CHAPTER LVIII.

LAST INVASIONS AND LAST BATTLES OF THE WAR 435-460

Americans, in two divisions, under command of Brigadier-Generals Scott and Ripley, cross the river and land on the Canadian side above and below Fort Erie, which is commanded by Major Buck, and surrendered without firing a shot, to the great loss of the British, and to the great advantage of the Americans 435

General Brown, with a force of over 4,000 troops, advances down the river from Fort Erie, with a view of taking Chippewa; is encountered by General Riall, who is compelled to retire to the rear of his works at Chippewa; heroism of the Lincoln Militia 436

General Riall retires to Fort George, pursued by General Brown; pillage of the American soldiers and officers in the neighbourhood of Fort George 437

Both armies reinforced; General Brown in difficulties; retreats towards Chippewa; is pursued by General Riall; burns the village of St. David's; makes a stand at Lundy's Lane--called Bridgewater by the Americans 437

Battle of Lundy's Lane; preliminaries to it 438

The battle itself; protracted and bloody struggle; Americans retreat to beyond Chippewa 439

Forces engaged; losses on both sides; victory absurdly claimed on the American side 441

American army retreats to Fort Erie, pursued by General Drummond, who invests the fort 443

Storming the fort; terrible conflict; on the point of victory a magazine blown up, destroying all the British soldiers who had entered the fort--including Colonels Drummond and Scott--compelling the retirement of the assailants; British losses severe 444

The enemy shut up for a month in the fort by the British investment 445

At the expiration of a month the enemy makes a sortie, with his whole force; surprises and destroys the batteries; a bloody conflict; the enemy compelled to return to the fort with a loss of 600 men 445

Incessant rains prevent General Drummond repairing his batteries; he raises the siege and tries in vain to bring General Brown to a general engagement, but he evades it and evacuates Fort Erie 446

Thus terminates the last American invasion of Canada, without acquiring possession of an inch of Canadian territory 446

Summary review of Canadian loyalty, and the causes, characteristics, and the results of the war, in an address delivered at Queenston Heights, near Brock's Monument, by the author, at the anniversary of the Battle of Lundy's Lane, July, 1875 447