[Pg i]
THE
LOYALISTS OF AMERICA
AND
THEIR TIMES:
From 1620 to 1816.
BY EGERTON RYERSON, D.D., LL.D.,
Chief Superintendent of Education for Upper Canada from 1844 to 1876.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. II.
Volume I is also available from Project Gutenberg
TORONTO:
WILLIAM BRIGGS, 80 KING STREET EAST;
JAMES CAMPBELL & SON, AND WILLING & WILLIAMSON.
MONTREAL: DAWSON BROTHERS.
1880.[Pg ii]
Entered, according to the Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year One thousand eight hundred and eighty, by the
Rev. Egerton Ryerson, D.D., LL.D, in the Office of the Minister of Agriculture.[Pg iii]
CONTENTS.
- Alliance between Congress and France not productive of the effect anticipated; efforts
of the British Government for reconciliation with the Colonies 1-16
- Alliance deferred twelve months by France after it was applied for by Congress, until the King of France
was assured that no reconciliation would take place between England and the Colonies 1
- Lord Admiral Howe and his brother, General Howe, Commissioners to confer with Congress with a view
to reconciliation; their power limited; Congress refuses all conference with them, but the vast majority of
the Colonists in favour of reconciliation 2
- Reasons of the failure of the two Commissioners 4
- New penal laws against the Loyalists 5
- Three Acts of Parliament passed to remove all grounds of complaint on the part of the Colonists, and the appointment of five Commissioners; Lord North's conciliatory
speech; excitement and opposition in the
Commons, but the bills were passed and received the royal assent 6
- Lord North's proposed resignation, and preparations for it 8
- Opinions of Lords Macaulay and Mahon as to the success of a commission; proposed terms of reconciliation
if appointed and proposed by the Earl of Chatham 8
- The large powers and most liberal propositions of the five Royal Commissioners for reconciliation between
the Colonies and the Mother Country 11
- The refusal of all negotiation on the part of Congress; bound by treaty to the King of France to make no
peace with England without the consent of the French Court 12
- The three Acts of Parliament, and proposals of the five Commissioners of all that the Colonists had desired
before the Declaration of Independence; but Congress had transferred allegiance from England to France,
without even consulting their constituents 12
- Appeal of the representative of France to the Canadians to detach Canada from England (in a note) 12
- Sycophancy of the leaders of Congress to France against England 13
- The feeling of the people in both England and America different from that of the leaders of Congress 14
- The war more acrimonious after the alliance between Congress and the Kingof France and the failure
of the British Commissioners to promote reconciliation between Great Britain and the Colonies 16
- Complete Failure of the French Fleet and Army, under Count D'Estaing, to assist
the Congress 17-32
- Count D'Estaing arrives in America with a powerful fleet and several thousand soldiers 17
- Anchors off Sandy Hook for eleven days; goes to Long Island by Washington's advice, and sails up
Newport River, whither he is pursued by the Lord Admiral Howe with a less powerful fleet; the ships,
with 4,000 French soldiers and 10,000 Americans, to land and attack the British on Long Island, who
were only 5,000 strong 17
- The two fleets separated by a storm; only fighting between individual ships 18
- Count D'Estaing, against the remonstrances and protests of American officers, determines to sail for
Boston Harbour for the repair of his ships 18
- Bitter feeling and riot between the American sailors and citizens and French seamen and soldiers in the
streets of Boston 19
- Raids in New England by British expeditions (in a note) 19
- Differences between Count D'Estaing and the American officers as to the mode of attacking the British on
Long Island 19
- Early in November Count D'Estaing with his fleet quitted the port of Boston and sailed for the West Indies,
thus disappointing the hopes of the Americans from the French alliance 20
- Count D'Estaing, though strengthened by the fleet of Count De Grasse, could not be induced to come to
close fight with Admiral Byron 21
- The French take St. Vincent 21
- Count D'Estaing complained of by the Americans to the French Court, which orders him to return to the
American coasts and assist the Colonists 22
- D'Estaing arrives suddenly on the American coasts with twenty-two sail-of-the-line and eleven frigates and
six thousand soldiers; his magnificent plans and expectations 22
- D'Estaing arranges with General Lincoln to attack Savannah and rescue the province of Georgia, and
afterwards other Southern provinces, from the British 23
- Account of the Siege of Savannah, and the defeat of the French and their American allies; result of the contest 24
- Mutual recriminations and jealousies between the French and American officers; Count D'Estaing sails
with his fleet for France 25
- Why this minute account of Count D'Estaing's abortive expeditions to America; the barren results of the first
two years' alliance between Congress and the King of France, by Dr. Ramsay 27
- Spain joins France against England in 1779 28
- Low state of the American army and finances; discouragement and despondency of the Americans in 1780 28
- The degeneracy of Congress in 1778, as stated by General Washington 29
- Depreciation of public credit; sale of the confiscated property of "Tories" 30
- 1780—A year of weakness and disaster to the American cause, and of success to
the British 32-41
- Depression of American finances 32
- Weakness of Washington's army 32
