anic, stampeded, and never halted in
his retreat until he had placed twenty-five miles of country between him
and the "French devils." After this, occurred the historic battle of
Chrysler's Farm, on the St. Lawrence, when 2,000 U.S. regulars under
General Boyd, with six field-guns, were routed, with a loss of 102
killed and 237 wounded, by a force composed of 380 regulars, militia and
Indians, under Colonel Morrison, and driven back into American
territory.

In the second week of December, General McClure evacuated Fort George,
but before doing so burned 149 of the public buildings and private
houses in Newark and Queenston, by order of John Armstrong, U.S.
Secretary of War, compelling 400 women and children to seek shelter in
the woods, with the thermometer ranging around zero. Even Lossing, the
American historian, condemned this as "a wanton act, contrary to the
usages of war, and leaving a stain upon the American character." The
outrage brought its own punishment within the week. Colonel Murray, with
550 soldiers, captured the United States Fort Niagara, killing
sixty-five men and taking 344 prisoners, and before the close of the
year, with his heart on fire, the British general, Riall, crossed the
river with 500 Indians and sacked Lewiston, Youngstown, Tuscarora and
Manchester, only desisting from his excusable incendiarism when he had
burned Buffalo and laid Black Rock in ashes. January 1st, 1814, was
ushered in with the Cross of St. George floating over the battered
ramparts of the American Fort Niagara.

Thus ended the year of our Lord 1813, for ever memorable in North
American history as a twelve months of almost incessant warfare, famous
for its records of conspicuous courage, much military incompetence, and
great and lamentable carnage. A year, notwithstanding its sheaf of
blunders, that should be canonized by all true Canadians, for it was a
year that emphasized in an astounding manner the pluck and bull-dog
tenacity of the Canadian militiaman, disclosing his deep love for
country that resisted unto death the lawless attacks of a wanton
invader.

THE CAMPAIGN OF 1814.

In March, 1814, General Wilkinson again undertook the forlorn hope of
capturing Canada, leading 5,000 men against 350 British, under Hancock,
at Lacolle, on Lake Champlain. After five hours of red-hot fighting, he
was compelled to fall back on Plattsburg. A month later Admiral Sir
James Yeo and General Drummond, with 750 men, landed