The Medallic History of the United States of America Part 50

To BRIGADIER-GENERAL GAINES. Fort Erie, August 17th, 1814.

Sir: I take the liberty of reporting you the cause of operations on the left flank of the camp, during the action of the 15th instant.

From indications satisfactory to me, I was persuaded very early of the enemy's design of attacking us in our position. Before any alarm, I caused my brigade to occupy their alarm posts. On the first fire of the picket, Captain Towson opened his artillery upon them from Fort Williams, in a style which does him infinite credit. It was continued with very great effect upon the enemy during the whole action.

The enemy advanced with fixed bayonets, and attempted to enter our works between the fort and water. They brought ladders for the purpose of scaling, and in order to prevent their troops from resorting to any other course excepting the bayonet, had caused all the flints to be taken from their muskets. The column that approached in this direction consisted of Colonel Fischer's command, and amounted in number to at least 1,500 men; and, according to the representation of prisoners, they were 2,000 strong. The companies posted at the point of the works, which they attempted to escalade, were Captain Ross's, Captain Marston's, Lieutenant Bowman's, and Lieutenant Larned's, of the 21st regiment, not exceeding 250 men, under command of Major Wood, of the engineer corps. On the enemy's approach they opened their musketry upon them in a manner the most powerful. Fort Williams and this little band, emitted one broad uninterrupted sheet of light. The enemy were repulsed. They rallied, came on a second time to the charge, and a party waded round our line by the lake, and came in on the flank; but a reserve of two companies, posted in the commencement of the action to support this point, marched up and fired upon the party, who were all killed or taken. Five times in this manner did the enemy advance to the charge; five times were their columns beaten back in the utmost confusion by a force one-sixth of their numbers; till (p. 221) at length finding the contest unavailing, they retired. At this point we made 147 prisoners.

During the contest in this quarter, the lines of the whole of the left wing were perfectly lined, in addition to the reserves; and I found myself able to detach three companies of the 23d regiment from the left, to reinforce the troops at Fort Erie, viz.: Captain Wattles', Lieutenant Cantine's, and Lieutenant Brown's companies, and one of the 19th under Captain Chunn. They were in the fort during the time of the explosion, and their conduct is highly spoken of by Major Brooke, their commanding officer.

Indeed, from the high state to which that regiment has been brought by Major Brooke, I am convinced that no troops will behave better.

In submitting to your view the conduct of the troops under my command on this occasion, I find every thing to applaud, nothing to reprehend. The utmost coolness and subordination was manifested, both by the 21st and 23d regiments. To Major Wood I feel particularly indebted. This officer's merits are so well known, that approbation can scarcely add to his reputation. He has the merit, with the Spartan band, in connection with Captain Towson's artillery, of defeating a vaunting foe of six times his force. Major Brooke did every thing in his power: and it affords me pleasure at all times to call the attention of the general commanding to this amiable and accomplished officer.

The officers commanding companies immediately engaged, have my highest commendation. Their conduct was most judicious and gallant. I cannot refrain from adverting to the manner in which Captain Towson's artillery was served. I have never seen it equalled. This officer has so often distinguished himself, that to say simply that he is in action, is a volume of eulogium; the army, only to be informed he is there, by a spontaneous a.s.sent, are at once satisfied that he has performed well his part. I have no idea that there is an artillery officer in any service superior to him in the knowledge and performance of his duty.

The officers I have mentioned as commanding companies of the 21st and 23d regiments, are particularly commended by their commanding officers. Captain Marston, a most valuable officer, commanded a first line of three companies opposed to the enemy's column.

Captain Ropes commanded the companies of reserve. Major Wood reports in the highest terms of the good conduct of the subalterns. Lieutenants Riddle, of the 15th, attached to the 21st, and Hall, and ensigns Bean, Jones, Gumming, and Thomas, of the 19th, as being extremely active, and performing their duties with alacrity.

The manner in which Lieutenant Belknap, of the 23d, retired with his picket guard from before the enemy's column, excites my particular commendation. He gave orders to fire three times as he was retreating to camp, himself bringing up the rear. In this gallant manner, he kept the light advance of the enemy in check, for a distance of two or three hundred yards. I have to regret, that when entering our lines after his troops, the enemy pushed so close upon him that he received a severe wound from a bayonet.

Lieutenant Bushnel and Cissney, of the 19th, while gallantly engaged with the enemy at Fort Erie, were both severely, if not mortally, wounded. Their conduct merits the warmest approbation.

Permit me to recommend to your notice, the good conduct of my (p. 222) staff, Lieutenant Kirby, of the corps of artillery, my aid-de-camp, and Lieutenant Holding, acting brigade major; their activity and zeal was entirely to my satisfaction.

I close this long report, with stating to you, in the highest terms of approbation, the skillfulness exhibited by Doctor Fuller, surgeon of the 23d, and Doctor Trowbridge, surgeon of the 21st infantry, with their mates Doctor Gale, of the 23d, and Doctors Everett and Allen, of the 21st; their active, humane and judicious treatment of the wounded, both of the enemy and of our own, together with their steady and constant attention to the duties of their station, must have attracted your personal observation, and I am confident will receive your approbation.

I have the honour to be, etc., E. W. RIPLEY, _Brigadier-General commanding 2d Brigade_.

No. 42. (p. 223) PLATE XLIII.

_July 5 and 25, and September 17, 1814._

Brigadier Genl. James Miller. [Rx]. Resolution of Congress November 3. 1814.

BRIGADIER-GENERAL JAMES MILLER.