- La Fayette returns from France with a loan of money and reinforcements of naval and land forces 33
- The British receive naval reinforcement of war ships, and become superior to the French 33
- Failure of the French reinforcements 33
- Sir Henry Clinton goes South; besieges and takes Charleston 34
- Conditions of the surrender and treatment of the inhabitants, as stated by Dr. Ramsay and misrepresented
by Mr. Bancroft 35
- Sir Henry Clinton's bad administration and bad proclamation in South Carolina; his exaggerated statements
of his success; re-embarks at Charleston for New York 36
- Expeditions to secure the universal submission of the people; but they weakened the cause of the British
in the hearts of the people 36
- The military power of Congress reduced and crushed in the Southern States 37
- Lord Cornwallis's antecedents, and those of Lord Rawdon (afterwards Marquis of Hastings); but their
severe policy unjustifiable and injurious to the British cause 38
- Military proceedings in the North also unfavourable to the Congress; its confessed weakness and gloomy
prospects 40
- Appeal of Congress to France for men and money as their only hope 40
- Washington's despondency without French aid (in a note) 41
- Mr. Hildreth, the historian, on the gloomy state of American affairs at the close of the year 1780, though
the English victories and rule did not attract the hearts of the people to the British cause 41
- The French and Congress Allies recover Virginia; surrender of Lord Cornwallis; results 42-52
- General Washington and the French Commander plan an expedition to the South 42
- Sir Henry Clinton deceived as to their design 43
- Count De Grasse sails for the Chesapeake with a fleet of 28 ships and 7,000 French troops 43
- Remarkable march of the allied army, five hundred miles from New York to Virginia, without committing any depredations whatever upon the inhabitants, even in the
season of fruits 43
- Plan of the siege of York Town 44
- Earl Cornwallis's measures of defence 44
- Position and strength of the allied forces, and their process of operations 45
- Lord Cornwallis's courageous and protracted defence; is disappointed of promised reinforcements from
New York 45
- Lord Cornwallis capitulates to superior forces 45
- Conditions of capitulation 46
- Circumstances of the Loyalists 46
- Groundless boastings of American orators and writers over the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, commanding
but a small part of the British forces 47
- The unrivalled skill and courage of Washington undoubted, as well as the bravery and endurance of his
soldiers; but the success of the siege of York Town chiefly owing to the French, but for whose ships,
artillery and land forces, Lord Cornwallis would have been the conqueror, rather than conquered, in
this famous siege and battle 47
- The resources of England; the peace party opposed to the continuance of the American War irrespective
of the Battle of York Town 48
- The war party and corrupt administration at length defeated in the House of Commons, after repeated and protracted debates and various intrigues 50
- Change of Government, and end of Lord North's twelve years' administration 51
- Seven years' war and bloodshed, and an unnatural alliance would have been prevented, liberty secured,
and the united life of the Anglo-Saxon race saved, had Congress, in 1776, adhered to its previous
professions (in a note) 52
- Change of administration in England; change of policy for both England and the Colonies;
peace negotiations at Paris; cause of the United Empire Loyalists; change of ministry;
the King compelled to yield 53-65
- Names of the new Ministers; death of the Marquis of Rockingham, the Premier, succeeded by the Earl
of Shelburne, in consequence of which several Ministers resign, and are succeeded by others, among
whom was Pitt, as Chancellor of the Exchequer (in a note) 53
- Correspondence between Dr. Franklin, at Paris, and the Earl of Shelburne, which led to negotiations for
peace 54
- Parliament does not pass an Act to authorize peace with America until three months after the accession of
the new Ministry 54
- Dr. Franklin proposes to include Canada in the United States 54
- English and American Commissioners meet at Paris and hold protracted negotiations, with many delays,
in regard to terms of peace 56
- Two most difficult questions of the treaty—The fishing grounds of Newfoundland and the Loyalists 56
- It was agreed that the Americans should have the right to take fish on the Banks of Newfoundland, but
not to dry or cure them on any of the King's settled dominions 56
- Preamble and articles of the treaty (in a note) 56
- The most important question of the Loyalists 57
- They constituted the majority of the population of the Colonies at the beginning of the contest 57
- It was at length agreed that the Congress should recommend to the several States to compensate the
Loyalists; but Dr. Franklin anticipated no success from it, as of course he did not desire it 58
- Dr. Franklin's counter-scheme to defeat the proposition of the English Commissioners, who gave way 58
- Dr. Ramsay on the Loyalists being "sacrificed" to their sufferings 59
- Mr. Hildreth on the same subject 61
- What was demanded for the Loyalists had been sanctioned by all modern civilized nations in like circumstances 61
- How honourable to the United States to have imitated such examples 62
- The fallacy of the plea or pretext that Congress had no power to grant an amnesty and compensation
to the Loyalists 62
- Severe censure of the royal historian, Dr. Andrews, upon the English Commissioners for having agreed
to sacrifice the Loyalists (in a note) 62
- "All parties in the Commons unanimously demand amnesty and indemnity for the Loyalists."
