The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Chronicle - 1814 December

Abstract

Contains accounts of the British attack on Fort Erie, including a detailed official report by Gen. Drummond, and a report of the killed, wounded and missing (p. 578- 580). A dispatch by Sir George Prevost on the attack states that “there was the fairest prospect of success at the commencement of the attack, our troops were afterwards obliged to retire without accomplishing their object, and with very considerable loss”.

Further details of the conflict at Fort Erie are found in accounts by Gen. Drummond and Gen. De Watteville, dated at the camp before Fort Erie, September 19 (p. 587-589). De Watteville’s account includes a report of the killed, wounded and missing. The two accounts were enclosed with a dispatch from Sir George Prevost, which states that “I have received from Lieut-Gen. Drummond, reporting the result of a sortie made by the enemy, with a large proportion of his force, from Fort Erie, on the 17th inst., in which the very superior numbers of the American army were at length repulsed with great loss…”

The evacuation of Fort Erie by the Americans on November 5 is mentioned on page 596, referring to the official account of the affair from Kingston, which appeared in the Canada Gazette of the 17th. It is noted that the Americans “having previously blown up the works of the fortress, and reduced it to ruins. The American troops immediately passed over to their own side of the Lake, but General Drummond could make no use whatever of the fortress for winter quarters. The campaign on the Canadian frontier may now be considered as closed on both sides”.

Brief reference to the end of the war is made on page 597, where it is noted that a dispatch had been received from Ghent announcing “that a treaty of peace was signed between his Majesty and the United States of America, by the respective plenipotentiaries at that place, on the 24th inst”.

The Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Chronicle was a monthly periodical published in England during the years of 1736-1833. The volumes of interest from 1812-1815 were written and compiled by Sylvanus Urban, Gentleman. These volumes were Printed in London by Nichols, Son and Bentley at Cicero's Head, Red Lion Passage and Fleet Street.