After leaving
Fort George the
British established a strong post and depot of supplies at the
Beaver Dams, among the hills 18 miles west of
Queenstown.
Dearborn determined to attempt the capture of this post and its stores, and for that purpose he detached 570 infantry, some cavalry under
Major Chapin, a few artillerymen, and two field-pieces, all under the command of
Lieut.-Col. Charles G. Boerstler.
They marched up the
Niagara River to
Queenstown (June 23, 1813), and the next morning pushed off westward.
Their march appears to have been discovered by the
British, for while
Chapin's mounted men were in the advance and marching among the hills,
Boerstler's rear was attacked by
John Brant, at the head of 450
Mohawk and
Caughnawaga Indians, who lay in ambush.
Chapin was instantly called back, and the
Americans in a body charged upon the Indians and drove them almost a mile.
Then
Boerstler hesitated, and the Indians, rallying, bore upon his flank and rear, and kept up a galling fire at every exposed situation.
The
Americans pushed forward over the
Beaver Dam Creek.
fighting the dusky foe at a great disadvantage, and made conscious that they were almost surrounded by them.
After keeping up this contest, for about three hours,
Boerstler determined to abandon the expedition, when he found himself confronted by an unexpected force.
Mrs. Laura Secord, a slight and delicate woman, living at
Queenstown, became acquainted with
Dearborn's plans, and at the time when
Boerstler and his forces left
Fort George--a hot summer evening — she made a circuitous journey of 19 miles on foot to the quarters of
Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzgibbon (who was in command of some regulars at the
Beaver Dams) and warned him of his danger.
Thus forewarned, he had ordered the
Indian ambush, and, displaying his men to the best advantage after
Boerstler had crossed the creek, he boldly demanded the surrender of the
Americans to
Major De Haven, commander of the district.
For this purpose
Fitzgibbon bore a flag himself.
He falsely assured
Boerstler that his party was only the advance of 1,500 British troops and 700
Indians, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Bisshopp, and that the barbarians were so exasperated that it would be difficult to restrain them from massacring the
Americans.
Boerstler. deceived and alarmed, agreed to surrender on certain conditions.
De Haven, whom
Fitzgibbon had sent for, came up with 200 men, and
Boerstler and 500 soldiers were made prisoners.
It had been agreed that the captives should be protected and sent back on parole.
This promise was broken.
The
Indians plundered the captive troops, and the latter were sent to
Burlington Heights and kept prisoners of war. When
Boerstler was first attacked by the Indians, he sent a courier back to
Dearborn for aid, and that commander sent
Colonel Christie with 300 men to reinforce him. When they reached
Queenstown, they heard of the surrender, and hastened back to camp with the sad intelligence.
The
British advanced upon
Queenstown, and, occupying that place, soon invested
Fort George.