(Bancroft, in a note) 62
- Dr. Franklin and his colleagues outwitted the English Commissioners not only in regard to the Loyalists
but also in regard to immense territories 63
- Deplorable condition of the Loyalists during the war; utter abandonment by the English Commissioners 64
- Origin of Republicanism and hatred of Monarchy in America; Thos. Paine, sketch of his
life, character, and writings, and their effects 66-71
- The hiring of Foreign soldiers and employment of Indians in the Civil War 72-84
- The policy of the British Ministry in employing foreign soldiers and Indians in the war with the Colonies
deprecated by all classes in England and America and throughout Europe 72
- Violent opposition in Parliament to the hiring of foreign troops; exasperation in the Colonies (in a note) 73
- Unreliable and bad character of the Hessian mercenaries 74
- Remarks upon the bad policy of employing them, and their bad conduct, by the royal historian (in a note) 74
- The employment of Indians still more condemned and denounced than the hiring of foreign troops 74
- Employment of Indians by both the French and English during the war of 1755-63, between France
and England 75
- At the close of the war the French authorities recommended the Indians to cultivate the friendship of England 75
- Both Congress and the English sought the alliance and co-operation of the Indians; misstatements of the
Declaration of Independence on this subject (in a note); the advantages of the latter over the former in
conciliating the Indians 75
- The employment of the Indians in every respect disadvantageous to England 76
- English Generals in America individually opposed to the employment of the Indians in the military campaigns 76
- Failure, if not defeat, of General Burgoyne's army by the bad conduct, and desertion, of his Indian allies 76
- But Washington and Congress, as well as the English Government, sanctioned the employment of the
Indians in the war, and the first idea of thus employing them originated with the first promoters of revolution
in Massachusetts 77
- Omissions of American writers to state that the aggressions and retaliations of the Congress soldiers and
their coadjutors far exceeded in severity and destruction the aggressions and retaliations of the Indians
on the white inhabitants 77
- Many letters and biographies of actors in the Revolution show that very much of what was written or
reported during the Revolution against the English Loyalists and Indians was fictitious or exaggerated 78
- Proceedings of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts (before the affairs of Concord and Lexington)
to enlist and employ the Indians against the British 79
- General Washington, under date of July 27th, 1776, recommends the employment of Indians in the
revolutionarycause 80
- The Americans have no ground of boasting over the English in regard to the employment of Indians and
their acts during the war 81
- Efforts of General Burgoyne to restrain the Indians, who were an incumbrance to his army, and whose
conduct alienated great numbers of Loyalists from the British cause 82
- The conduct and dread of the Indians roused great numbers to become recruits in General Gates' army,
and thus rendered it far more numerous than the army of General Burgoyne (in a note) 83
- American invasion and depredations in the Indian country the latter part of 1776, as stated by Dr. Ramsay 84
- The invasion unprovoked, but professedly as a "precaution" to "prevent all future co-operation between
the Indians and British in that quarter" bordering in Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia 84
- Complete destruction of Indian settlements; their country a desolation 84
- The massacre of Wyoming; four versions of it by accredited American Historians, all
differing from each other; the facts investigated and false statements corrected 85-98
- The original inflated and imaginary accounts of the "Massacre of Wyoming" 85
- Four versions of it by accredited historians 85
- The account given by Dr. Ramsay 87
- Remarks upon Dr. Ramsay's account 88
- Description of Wyoming 88
- Mr. Bancroft's account of the "Massacre" 88
- Mr. Tucker's brief account of the "Massacre" 90
- Mr. Hildreth's more intelligible and consistent account of the "Massacre" 90
- Remarks on the discrepancies in four essential particulars of these four accounts 94
- Supplementary remarks, founded on Colonel Stone's refutation of the original fabulous statements of
the "Massacre," in his "Life of Joseph Brant, including the Border Wars of the American Revolution" 98
- American retaliation for the alleged "Massacre of Wyoming," as narrated by American historians 99-122
- Destruction of Indian villages and settlements for several miles on both sides of the Susquehanna by
the Americans 99
- Attack in retaliation "by Indians and Tories" on Cherry Valley, but more than revenged by Colonel
G. Van Shaick on the settlements 99
- The destruction of Indian villages and other settlements to the extent of "several miles on both sides of the Susquehanna," more than an equivalent revenge for the
destruction of Wyoming (in a note) 100
- This only the beginning of vengeance upon the Indian settlements on the part of the "Continentals;" cruelties compared 100
- General Sullivan's expedition, and destruction of the towns, settlements, crops, and orchards of the Six
Nations of Indians, as stated by Dr. Andrews 100
- The same expedition, as stated by Mr. Bancroft, Mr. Hildreth, Mr. Holmes, and Dr. Ramsay 102
- Further examples of "retaliation," so-called, inflicted upon the Indians and their settlements (in a note) 106
- The "Tories," driven among the Indians as their only refuge, treated as traitors; their conduct and duty 108
- Colonel Stone's account in detail of General Sullivan's expedition of extermination against the Six
Nations of Indians 108
- Dr. Franklin's fictions on the massacre and scalping of the whites by Indians, in order to inflame the
