less, and place his men on an equal footing with them on the open and level ground above.
The Indians redoubled their activity as the column approached, keeping however, well under cover, and thoroughly succeeded in obviating any attempt to harass its advance. Within an hour Sheaffe gained the cleared ground on the right of the woods occupied by them, extending as far as the portage road, where he beheld Captain Richard Bullock advancing from Chippawa with his own company of the 41st, and Captain Robert Hamilton’s and Jno. Rowe’s companies of the 2nd Lincoln, strengthened for the occasion like most others, by a number of volunteers from the ranks of the sedentary militia. Foremost among other aged men properly exempt from service, whom the emergency had impelled to seize their arms, again was Lieut.-Col. Ralfe Clench, once an officer in Butler’s rangers, and then the district judge, who had retired from command of the 1st Lincoln battalion a few years before owing to infirmity. The combined force, numbering about 930 officers and men, was formed for the attack with the light company of the 41st, under Lieut. McIntyre, and the two companies of the 49th, still commanded by the dauntless Dennis, on the left of the line next the Indians, supported by a small battalion of militia under Lieut.-Col, Butler. The centre and right wing were composed of the five remaining companies of the 41st, having in support the rest of the militia under Lieut.-Col. Thomas Clarke, the two small field-pieces, drawn by men with drag-ropes, preceded the advance of the line, which was necessarily deliberate.
The number of combatants actually arrayed against them at that moment cannot be exactly stated, but could hardly have been less than nine hundred, of whom more than half were regulars. Like the British, this force was made up of detachments from maay different battalions. Its ranks had been much diminished by desertions since the Indians had renewed the fight, numbers of men stealing down to the river and lurking there in the hope of finding means of escape. Perceiving that Sheaffe was preparing for a decisive attack upon his position, and probably having no desire to grace his triumph as a prisoner, General Van Rensselaer determined to return to Lewiston, with the lingering hope of enlisting a reinforcement from the large body of militia still congregated there. He had scarcely entered his boat, when the skulkers at the landing crowded into it in such numbers, that it was in actual danger of being swamped by their weight, and pushed off heedless alike of his threats and entreaties.
His departure left Colonel Scott in command, having under him Colonel Chrystie and Brigadier-General Wadsworth. Sheafie’s movements obliged him to abandon his uncompleted fieldworks, and take up a new position on the crown of the heights, where a slight barricade was hastily extemporized with fence-rails, logs and brushwood, with the left flank resting on the edge of the cliff, and the riflemen on the other, facing the Indians from among the brush-huts, formerly occupied by the 49th light company. The gun in the redan could not be made to bear in this direction, and his solitary field-piece was therefore planted in front of the centre of the line, near the site of the present monument.
While waiting the attack, Scott received a message from Van Rensselaer, stating that he had been unable to induce a single regiment, or even a company to advance to his relief, but forwarding a supply of ammunition and asssuring him, that if he felt unable to maintain his position, boats would be sent to remove the troops, and the artillery would cover his retreat. Upon Van Reneselaer’s arrival on his own shore he found a few men at the landing, whom he sent over, and then accompanied by members of his staff and ‘‘old Judge Peck,” grotesquely equipped for war in a huge cocked hat and long sword, rode through the cantonments, exhorting the groups of lounging soldiers they met there on every hand, to make an effort to rescue their comrades from their perlious situation, but without producing the slightest effect. Scott’s men were already profoundly discouraged at being called upon to fight another action, and evinced an alarming disposition to stray away from their ranks, which he endeavored to check by instructing the sergeants to shoot those who should attempt to leave their post without orders.
The contest was began by the advance of the light company of the 41st, which fired a single volley, and then charged with fixed bayonents upon the riflemen on the right of the American line, who, being unprovided with weapons to resist this form of attack, gave way in great confusion, leaving that flank exposed. On witnessing the success of this movement, Sheaffe gave the signal for a general advance. The gun was taken and the position carried almost without resistance, and the entire body of American troops forced steadily back upon the river, the British line by the advance of the wings having gradually assumed the form of a crescent, overlapping them on both flanks.
