strengthen and encourage the discomfitted 49th, under
General Roger Sheaffe, who now assumed the command. A combined attack
was made on the Americans by the English troops and artillery, in front
and flank, while Norton, with a considerable body of Indians, menaced
their other extremity. It was entirely successful. The Americans were
totally defeated, and one General Officer, (Wadsworth, commanding in
the room of General Van Rensellaer, who had re-crossed the river to
accelerate the embarkation of the militia, which, though urged,
entreated, and commanded to embark, remained idle spectators, while
their countrymen were, as the American accounts say, struggling for
victory,) two Lieutenant-Colonels, five Majors, and a corresponding
number of Captains and subalterns, with nine hundred men, were made
prisoners; one gun and two colours were taken; and there were four
hundred killed and wounded, while the loss on the side of the British
did not exceed seventy men. Thus was the battle won. It had cost
England an excellent soldier, a man who thoroughly understood his duty,
and felt his position in whatever capacity he was placed. He died at
the age of 42, and the remains of this gallant defender of Upper Canada
were buried at Fort George, together with those of his aid-de-camp,
Colonel McDonell. One grave contained both. General Brocke was buried
amidst the tears of those whom he had often led to victory, and amidst
the sympathetic sorrowing of even those who had caused his death.
Minute guns were fired during the funeral, alike from the American as
from the British batteries. Thus it was with the Americans on land. It
was, as has been seen, very different on the sea. And the first
rencontre took place on the latter element. When war was declared it
was with the intention of intercepting the homeward bound West India
fleet of British merchantmen. Three frigates, one sloop, and one brig
of war, under the command of Captain Rogers, of the American frigate
_President_, were despatched on that errand. It was about three on
the morning of the 23rd of June, that Captain Rogers was informed, by
an American brig, bound from Madeira to New York, that four days before
a fleet of British merchantmen, were seen under convoy of a frigate and
a brig, steering to the eastward. Captain Rogers accordingly shaped his
course in pursuit of them. At six o'clock in the morning, a sail was
descried, which was soon discovered to be a frigate. The signa