General Scott | Page 7

mutual friends settled the matter without bloodshed, by requiring that

Hampton should on the next morning present himself at the secretary's
door with both hands extended in the presence of the same persons who
witnessed the former meeting. Colonel Scott was now ordered to
Philadelphia to mobilize his regiment and organize a camp of
instruction. On his own solicitation, he was soon afterward ordered to
report to Brigadier-General Alexander Smyth, near Buffalo, N.Y.
[Illustration: The NIAGARA FRONTIER]
The Congress of the United States made formal declaration of war
against Great Britain and its dependencies June 18, 1812. In the month
previous General William Hull had been appointed to the command of
the northwestern army, intended for the invasion of Canada. This army
arrived on the Maumee River on May 30th, and marching northward
subsequently crossed over at Detroit. High hopes were entertained of
the success of this expedition, and the bitterest disappointment and
chagrin were manifested throughout the country when it was learned
that Hull had surrendered his entire command to the British General
Brock on August 14th. The regiment to which Colonel Scott was
assigned was the Second Artillery. Colonel George Izard and he arrived
on the Niagara frontier with the companies of Nathan Towson and
James Nelson Barker. He was posted at Black Rock for the protection
of the navy yard there established.
An expedition had been planned by Lieutenant Elliott, of the navy, for
the capture or destruction of two armed British brigs which were lying
under the guns of Fort Erie. On October 8th Colonel Scott detached
Captain Towson and a portion of his company to report to Elliott. On
the morning of the 9th the Adams was taken by Elliott and Lieutenant
Isaac Roach, and the Caledonia was captured by Captain Towson. In
passing down the river the Adams drifted into the British channel and
ran aground under the British guns. The enemy endeavored to recapture
her, but were successfully resisted by Colonel Scott. This was his first
experience under fire, and he was complimented for his skill and
gallantry. The Caledonia was afterward a part of Commodore Perry's
fleet on Lake Erie. The Adams, having drifted aground, was burned to
prevent recapture.

The northwestern army at this time consisted of about ten thousand
troops. General Henry Dearborn held command near Plattsburg and
Greenbush, and was the commanding officer of all the forces on the
northern frontier. A portion of his army was camped at Lewistown
under the command of General Stephen Van Rensselaer, of New York.
General Alexander Smyth was at Buffalo with some fifteen hundred
regular troops. Besides these, there were small detachments at
Ogdensburg, Sackett's Harbor, and Black Rock.
General Van Rensselaer conceived the plan of making a bold and
sudden move into Canada, with a view of capturing Jamestown, and
there establishing winter quarters. The affair of the capture of the two
English brigs with fifty men had roused great enthusiasm, and the
country was anxious for some success of arms to alleviate the
depression occasioned by Hull's surrender. General Van Rensselaer
confided the immediate command of the expedition to his relative,
Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer, an officer of coolness and courage,
who, with three hundred militia and three hundred regulars, under
Colonel Chrystie, on October 13th began crossing the river.
The troops were on the river bank ready to embark an hour before
daylight, but from some mismanagement there was not a sufficient
number of boats to transport the whole, and they were compelled to
cross in detachments. Colonel Chrystie's boat was swept down the river
by the current, and he was wounded. On a second attempt he succeeded
in landing. With about a hundred men Colonel Van Rensselaer led
them up the bank, and halted to await the arrival of the remainder. It
was now daylight, and the little command was in full view of the
enemy, who opened a deadly fire. Every commissioned officer was
either killed or wounded. Finding that the river bank afforded but little
protection, Colonel Van Rensselaer determined to storm the
Queenstown heights. He had now received four wounds, and was
compelled to relinquish the command to Captains Peter Ogilvie, Jr.,
and John Ellis Wool. In a very short time the fort was taken and the
heights occupied by the Americans. The enemy took refuge in a stone
house, from which they opened a destructive fire and made two
unsuccessful attempts to recapture the lost ground. General Brock

rallied his men and led them on, but while moving at the head of the
Forty-ninth Grenadiers he fell mortally wounded. General Van
Rensselaer recrossed the river and assumed command, but hastening
back to urge forward re-enforcements, the command fell to General
Decius Wadsworth, who, however, did not assume to control the
movements. Two light batteries from the Canada