[_Victories of Chippewa, Niagara, and Erie._]

BRIGADIER GEN{L}. (_General_) JAMES MILLER. Bust of General Miller, in uniform, facing the right. Exergue: I'LL TRY. His answer when he received the order to attack the enemy's batteries on the hill at Niagara. FuRST. F. (_fecit_).

RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS NOVEMBER 3. 1814. Colonel Miller, at the head of his troops, is carrying the British batteries on the hill at Niagara. Exergue: BATTLES OF CHIPPEWA JULY 5. 1814. NIAGARA. JULY 25.

1814. ERIE SEP. (_September_) 17. 1814. FuRST. F. (_fecit_).

JAMES MILLER was born in Peterborough, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, April 25, 1776. He practiced law from 1803 to 1808, when he entered the army with the rank of major; was made a lieutenant-colonel in 1810, and distinguished himself in the West, under Harrison; and became colonel of the 21st infantry, March 9, 1814. He greatly distinguished himself at Chippewa, Niagara, and at Erie, for which he was breveted a brigadier-general and received the thanks of Congress and a gold medal.[99] At Niagara, when ordered to carry the British batteries on the heights, he made the celebrated reply, "I'll try, Sir." He resigned in 1819; and was governor of Arkansas Territory in 1819-1825, and United States collector of customs at Salem, Ma.s.sachusetts, from 1825 to 1849. He died at Temple, New Hampshire, June 7, 1851.

[Footnote 99: The resolution of Congress voting this medal, and the official reports of the battles of Chippewa, Niagara, and Erie, are given under No.

39, page 203.]

No. 43. (p. 224) PLATE XLIV.

_July 5 and 25, 1814._

Major General Winfield Scott. [Rx]. Resolution of Congress November 3. 1814 etc.

MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT.

[_Victories of Chippewa and Niagara._]

MAJOR GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT. Bust of General Scott, in uniform, facing the right. FuRST. F. (_fecit_).

A serpent, entwined in a wreath of laurel and palm, is biting its tail--emblem of immortality through glory and victory. RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS NOVEMBER 3. 1814. BATTLES OF CHIPPEWA JULY 5. 1814. NIAGARA JULY 25. 1814. FuRST. F. (_fecit_).[100],[101]

[Footnote 100: See INTRODUCTION, page ix.]

[Footnote 101: The resolution of Congress voting this medal, and the official reports of the battles of Chippewa and Niagara, are given under No. 39, page 203.]

WINFIELD SCOTT was born near Petersburg, Virginia, June 13, 1786. He was graduated at William and Mary College, Virginia, studied law, and for some time engaged in practice. He was appointed captain of light artillery, May 3, 1808, and served in Louisiana under General Wilkinson, but resigned on account of differences with him. He was made lieutenant-colonel of the 2d artillery, July 6, 1812, and was taken prisoner at Queenstown Heights, Upper Canada, in the following October. He became colonel of the 2d artillery and adjutant-general under General Dearborn, March 18, 1813, and brigadier-general March 9, 1814. He distinguished himself at Chippewa, July 5, and on July 25, at Niagara (Lundy's Lane) where he was severely wounded. Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal for Chippewa and Niagara, and he was breveted a major-general, September 14, 1814. He went on a mission to Europe in 1815; was sent to Maine to settle the boundary question in 1839, and was promoted major-general and commander-in-chief of (p. 225) the army, June 25, 1841. As commander-in-chief in Mexico he took Vera Cruz, March 26, 1847, and gained the battles of Cerro Gordo, April 18; Contreras, August 19; San Antonio and Churubusco, August 20; Molinos del Rey, September 8; Chapultepec, September 13; and occupied the City of Mexico, September 14. For this brilliant campaign Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal.[102] He received the honorary degree of LL. D. from Columbia College, New York, in 1850, and also from Harvard College, Cambridge, Ma.s.sachusetts, in 1861. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Presidency in 1852; was made lieutenant-general, by brevet, February 28, 1855; was sent on a mission to Oregon to settle the boundary question, 1859; remained true to the Union at the outbreak of the Civil War, and resigned, November 1, 1861. He died at West Point, New York, May 29, 1866.

[Footnote 102: See No. 62, page 304.]

No. 44. (p. 226) PLATE XLV.

_August 15, 1814._

Major General Edmund P. Gaines. [Rx]. Resolution of Congress November 3. 1814.

MAJOR-GENERAL EDMUND PENDLETON GAINES.

[_Victory of Erie._]

MAJOR GENERAL EDMUND P. (_Pendleton_) GAINES. Bust of General Gaines, in uniform, facing the right FuRST. F. (_fecit_).

RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS NOVEMBER 3. 1814. A winged Victory, standing on a British shield, holds a palm branch in her left hand, and places with her right a crown of laurel upon the cascabel of a cannon standing upright in the ground, and forming the centre of a trophy of the enemy's arms: on the cannon is the inscription ERIE. Exergue: BATTLE OF ERIE AUG. (_August_) 15. 1814. FuRST. F. (_fecit_).[103]

[Footnote 103: The resolution of Congress voting this medal is given under No. 39, page 203.]

EDMUND PENDLETON GAINES was born in Culpepper County, Virginia, March 20, 1777. He entered the army as ensign of infantry, 1799; became first-lieutenant, 1802; captain, 1807; major and lieutenant-colonel, 1812; colonel, 1813, and brigadier-general 1814. He greatly distinguished himself at the battle of Erie, August 15, 1814, and was badly wounded on the 28th of the same month. For his services on this occasion he was breveted major-general, September 14, 1814, and Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. He served in Florida (Seminole war) and in Georgia (Creek war); and was commander of the southern and afterward of the western military districts. He died in New Orleans, June 6, 1849.