American mind against England; his fictions recorded as history 115
- Injustice done to the Indians in American accounts of them; their conduct compared with that of their
white enemies 119
- Situation and treatment of the Loyalists during the War 123-138
- Summary of the condition and treatment of the Loyalists 123
- The relation of both parties before the Declaration of Independence 123
- How the Declaration of Independence changed the relations of parties both in England and America 123
- At the Declaration of Independence the adherents to England the largest part of the population of the Colonies 124
- Elements of their affectionate attachment to England 125
- Their claims to have their rights and liberties respected 125
- Their position and character stated by Mr. Hildreth; abused by mobs and oppressed by new Acts
and authorities 125
- John Adams the prompter and adviser for hanging "Tories;" his letter to the Governor of Massachusetts on
the subject 127
- First scene of severity against Loyalists at Boston; new American maxim of morals for not forgiving "Tories" 127
- Treatment of Loyalists in New York, Philadelphia, Virginia, and other places 128
- Kindness of the French officers and soldiers after the defeat of Lord Cornwallis 129
- State Legislative and Executive acts against the Loyalists 130
- Rhode Island; Connecticut 130
- Massachusetts 131
- New Hampshire; Virginia; New York 131
- New Jersey; Pennsylvania; Delaware 132
- Maryland; North Carolina; Georgia 132
- South Carolina 134
- Remarks on the Confiscation Acts and policy of the several States mentioned 136
- Treatment of the Loyalists on their applications for redress after the Revolution 139-144
- Impolicy of such persecuting proceedings on the part of the States, by an American writer 141
- Review of the principal characteristics of the American Revolution, and remarks on the feelings which
should now be cultivated by both of the former contending parties, by Mr. J.M. Ludlow 145
- Reflections of Lord Mahon on the American contest; apology for George III.; unhappiness of Americans
since the Revolution; unity of the Anglo-Saxon Race 154
- Treatment of the Loyalists by the British Government and Parliament after
the Revolution 159-182
- Proceedings in Parliament; refusal of the States to compensate the Loyalists, as proposed in the
Treaty of Peace, and contrary to the example and practice of civilized nations 159
- In the House of Commons, Mr. Wilberforce, Lord North, Lord Mulgrave, Secretary Townsend,
Mr. Burke, Mr. Sheridan, Mr. Norton, Sir Peter Burrell, Sir William Bootle, and other members
of Parliament, spoke on the subject 160
- In the House of Lords, Lords Walsingham, Townsend, Stormont, Sackville, Loughborough and Shelburne,
also advocated the claims of the Loyalists 163
- Grounds of the responsibility of Parliament to the Loyalists for compensation 164
- Unpopular and unprecedented omissions in the terms of Peace 164
- Fallacy of the argument of advocates of the Treaty 165
- Agents in England of the Loyalists; proceedings of the Parliamentary Commission; results 166-182
- The Loyalists driven from the United States to the British Provinces 183-190
- Brief sketches of some individual Loyalists in the British Provinces; first settlers
in Canada, and how they travelled hither 190-208
- 1. Samuel Anderson; 2. Rev. John Bethune; 3. Doanes—five brothers; 4. Stephen Jarvis;
5. Wm. Jarvis; 6. David Jones; 7. Jonathan Jones; 8. Captain Richard Lippincott; 9. The McDonalds;
10. John McGill; 11. Donald McGillis; 12. Thomas Merritt; 13. Beverley Robinson; 14. Beverley
Robinson, jun.; 15. Christopher Robinson; 16. Sir John Beverley Robinson; 17. Sir Charles
Frederick Phillipse Robinson; 18. Morris Robinson; 19. John Robinson; 20. Roger Morris;
21. Allen McNab; 22. Luke Carscallen; 23. John Diamond; 24. Ephraim Tisdale; 25. Lemuel Wilmot
- Dr. Canniff's account of the migration of the first Loyalists from Lower Canada, and settlement on the
North Shore of the St. Lawrence, and in the country round and west of Kingston 204
- First settlement of Loyalists in the British Provinces—especially of Upper
Canada,—their adventures and hardships, as written by themselves or their
descendants 208-270
- First settlement of the first company of Loyalists at the close of the Revolutionary War, in and near
Kingston, Upper Canada, by the late Bishop Richardson, D.D. 208
- First settlement of Loyalists in Nova Scotia, by a gentleman of that Province 211
- Colonel Joseph Robinson, his adventures and settlement, by the late Hon. R. Hodgson, Chief Justice
of Prince Edward Island 213
- Robert Clark, his sufferings in the Revolutionary War, and settlement in the Midland District, U.C.;
by his son, late Colonel John C. Clark 216
- Captain William B. Hutchinson, his sufferings and settlement in Walsingham, County of Norfolk, U.C.;
by his grandson, J.B. Hutchinson, Esq. 218
- Patriotic feeling and early settlement of Prince Edward County and neighbouring Townships; by
Canniff Haight, Esq. 219
- Colonel Samuel Ryerse, his adventures, settlement, and character, in the County of Norfolk; in letters
by his son, the late Rev. George J. Ryerse; and in a memorandum, including a history of the early
settlement of the County of Norfolk, and recollections of the war of 1812-1815; by Mrs. Amelia Harris,
of Eldon House, London, U.C. 226
- Colonel Joseph Ryerson, his adventures, sufferings, and settlement in the County of Norfolk, U.C.;
by an intimate friend of the family 257
- Note.—Colonel Samuel Ryerse and Colonel Joseph Ryerson were brothers, and both officers in the
British army during the Revolutionary War; but in the commission of the former, his name was spelled
Ryerse; and it being difficult at that time to correct such an error, he and his descendants have always
spelt their name Ryerse, though the original name of the family, in the records of New Jersey, in Holland,
and previously in the history of Denmark, is Ryerson.
