STATEMENT. Comparative Statement of the British and American Forces upon the Lakes, as far as that of the Enemy can be ascertained. 16 The Queen Charlotte carrying 12-24 Pr. Cannonades & 4 long 9 Prs, 2 in the Bow and 2 in the Stern, ship rigged...... The Lady Prevost, 10, 12 Prs. Cannonades and 2 long sixes one in the Bow and another in the Stern, Schooner rigged...... The General Hunter, six long six Pounders Cutter rigged..... 6 34 12 The following The above are fully equipped and ready for Sea. 18 Two Decked Gun Boats, capable of mounting a long 18 Pr. each 2 Total number of Guns expected to be mounted in the vessels by the end of June or beginning of July..... 54 American. The naval force of the Enemy on this Lake was all taken and destroyed last Summer; but they have been building both at Buffalo & Sandusky-It is therefore uncertain what their means may be on the opening of the navigation. There is however no reason to suppose that they will be enabled to meet us on the Lake as, from all the information we have been enabled to procure, their efforts have been confined to small craft, and Gun Boats &ca. A. GRAY, Endorsed: 2. In Sir G. Prevost's No. 50 of 19th March 1813. [Q 121, p 152 ] Act. Dy. Q. Master General. MY LORD, MAJ. GEN. R. H. SHEAFFE TO EARL BATHURST. FORT GEORGE, 14th February 1813. I have the honour of transmitting the copy of a dispatch which I have received from Colonel Procter commanding at Detroit, reporting his having completely defeated a Corps of Americans which have advanced under the command of Brigadier General Winchester to French Town on the River Raisin, the judgment about promptitude displayed by Colonel Proctor, and the gallant conduct of his little corps entitle them to the highest commendation. The enemy in this vicinity is quiet at present and does not appear to be numerous on his frontier line. This being on all accounts the season most convenient for assembling the Legislature of the Province, and there being some business of an indispensable nature to be dispatched, it is summoned to meet on the twenty fifth of this month. I have the honor to be My Lord with great respect R. H. SHEAFFE, M. Genl. & President, &c. &c. The Right Honorable Earl Bathurst, &c. &c. &c. [ Q 317, p 23 ] SIR GEORGE PREVOST TO EARL BATHURST. [No. 47.] MY LORD, NIAGARA, 27th February 1813. On my return to Fort George from inspecting the Troops on this Frontier and viewing the works which have been erected between that place and Fort Erie, and from visiting the advanced positions which the solid state of the ice at the Northern extremity of Lake Erie had rendered it indispensably necessary to establish, to prevent those incomplete and open Batteries from being surprized or taken in reverse I was met by an officer with Dispatches from Detroit. Colonel Procter who is in command there informs me that he had ascertained that General Harrison had precipitately retreated from the River Raisin to the foot of the Rapids of the Miamis upon his becoming acquainted with the annihilation of Brigadier General Winchester's Army; When the last Scouts came in Major General Harrison with about 2000 men had arrived at his intended position on the West Bank of the River Miamis situated at about eighty miles from Detroit; But as a great part of the route to that place lies through a wilderness and immense swamps, which are only passable at this season of the year and with extreme difficulty by Indians, I did not think it prudent to allow Colonel Procter to move forward with the garrisons of Detroit and Amherstburgh and the reinforcements detached from the Niagara frontier to his support; to dislodge the American Army, from the uneasy position it had taken, because I considered the movement hazardous and one which might seriously cripple the force under Colonel Procter's command in which event not only the Michigan Territory would be exposed, but our influence with the Indian Tribes considerably diminished. I have therefore desired that Tecumseh who with the warriors is advancing from the Forks of the Wabash should be employed in interrupting the communication with Major General Harrison's army and in intercepting the supplies and reinforcements moving towards it from Fort Wayne & Chilicothe. The Indian Chiefs Roundhead and Norton with about eight hundred warriors supported by a chosen band from the 41st Regiment and the Detroit Militia were to proceed from Amherstburgh to co-operate with Tecumseh and I entertain hopes that these movements, would so work upon the American Army by augmenting the privations and hardships inseparable from its present situation as in all probability to render it an easy prey to the Indian force coming from the Southward under Mr. Dickson. Having now had the honour of detailing to Your Lordship the measures I have pursued for preserving entire this portion of His Majesty's territories in British America, I humbly hope they will meet with the gracious approbation of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent I have the honor to be My Lord Your Lordship's most obedient humble Servant The Rt. Honble The Earl of Bathurst. Endorsed: Niagara, 27th Feb. 1813. Lieutenant General Sir Geo. Prevost, Bart. R. 1 Jane. No. 47. General Harrison's retreat. Measures adopted for annoying him & cutting off his supplies. [Q 121, p 122 ] [No. 51. A.] MY LORD, SIR GEORGE PREVOST TO EARL BATHURST. QUEBEC, 20th March 1813. I do myself the honor to transmit for Your Lordship's satisfaction a Return of Ordinance, Ammunition and Stores which have been captured from the Enemy, since the commencement of Hostilities with the United States, at the different places in the Canadas therein mentioned. And I beg leave at the same time to request that your Lordship will be pleased to move The Master General and Board of Ordnance, to cause the issue of the usual and customary valuation thereof, that a distribution of the same may be made to the Parties concerned in these Captures. I have the honor to be My Lord Your Lordship's most obedient humble Servant GEORGE PREVOST. The Rt. Honorable Earl Bathurst, &c. &c. &c. Endorsed; Quebec, 20th March 1813. Lieut. Genl. Sir G. Prevost, Bart. R. 1 June. No. 51 A. One Inclosure. [Q 121, p 155] August, 1812. Description List of Brass & Iron Ordnance taken at Detroit, 16th N. B. Where the Guns or Cannonades are of the same Pattern, and differing only a few pounds in their weight, I have put them down the same. The 8 Inch Howitzer is an American Piece cast at Philadelphia in 1777 and is mounted on a new Travelling Carriage. The 5 Inch Howitzer is an English Piece, the words (surrendered by the Convention of Saratoga in 1777) are inscribed on it. The Carriage is not good. The 2 9-10 Inch Howitzer No 1 is an American Piece cast at Philadelphia in 1793, Carriage is not good. The 2 9-10 Inch Howitzer Nos 2 & 3 have Iron Trunnions clasped on, have no date marked on them. Their Carriages are not good. The 6 Pors. & 4 Pors have been sent down to Quebec. |