d attacked the British on Queenstown heights. This
detachment, under the command of Colonel Solomon Van Rensellaer,
succeeded in dislodging the enemy, but not being reinforced by the
militia, from the American side, as was expected, they were
ultimately repulsed, and were obliged to surrender.
...
Eight hundred British soldiers, from fort George, now hove in sight,
and pressed on to renew the attack. The Americans, for a time,
continued to struggle against this force, but were finally obliged
to surrender themselves prisoners of war.]

The fate of war was hard for Theodore, on his first expedition. He was
taken, and carried among the rest on board a prison-ship, and sent with
a number of others to England.

[[This paragraph summarizes the equivalent of several chapters
of _Alonzo and Melissa_.]]

This disastrous event, however, was shortly followed by one more
fortunate for the Americans. "General Dearborn embarked at Sackett's
Harbour, with sixteen hundred men, on an expedition against York, and
succeeded in the capture of that place.

[_Interesting Events_: Capture of York:

Gen. Dearborn embarked at Sackett's Harbor, with sixteen hundred
men, on an expedition against York....]

"York was the seat of government for Upper Canada, and the principal
depot for the Niagara frontier. More naval stores were taken by the
Americans than could be carried away. The government hall was burned,
contrary to the orders of the American general."

[_Interesting Events_: Capture of York:

... more naval stores were taken by the Americans than could be
carried away.... York was the seat of government for Upper Canada,
and the principal depot for the Niagara frontier, and Detroit....
In the government hall ... the mace and other emblems of power.
This building was burned, contrary to the orders of the American
General.]

CHAPTER XIV.

"See, winter comes," and boisterous on its way,
See darkening clouds obscure the cheerful day;
Its hollow voice is muttering in the gale,
While chilling hail and snow the earth assail.

[[The phrase in quotation marks is from Thomson's _Seasons_
(see second paragraph, below).]]

Some length of time had elapsed since the family had been settled in the
city, and the cool breezes of autumn had changed to the hoarse murmuring
gales of winter. No sound scarcely was heard except blustering winds, or
their whistling murmurs