The Capitol, Washington City, District of Columbia. 1. One great cause of the defeats of the Americans in the north-west, had been the neglect of Congress to provide a suitable army. It was still backward in acting. There were some who openly opposed the war, and said the President ought not to be supported in it. The frontier, however, now lay open to the British, and it was necessary for something to be done. A body of volunteers from Kentucky had already taken the field, and General Harrison, the hero of Tippecanoe, was appointed to their command. 2. Harrison's object was to recover Detroit, but his march lay through swamps that seemed almost endless, and wher 1. What had been one great cause of the defeats of the Americans? What spirit was still displayed by Congress? What did some maintain? Who had already taken the field? Who was appointed to command them?-2. What 1812] BATTLE OF FRENCHTOWN. 147 winter set in he was still some distance off. He had, therefore, to wait for spring. The army went into winter-quarters in two divisions, one under Harrison himself, the other under General Winchester. During the winter, Winchester, hearing that Frenchtown, a post to the north, was in danger, advanced to its aid and dispersed a body of the enemy. But he was very soon attacked by a large force of British and Indians under Proctor. 3. During the battle, General Winchester himself was captured by a famous Indian chief called Round Head. Delighted with the uniform of his prisoner, Round Head stripped him of it without delay, and putting it on himself was soon strutting about the field as proudly as a peacock. Proctor, shortly afterwards passing the spot, was surprised to see the American general shivering half naked over a fire, for it was bitterly cold. It was with great difficulty he could make Round Head give up his borrowed plumes. 4. Though their general was a prisoner, part of the Americans still held out. At length a letter was sent them by Winchester, recommending them to lay down their arms. They did so, on receiving a pledge from Proctor that their lives and property should be spared. But no sooner had they surrendered, than Proctor, with his British troops and such of the prisoners as could walk, returned to Canada, leaving the sick and wounded Americans behind, with no one to protect them from his Indian allies. You know the mercy of the savages. Few of the sufferers escaped the flames and the tomahawk. So much was the pledge of Proctor worth. 5. Proctor now thought he was sure of crushing Harrison also. As soon as the weather allowed, he was on the march for the American camp. But Harrison had not been idle. Weakened as he was by the loss of Winchester's division, he could not hope to take Detroit, but he resolved to hold his was Harrison's object? What prevented him from accomplishing it? How was the army divided for the winter? What was done by General Winchester? By whom was he attacked?-3. What befell Winchester during the battle? Tell the story about Round Head and Winchester.-4. How were the Americans induced to surrender? How was Proctor's pledge kept?-5. What did Proctor now think? What had Harrison been doing? Who soon appeared before Fort ground. Accordingly, he commenced a fort in what is now the north-western part of Ohio, and kept his men at work night and day that it might be ready for the foe. He had no time to spare. Proctor and Tecumseh soon appeared before Fort Meigs [megz], as this post was called, and summoned the garrison to surrender. "Not while I have the honor to command," was Harrison's brief answer. he was sitting, and at another time a soldier was killed by his side. He received no harm, however, but baffled every effort of the enemy. 7. News was now received that a body of Kentuckians was near at hand, hastening to relieve the fort. Harrison sent word to them to attack one division of the enemy, while a detachment from the fort fell upon another. The sally from the fort was successful, but those who were advancing for its relief lost more than half their number, the greater part of whom were captured. Proctor allowed the prisoners to be treated so Meigs? Near what river was Fort Meigs? (See map.) What was Harrison's answer, when summoned to surrender?-6. Give an account of the attack.7. What news was now received? What orders were given by Harrison? What was the result of these movements? How were the prisoners treated? 1813] CAPTURE OF THE CHESAPEAKE. 149 cruelly that even Tecumseh rebuked him. Finding they could make no impression on Fort Meigs, in a few days both British and Indians gave up the siege. 8. During the year 1813, the Americans gained some more brilliant victories on the ocean. Commodore Porter distinguished himself by a successful cruise in the Pacific, in the course of which he took twelve armed whalers. Captain Lawrence, after taking two prizes in the Hornet, was appointed to the command of the Chesapeake. In this vessel he met with a sad reverse. The Chesapeake was poorly equipped, and was taken by the British frigate Shannon. Lawrence himself was mortally wounded. "Don't give up the ship," said he to his men as he was carried below. Even at that trying moment his thoughts were on his country. LESSON XLIX. PIKE'S EXPEDITION.-FORT STEPHENSON.-LAKE ERIE. 1. The invasion of Canada from the New York frontier, in 1812, had failed; but this did not prevent General Pike from attempting it the next year. With a body of men raised for the purpose, he made a descent on the capital of Upper Canada. This lay on the shore of Lake Ontario. It was then called York, but the name has since been changed to Toronto. Landing in the face of a heavy fire, the Americans took the enemies' redoubt, and advanced to within a short distance of their barracks, which seemed to be abandoned. 2. It was well they stopped where moments a terrible explosion took place. they did, for in a few Logs and stones were How did the attack on Fort Meigs terminate ?-8. What success did the Americans meet with on the ocean in 1813? How did Commodore Porter distinguish himself? What success did Captain Lawrence meet with in the Hornet? What befell him in the Chesapeake? What was his last order as he was carried below? 1. Who invaded Canada from the New York frontier in 1813? On what place did he make a descent? Give an account of the first movements of the Americans.-2. What took place when they were within a short distance of hurled high in the air. The British had lighted a slow match before they retired, and thus blown up their own magazine. Several hundred of the Americans were more or less injured. The rest pushed on after the British, and took a number of them prisoners. York, with a large amount of stores, fell into their hands. 3. General Pike was struck down by the explosion. As he lay dying on the field, he heard the victorious shouts of his men. One of his officers asked if he could do anything for him. "Place the enemy's flag under my head," said he. As it was done, his eye lighted up with triumph, and he expired without a groan. After this, the American army took the British posts on the Niagara River. They were abandoned by the enemy, who fell back to the heights west of Lake Ontario. 4. Sackett's Harbor, in the state of New York, was the chief naval station of the Americans on Lake Ontario. This place, left almost undefended, was attacked by a party of the enemy from across the lake. They were driven back by the militia under General Brown. During the attack, one of the British officers, Captain Gray, was shot down by an American boy, who had been a servant in his family in Canada. After the battle, the boy went to his former master, and asked his forgiveness. Captain Gray was dying from the effects of the wound, but gave the boy his watch as a token that he forgave him with his whole heart. 5. After his disappointment at Fort Meigs, Proctor turned his arms against another post at no great distance from it. This was Fort Stephenson, commanded by Major Croghan [crog'-an], a youth of twenty-one. Proctor summoned the garrison to surrender, if they wished to escape being massacred by the Indians when the fort was taken. Croghan replied that the fort would the British barracks? Describe the effects of this explosion. What was done by the Americans who were uninjured?-3. What befell General Pike? Give an account of his dying moments. What were next taken by the Americans? Where did the British retire?-4. Give an account of the descent of the British on Sackett's Harbor. What incident is mentioned in connection with this battle?-5. After leaving Fort Meigs, what place did Proctor attack? Who commanded Fort Stephenson? What was Proctor's summons to sur |