nd his influence over the different
tribes. The Americans returned to Sandwich immediately after the action.
Proctor is accused of leaving entire the bridges and roads in the rear
of his retreating army, and of encumbering it with an unnecessary
quantity of his own personal baggage; and certain it is that his defeat
led to the harshest recrimination between Sir George Prevost and
himself. The general order of the former on the subject was of
unparalleled severity, as he said: "On this disgraceful day upwards of
600 officers and soldiers were taken prisoners almost without a
struggle, of whom but very few appeared to have been rescued by an
honorable death from the ignominy of passing under the American yoke;
nor are there many whose wounds plead in mitigation of this reproach."
The fugitives made the best of their way to Ancaster, at the head of
Lake Ontario; and on the 17th of October they numbered there 240,
including the general and 17 officers. The consequence of these
disasters was the relinquishment, by the British, of the Michigan
territory, with the exception of Michilimakinack; the abandonment of the
posts in Upper Canada to the westward of the Grand River, or Ouse; and
the loss of the services of the whole of the north-western Indians, with
the exception of 2 or 300, who subsequently joined the centre division
of the army.[125]

Fort George was taken in May, 1813, by a large American force, under
General Dearborn, which compelled Major-General Vincent to withdraw his
troops from Fort Erie and Chippewa, and to retreat to Burlington
Heights, at the head of Lake Ontario, the British losing 52 killed,
besides upwards of 300 wounded and missing. Immediately after the
capture of Fort George, General Dearborn pushed forward a body of 3,000
infantry, with nine field pieces and 250 cavalry, for the purpose of
dislodging Major-General Vincent from his position. Lieut.-Colonel
Harvey,[126] deputy adjutant-general, proposed a night attack on this
body, which was approved, and with the 49th, under Major Plenderleath,
and five companies of the 8th, under Major Ogilvie, (the whole only 704
firelocks,) he led the attack in gallant style, and completely succeeded
in surprising the enemy, who evinced a highly creditable state of order
and discipline in repeatedly forming, though compelled as often to
disperse before the resistless energy of the British bayonet. Two
brigadiers, (Chandler and Winder,) 7 other officers and 116 men