Four Years on the Great Lakes, 1813-1816. Don Bamford
Governor, against his own conviction, who with the troops under his command was to make a simultaneous attack on shore, but failed to do so. On the borders of Lake Ontario the troops suffered most severely, from our not being able to supply them with provisions, and co-operate with them occasionally. It will be seen from the above of what importance the capture of Sackets would have been to this country [Britain], as well as to Canada.
At Kingston we here purchased a large merchant schooner, which, with some alterations, was made to mount 8 guns. This addition to our little force gave us the superiority on the lake, and the Americans were obliged to continue in harbour till their new ship, which had sustained considerable damage from the fire, was launched and fitted out. Upon our putting to sea the gun boats were laid up and I was appointed to a hired schooner, which acted as tender to the fleet; we proceeded along the American shore, frequently landing, and harassing the enemy. Having received intelligence that a large quantity of government flour was stored at a place called Sodus, a small town standing on the bank of a river of the same name, we made sail for the place, and sending a flag of truce on shore to assure the inhabitants of the security of all private property, provided we were not molested, we proceeded to load the boats and, while performing that duty, we were treacherously fired upon by some of the inhabitants, for which amiable conduct Sir James ordered the town to be destroyed.
After the capture of Fort George by the Americans, our troops under the* command of Genl Vincent retreated towards the head of the lake closely followed by the enemy, until Genl Vincent received a reinforcement, and made a stand, still acting on the defensive. In a few days, the Americans were joined by a strong body of troops under two Generals, and ours made a rapid retreat towards Burlington Heights, when by a bold and gallant manoeuvre [the] General made a night attack upon their camp, completely surprised them, took the two Generals [Chandler and Winder], several officers, and [as] many men prisoners, as his own troops consisted of. After this he [presumably Vincent] retreated further up the country, and fortified his camp, the enemy being still nearly double his number.
Sir James received an express ordering him to return to Kingston immediately to embark troops to reinforce Genl Vincent. We accordingly returned, and took as many on board as the ships could conveniently carry, sailing direct for the head of the lake. On the morning of the 8th July at daybreak,7 one of our schooners being ahead of the fleet, and close in with the American shore, without the slightest apprehension of an enemy, when to our surprise we were saluted with several shots; and reconnoitering from the mast head, [we] saw a camp with two breastworks thrown up, and several batteries drawn up on the beach. She [the small vessel near the shore] returned the fire, but being crowded with soldiers, was called off by [a] signal from the Commodore, and the troops distributed among the ships. When she returned to the attack, and their works being but temporary, were soon demolished, the guns dismounted, and the enemy driven into the woods. [There] they were attacked by a body of Indians, who being excellently adapted for bush fighting, drove them back to the beach, where those who were fortunate enough to reach, launched the boats, and surrendered, but not before numbers of them had fallen victim to our sable allies who tomahawked them without mercy, as they neither make prisoners, or give quarter, and scalp every one they kill. The boats of [our] fleet were ordered on shore to protect them from the Indians, and parties sent into the woods to secure any prisoners that might want to surrender, which many joyfully did to save their lives. While on this duty, I perceived two American soldiers running with all speed towards the beach, followed by four or five Indians, yelling the war whoop; before our party could get near enough to save them the Indians had killed [them], and we came up just as they had finished scalping them. This operation, which is almost momentary, is performed by giving the deceased a heavy blow on the crown of the head, with the butt end of the tomahawk, and then making a circular incision with the scalping knife (which no Indian is without) about the size of the palm of the hand, they force the skin off. No scalp is considered genuine unless the skin has the hair on where it divides at the crown of the head and the greater number they can show, so much the more are they esteemed above their fellows — this man or demon, had them dripping with blood, which* he held up to me with the most savage exultation. The Indians are such excellent marksmen that they very seldom fail in bringing down their aim, and keeping themselves concealed among the bushes or underwood, the moment their gun is fired, if other objects remain, they shift their places, and keeping them constantly in view, scarce ever fail of completing the work they are upon; after a battle, or with a flying foe before him, the Indian shows himself in all his native ferocity. It is useless to beg for mercy as they are deaf to all entreaties, but stand before them with courage and resolution, and boldly encounter them, they will retreat till some treacherous advantage can be taken.
Scene on the Frontiers as Practiced by the “Humane” British and their “Worthy”
Allies, cartoon by William Charles, 1812. Wingfield suggests in his journal that the Native allies were discouraged from this compulsive habit by offering them rewards for handing over American prisoners alive. The artist and others suggested that the British were paying bounties to encourage the practice.
Those Indians who have had most intercourse with white inhabitants and traders in furs, are completely degenerated from their brethren in the interior of the country, in courage, cleanliness, and honesty.
The Governor, and different military Commanders have done all in their power to induce the Indians to leave off the abhorrent practice of scalping their prisoners by giving a reward for each [live] one that is brought to the respective headquarters; but as they act in distinct, and separate bodies, and will not submit to any control or discipline, it has but partially succeeded, even in the immediate vicinity of our troops, where it would seem, no motive could possibly prevent them from delivering up their prisoners and claiming such reward. The Americans had likewise their Indian auxiliaries, besides which each citizen is bred up from his infancy to be well acquainted with bush fighting, and also to be perfect master of his rifle.
In the evening the fleet sailed, and I was ordered to York to take in a supply of provisions for the ships, I accordingly shaped my course for that place, and anchored in the bay early next morning.
After arranging with the Commissariat Department, I took a view of the town and its immediate vicinity, but the Americans having paid it a visit as before mentioned, it exhibited but a ruinous spectacle — all the fortifications blown up, and the public buildings lying in a heap of ruins. The skeleton of our ship8 still remained on the spot where she had been laid down, but not a whole timber left in her, and all her masts and spars, which were ready cut in two and otherwise rendered useless; but the situation that had been selected for building her, showed much ignorance on the part of the managers, for it very doubtful to me, from my own observations, whether she would have been launched, as I had the curiosity to sound in the direction she must have gone off, and found the water too shallow, with a soft muddy bottom for a considerable distance into the lake, that is it is not improbable but she might have stuck fast, and remained as a monument to warn others against the like attempt.
The harbour [in York] is larger than Kingston, but useless except for small vessels in consequence of a bar running across the entrance, with but a narrow* and shallow channel.
On joining the fleet I found that the boats had captured a schooner from the enemy, and she was now fitted up with an 18 pounder upon a swivel and circular platform. I was removed on board her with orders to remain near the army, to convey troops or provisions from one military post to another, as occasion might require, and the next morning sailed for York, with 180 prisoners of war, in boats, under convoy; 9 though the latter place is 60 miles from the Falls of Niagara, justly esteemed the greatest natural curiosity in the known world, yet the spray is distinctly visible on a clear day, hovering over it with the appearance of a small white cloud.
On returning to six mile creek [Six Mile Creek], so named from being about that number of miles above the River Niagara, where the troops were encamped, I went on shore and found them busy in striking the tents, having received an express from Kingston, containing the information that the American fleet was at sea. I received an order from Sir James Yeo to