- Interesting piece of local history; by the Rev. Dr. Scadding 259
- Loyalty and sufferings of the Hon. John Monroe; by his son 261
- Sufferings of the U.E. Loyalists during the Revolutionary War; vindication of their character—including
that of Butler's Rangers—their privations and settlement in Canada; by the late Mrs. Elizabeth Bowman
Spohn, of Ancaster, in the County of Wentworth, U.C., together with an introductory letter by the writer
of this history 264
- Origin and Character of the Governments of British North America.—Nova Scotia 271-276
- Government of Lower Canada 281-306
- The famous Quebec Act, 14th Geo. III.; its provisions; why and by whom opposed; opposed in the
Lords and Commons, and in the Colonies; supposed to have promoted the American Declaration
of Independence 281
- Constitutional Act of 1791—Act 31st George III., chapter 31 285
- Mr. Pitt explains the principal provisions of the Bill; provided against the imposition of taxes in the colonies
by the Imperial Parliament; opposed by some members in the Commons; rupture between Burke and
Fox (in a note); Pitt's defence of the Bill 285
- The Bill becomes an Act; separates Upper from Lower Canada; constitutes a legislature for each province;
how the two branches of the legislature were constituted; the representative form of government obtained
by the United Empire Loyalists 286
- The Administration of the Government and Legislation in Lower Canada under the new constitution 288
- Lord Dorchester Governor-General; first session of the Legislature; Speakers of the two Houses;
a Speaker elected in the House of Assembly who could speak both the French and English language 289
- The Governor's first speech to the Legislature 290
- The cordial and loyal response of the House of Assembly
290
- Useful and harmonious legislation; a noble example and illustration of loyalty by the House of Assembly
before the close of the session 292
- The Governor's speech at the close of the session 294
- Unjust statements against the French corrected (in a note) 294
- Second session of the Legislature called by Lord Dorchester on his arrival from England; his cordial
reception; beneficial legislation; Canadians recoil from the horrors of the French Revolution 295
- French Republican agents endeavour to incite Canadians to revolt, and to excite hostilities against England
in the United States 297
- Mutual cordiality between the Governor-General and the House of Assembly 297
- Visit of the Duke of Kent to Lower Canada as Commander of the Forces; his wise and patriotic counsels;
beneficial influence of his visit and residence 297
- Lord Dorchester lays the public accounts before the Assembly; their contents; this proceeding highly
satisfactory to the Assembly; bills passed and assented to 298
- Interval of quiet between the second and third Sessions of the Legislature; Lord Dorchester's practical
and noble speech at the opening of the third Session; Mr. Christie's remarks upon it; cordial answer of
the House of Assembly, to whom the public accounts were transmitted, even more comprehensive
and complete than those sent down the previous Session 299
- Commissioners first appointed to adjust the revenues between Upper and Lower Canada; their courteous
and fair proceedings on both sides 301
- Gratifying close of the third Session 302
- Auspicious opening, useful legislation, and happy conclusion of the fourth and last Session of the first
Parliament of Lower Canada 302
- Termination of Lord Dorchester's thirty-six years connection with Canada; review of his conduct and
character by the historian Bancroft; cordial addresses to him, and his affectionate answers 303
- Meritorious conduct of the French Canadians 305
- Government of Upper Canada 307-315
- How governed and divided by Lord Dorchester before the Constitutional Act of 1791 307
- The Constitutional Act of 1791, 31 George III., chapter 31, and construction of governments under it 307
- General John Graves Simcoe the first Governor; character of his government; arrives at Kingston 8th
July, 1792, where the members of the Executive Legislative Councils were sworn into office, and writs
issued for the election of members of the House of Assembly 308
- The seat of government first established at Newark, now Niagara, where a small frame house was built
for the Governor, and in which also the first Session of the Legislature was held 308
- Number of members of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly present at the opening of the
Session; their character 309
- Number and character of the population of the country, including the Mohawk Indians, headed by Joseph
Brant 309
- First Session of the first Parliament and its work 309
- Remarkable speech of Governor Simcoe at the close of the Session, explanatory of our constitution of
government 310
- Change of the seat of government and reasons for it 311
- Governor Simcoe's work and policy; removal to the West Indies, and abandonment of his wise policy 311
- Parliament meets at Niagara until 1797; its legislation; Governor Simcoe's successor, the Hon. Peter
Russell and General Hunter; population of Upper Canada in 1800 312
- Legislation, progress, trade, custom-houses 313
- Provision for one Grammar School Master in each of the eight districts 314
- Emigration; legislation; experience of the country during sixteen years under the new constitution 314
- State of the country in 1809 314
- Anticipated hostilities between Great Britain and the United States; concluding remarks on this period
of Canadian history 315
- War of the United States against Great Britain, from 1812 to 1815 316-317
- Introductory and general remarks; illustrations of true loyalty; war struggles of England for human liberty
when the United States joined the tyrant of Europe in war and invaded Canada; comparative population
of Canada and the United States; Canada, almost unaided, successfully resists the eleven invasions of the
United States against her; phases of the war against her 316
