinforcements which were expected from the enemy's main army. General Porte1 was with the right column until the blockhouse and third battery were carried; he then set out, accompanied by only two or three persons, to go to the left column, where some skirmishing had already commenced with the reinforcements. He had proceeded but a sho1t distance in the woods. When he found himself within a few yards of 60 or 80 of the enemy who had just emerged from a ditch, and who, discover ing probably that ou1 tr00ps we1e in their rear, stood f01med intwo lines with their arms at rest, apparently hesitating which way to go or how to act. General Porter, finding himself within their power, and seeing that the occasion required resolution and decision, instantly left his company and running to them with the greatest boldness, exclaimed, That's right, my good fellows, surrender and we will take care of you, - and coming up to the man on the left he took his musket out of his hand and threw it on the ground, at the same time pushing him forward towards the fort. In this way he proceeded nearly through the first line, most of the men volun taril y throwing down their arms and advancing to the front when all of a sudden a soldier, whose musket he was about to take, stepped back and, presenting his bayonet to General Porter's breast, demanded his surrender. The General seized the musket and was wresting it from him when he was assaulted by an officer who stood next in the ranks, and three or four soldiers, who after a short scuffle brought him to the ground. He, however, soon recov ered his feet, when he found himself surrounded by 15 or 20 men with their guns presented to him, demanding his surrender. By this time several of our officers were advancing with their men to the scene of action, and General Porter, assuming an air of compo sure and decision, told the enemy that they were surrounded and prisoners, and that if they fired a gun they should all be put to the sword. Without venturing to fire, they still continued to vocif erate, Surrender, you are my prisoner, when Lieutenant Chatfield of the Cayuga Riflemen, who had got near the spot, ordered his men to fire. This drew their attention from the General, and after a momentary scene of confusion and carnage the enemy were all either killed or taken prisoners. In this affair Captain Knapp of the New York Volunteers was badly wounded by a musket ball in the side, and General Porter in the hand by the cut of a sword.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
314 pages, Paperback
Published July 9, 2017
About the author
Ernest Alexander Cruikshank
61 booksErnest Alexander "E. A." Cruikshank FRSC (29 June 1853 – 23 June 1939), was a Canadian Brigadier General, a historian who specialized in military history and the first Chairman of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
Cruikshank was born in Bertie Township, Canada West in 1853, and was educated at St. Thomas Grammar School and Upper Canada College. He worked as a journalist and translator in the United States, before returning to Canada where he served as Reeve of Fort Erie and Warden of Welland County.
n 1919, Cruikshank was among the first group of appointees to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board, a new body charged with the task of making recommendations in respect of National Historic Sites of Canada. At the first meeting of the HSMB, Cruikshank was elected Chairman, a role he served until his death in 1939.[2]
Cruikshank was a prolific writer. Among his most notable writings were: The Story of Butler's Rangers and the Settlement of Niagara (1893), A memoir of Colonel the Honourable James Kerby (1931), The Settlement of the United Empire Loyalists on the Upper St. Lawrence and Bay of Quinte in 1784 (1934), The Life of Sir Henry Morgan (1935), The Political Adventures of John Henry: The Record of an International Imbroglio (1936) and the edited volumes of the papers of John Graves Simcoe.[2][3]
He was a member of the Royal Society of Canada and a President of the Ontario Historical Society. He died at Ottawa.
Cruikshank was born in Bertie Township, Canada West in 1853, and was educated at St. Thomas Grammar School and Upper Canada College. He worked as a journalist and translator in the United States, before returning to Canada where he served as Reeve of Fort Erie and Warden of Welland County.
n 1919, Cruikshank was among the first group of appointees to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board, a new body charged with the task of making recommendations in respect of National Historic Sites of Canada. At the first meeting of the HSMB, Cruikshank was elected Chairman, a role he served until his death in 1939.[2]
Cruikshank was a prolific writer. Among his most notable writings were: The Story of Butler's Rangers and the Settlement of Niagara (1893), A memoir of Colonel the Honourable James Kerby (1931), The Settlement of the United Empire Loyalists on the Upper St. Lawrence and Bay of Quinte in 1784 (1934), The Life of Sir Henry Morgan (1935), The Political Adventures of John Henry: The Record of an International Imbroglio (1936) and the edited volumes of the papers of John Graves Simcoe.[2][3]
He was a member of the Royal Society of Canada and a President of the Ontario Historical Society. He died at Ottawa.
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