- Declaration of War by the United States against Britain, and preparations for the
invasion of Canada 318-330
- The alleged and real causes of the war; the Democratic party in the United States always hostile to
England and her colonies, and sympathisers with every raid against Canada 318
- Two alleged causes for the war by the United States; Berlin decrees, and answers to them by British
Orders in Council—results 319
- Collusion between Napoleon and the President of the United States against England; seduction and
desertion of British sailors (nearly 10,000) besides soldiers; the justice and acknowledged right of the
British claims, and injustice and unreasonableness of the Madison Government's proceedings 319
- The event between the warships Leopard and Chesapeake; American misrepresentations of it; dishonest
conduct of President Madison in respect to it; noble and generous proposal of the British Government,
disclaiming the conduct of the captain of the Leopard, and offering to compensate all parties for injuries
done them by the Leopard 323
- The "Henry Plot" affair; conduct of President Madison in respect to it; declaration of war by the United
States 327
- Declaration of War by the United States 331-336
- Declaration of war, June 18, 1812; votes in the House of Representatives for and against it 331
- Character of the war party and its Generals 333
- Opposition to the war, and reasons against it, by a State Convention of New York 333
- Address of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts against the war 334
- The Orders in Council, as administered, beneficial to American merchants 335
- Preparations made by the Canadians for their defence 337-351
- War against the Canadas being contemplated in the United States 337
- Preparations by Lower Canada; Sir George Prevost succeeds Sir James Craig as Governor-General;
his character and first speech to the Legislature 338
- The loyal answer of the Assembly, and liberal provisions for the defence of the Province 338
- Organization of militia 339
- American residents allowed twenty days to leave the Province 340
- Second Session of the War Legislature, 16th July, 1812; the Governor's speech, relying upon the Province,
and noble reply, and further various and liberal supplies and measures of the Legislative Assembly to meet the emergency 340
- Preparations in Upper Canada for self-defence 341
- General Brock calls a meeting of the Legislature, July 27, 1812; his stirring speech at the opening of the
session; hearty response and liberal supplies of the House of Assembly 342
- Patriotic address of the Assembly to the people of Upper Canada, and remarks upon it 342
- First Invasion of Upper Canada, in the Western District, by General Hull, and his
Proclamation to the Inhabitants of Upper Canada, given entire in a note 346-351
- General Brock's manly and overwhelming reply to General Hull's proclamation, in an address to the
people of Canada 349
- General Brock takes Detroit, General Hull's Army, the Territory of Michigan, and
Immense Military Stores 352-364
Incidents of this Great Achievement.
- 1. Smallness of General Brock's army, and the manner in which he collected it 353
- Preparations at Windsor for the attack upon Detroit before General Brock's arrival there 353
- Crossing the river, and the surrender of Fort Detroit, &c. 354
- 2. General Brock's council with the Indians at Sandwich before crossing the river at Detroit; his conversation
with the great chief Tecumseh; and after the taking of Detroit, takes off his sash and places it around
Tecumseh, who next day placed it around the Wyandot chief, Round Head; reasons for it given to
General Brock 355
- General Brock's estimate of Tecumseh, and the latter's watching and opinion on the conduct of the former 356
- Particulars of Tecumseh's personal history and death (in a note) 357
- Surprise and taking of Michillimackinack, and other defeats, discouraging to General Hull, before his
surrender of Detroit 358
- Particulars of the surrender 361
- General Brock's proclamation to the people of Michigan 362
- Remarks on the difference in sentiment and style between this proclamation to the inhabitants of Michigan
and that of General Hull to the inhabitants of Canada 363
- General Brock's return to York; having in 19 days settled public legislative business, raised a little army,
taken a territory nearly as large as Upper Canada, and an army three times as numerous as his own 364
- Second Invasion of Upper Canada at Queenston 365-371
- Crossing of the river from Lewiston to Queenston of 1,500 regular troops, who, by a private path,
gain Queenston Heights; death of General Brock; the invaders dislodged from the Heights and driven
down the banks of the river; American militia refuse to cross the river; American soldiers surrender to
General Sheaffe to the number of 900 men, besides officers, including General Wadsworth and Colonel
Winfield Scott 365
- Armistice 368
- Incidents on the Niagara frontier after the death of General Brock, by Lieutenant Driscoll, of the 100th
Regiment 368
- Third American Invasion of Canada 372-379
- A large American army assembled; confidence of its success 372
- No reinforcements from England; but the sacrifice and zeal of the Canadians for the defence of their
country against this third and most formidable invasion of the year 373
- The Commander-in-Chief's (General Smyth) address to his army, given entire in a note 373
- Its effect to bring 2,000 volunteers from the State of Pennsylvania 374
- The troops embark; General Smyth does not appear; failure of the attempted invasion; General Smyth's
flight from his own soldiers, who shoot off their guns in disgust and indignation 375
- Three armies, altogether of 10,000 men, defeated by less than 1,000 Canadian volunteers and soldiers 378
- An Invading Army of 10,000 men, under General Dearborn, defeated by Colonel De
Salaberry, with 300 Canadians, at Chateauguay; Description of the Battle 380-382
- The Canadian militia put in readiness to repel a second apprehended invasion, but General Dearborn
does not venture it, and retires with his hosts into winter quarters 381
- The Canadian militia allowed to retire for the winter 382
- The armistice between Generals Sheaffe and Smyth injurious to Upper Canada (in a note) 382
- Campaigns of 1813 383-425
- Americans determined to conquer Canada this year 383
- Disadvantage of the Governor-General of Canada from the fewness of his troops, regulars and militia,
compared with those of the invading armies 383
- Three American invading armies—one consisting of 18,000 men, the second of 7,000 men, and the third
of 8,000 men 384
- General Proctor's slender force at Detroit 384
- Battle of Frenchtown; victory of Colonel Proctor; American misrepresentations respecting it corrected 385
- Colonel Proctor promoted to be General 388
- Several American plundering raids on Brockville and neighbourhood; retaliatory raid of the British on
Ogdensburg; town ordnance, arms, &c., taken, and vessels destroyed 388
- Canadian preparations in the winter of 1813 for the season's campaign; U.E. Loyalist regiment comes from Fredericton, New Brunswick, to Quebec, on snow shoes
390
- The American plan of campaign to invade and take Canada in 1813 390
- The American fleet on Lake Ontario superior to the British fleet; attack upon York with 1,700 men,
commanded by Generals Dearborn and Pike; battle, explosion of a magazine; many of both armies
killed; Canadians defeated and York taken 391
- Americans evacuate York and return to Sackett's Harbour, after having destroyed public buildings, and
taken much booty 393
- Americans attack Fort George, Newark (Niagara), by land and water, and after a hard fight take the town
and fort, the British retiring to Queenston 393
- General Vincent, having destroyed the fortifications on the frontier, retreats to Burlington Heights, pursued by Generals Chandler and Winder, with an army of 3,500
infantry and 300 cavalry 394
- Colonel Harvey, with 700 men, surprises the whole American army at Stony Creek, captures their two
generals and 150 men, &c. 395
- American army retreats in great disorder towards Fort George 396
- The affair at the Beaver Dams; the capture of 700 American soldiers, with their officers, by a small party
of soldiers and Indians—the captured prisoners being five to one of their captors 397
- The American army confined to Fort George and its neighbourhood 397
- A small party of the British retaliate the marauding game of the Americans by crossing the river at
Chippewa, attacking and dismantling Fort Schlosser and bringing off military stores; and seven days
afterwards, 11th July, crossing from Fort Erie to Black Rock, and burning the enemy's block-houses,
stores, barracks, dockyards, &c. 397
- The two armies almost within gunshot of each other at Fort George; but the Americans could not be drawn
out to a battle, though their numbers were two to one to the British 398
- General Harrison prepares to prosecute the war for recovering the Territories of Michigan; General Proctor
raises the siege of Lower Sandusky and retires to Amherstburg 399
- Unsuccessful expedition of Governor-General Prevost and Sir James L. Yeo against Sackett's Harbour;
Sir George Prevost orders the withdrawment of the troops, at the very crisis of victory, to the great
disappointment and dissatisfaction of his officers and men 399
Occurrences on Lake Ontario. [Pg xix]
- Second unsuccessful attempt of Commodore Sir James Yeo on Sackett's Harbour 401
- Commodore Chauncey's expedition to the head of the lake to take Burlington Heights is deferred by the preparations of Colonels Harvey and Battersby to receive him
402
- Commodore Chauncey makes a second raid upon York (Toronto), plunders, burns, and departs; singular coincidence 402
- The British fleet, sailing from Kingston the last day of July, with supplies for the army at the head of the lake, encounters the American fleet at Niagara, and
after two days' manœuvring, a partial engagement ensues,
in which the British capture two small vessels—the Julia and Growler 402
- A graphic account of the naval manœuvring and battle by the American historian of the war, Brackenridge
(in a note) 402
- Encounters and tactics of the British and American fleets on Lake Ontario for the rest of the season 404
Occurrences on Lake Erie and in the West.
- Fleet fitting out by Commodore Perry at Presqu' Isle (Erie) blockaded by Commodore Barclay, who,
neglecting his duty and absenting himself from Presqu' Isle, allowed the American fleet to get over the bar
at the mouth of the harbour, and getting into the lake with their cannon reshipped and completely equipped 405
- Commodore Barclay, the enemy too well manned and too powerful for him, sails for Amherstburg;
is pursued by Commodore Perry and compelled to fight, in which he lost his fleet, though he fought bravely 406
- In consequence of the loss of the fleet on Lake Erie, the British army in possession of the territory of
Michigan, left without resources, evacuate the territory and Fort Detroit, before an American army of 7,000
men and 1,000 dragoons, under General Harrison 407
- General Proctor retreats up the Thames; is pursued by General Harrison, with a force of 3,000 men,
including 1,000 Kentucky dragoons, and overtaken near Moravian Town, where a battle ensues, in which
General Proctor is defeated with heavy loss—the Indians remaining loyal, fighting longest, suffering most,
with the loss of their chief, Tecumseh 408
- Shameful burning of Moravian Town by the Americans 410
- Americans accept Indian alliance; Americans intoxicated by these successes, but driven from every inch
of Canadian territory before the end of the year 410
American Invasion of Lower Canada. [Pg xx]
- Defeat of an American advance invading division, and capture of two vessels, the Growler
and Eagle, of eleven guns each, at the Isle-aux-Noix, by 108 men, under the command of Lieut.-Col.
George Taylor 411
- Attacks upon and capture and destruction of the American war materials, hospitals, barracks,
&c., at Plattsburg, under Colonel Murray (General Moore retreating with 1,500 men), at Burlington
(where was encamped General Hampton with 4,000 men), capturing and destroying four vessels, and
afterwards at the towns of Champlain and Swanton, destroying the block-houses and barracks 412
- These successes but preliminary to the Canadian victories of Chateauguay, and Chrystler's Farm 413
Battle of Chateauguay.
- General Hampton, with 5,000 men, defeated by the skill and courage of Colonel De Salaberry
with 300 Canadians; the battle described, and the close of it witnessed, by the Governor-General Prevost
and Major-General De Watteville 413
- General Hampton with his demoralized army retires into winter quarters at Plattsburg 417
- Next expedition against Montreal by the St. Lawrence, under command of General Wilkinson, with
a force of 10,000 men; the American soldiers promised grand winter quarters at Montreal 417
- American army descends the St. Lawrence from near Kingston in 300 boats; is followed by a detachment
of the British from Kingston, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison, who overtakes and
skirmishes with divisions of the American army on the way; at the American post, at the town of Hamilton,
takes a considerable quantity of provisions and stores, and two pieces of ordnance 418
Battle of Chrystler's Farm.
- American force engaged between 3,000 and 4,000 men; the British forces were about 800 rank and file; preliminaries and description of the battle, said to be the most squarely and
scientifically fought battle
of the war 419
- Losses; General Wilkinson's testimony as to the loyalty and courage of the Canadians 420
- General Wilkinson proceeds down the St. Lawrence with his flotilla; disappointment and mortification
at General Hampton's disobedience and failure to meet him at St. Regis; crosses the St. Lawrence and
retires into winter quarters at Salmon River 420
- The campaign of the season terminated in Lower Canada; the Canadian militia dismissed to their homes
with thanks and applause 421
British Victories in Upper Canada.
- In December, 1813, Lieutenant-General Drummond supersedes Major-General De Rottenburgh in
command of Upper Canada, and proceeds to York and the head of the Lake at Burlington Heights;
despatches Colonel Murray to arrest the predatory incursions of General McClure in the neighbourhood
of Fort George, of which he was then in possession 422
- McClure's plundering the inhabitants; his barbarous act in burning the town of Newark (Niagara), and flight
to the American side of the river 423
- The British, under command of Colonel Murray, take Fort Niagara, the whole garrison, and much
warlike supplies 423
- Lewiston, Manchester, Black Rock and Buffalo destroyed in retaliation for the burning of Newark (Niagara),
and exposure of 400 women and children, by McClure 424
- Proclamation issued by General Drummond, deprecating this savage mode of warfare, and declaring his
purpose not to pursue it, unless compelled by the measures of the American Government 425
- Movements and Campaigns in 1814—The third and last year of the war 426-434
- Two years' expensive failures of American invasions against Canada; preparations on both sides for the
third year's campaigns 426
- Volunteers, soldiers and sailors, march through the woods from New Brunswick to Canada 426
- Expression of Royal satisfaction and admiration of the loyalty and courage of the Canadians during the
war, making special mention of the affair of Chateauguay and Colonel De Salaberry 427
- First American invasion of Lower Canada in 1814; the American soldiers, crossing Lake Champlain on
the ice, attack Le Colle Mill (Block-house), and are driven back by a small but heroic force of Canadians 427
- General Wilkinson returns with his army to Plattsburg; and, disappointed and mortified at his failures, retires
from the army 428
- Prairie du Chién, on the Mississippi, taken by the British, and Fort Michillimackinack triumphantly defended
against a large American force; and Sir John C. Sherbrook, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, reduces an extensive portion of American territory adjoining New Brunswick, and adds it to that
Province 428
- Peace in Europe; reinforcements of 16,000 veteran soldiers from England to Canada 430
- Sir George Prevost's abortive expedition against Plattsburg censured; recalled to England to be tried by court-martial; dies a week before the day of trial
330
- The estimate of Mr. Christie, the Canadian historian, of the character and policy of Sir George Prevost 431
- Opening of the campaign in Upper Canada; expedition from Kingston against Oswego, which is dismantled,
its fortifications destroyed, military stores, &c., seized 432
- British fleet, supreme on Lake Ontario, blockades Sackett's Harbour; intercepts supplies being sent from
Oswego to Sackett's Harbour, but is unsuccessful in pursuing American supply boats up the Sandy Creek;
the pursuers taken prisoners and well treated by the Americans 433
- 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