Some Account of the Public Life of the Late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart Part 16

"_Kingston, 14th June, 1813._

"Sir,

"I have had the honour of your different letters, of the 14th of May, by Lieut.-Colonel Boucherville, containing the report of your successful resistance to the attack of the enemy, on the 5th of that month, and must heartily congratulate you upon the skill and bravery so invariably displayed by yourself and the troops under your command, and which have led to so fortunate a result; I have also to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, of the 10th inst. and beg leave to a.s.sure you that I have not been unmindful of your situation and wants. Brigadier-General Vincent has received directions, and I have reason to think he has already adopted measures for supplying them as far as lies in his power. And whenever the Indian goods, which are now on their way from Quebec, shall have reached this post, they shall be forwarded to you without delay. As you have not acknowledged the receipt of my instructions, transmitted to you by desire, by Major-General Sheaffe, to avail yourself of any favourable opportunity of retaliating upon the enemy for the attack upon York, by endeavouring to annoy their settlements upon Lake Erie, I fear his letter has not reached you. The arrival of Captain Barclay, who, I trust, with a small reinforcement of seamen, is with you long before this, will, I hope, enable you to place your Marine on such a footing as to check any attempts of the enemy, to gain a superiority on Lake Erie. I am very solicitous to receive from you a correct statement of the whole of your Marine establishment, and what is wanted to render it complete.

"I have, &c.

(Signed) "GEORGE PREVOST."

"_To Brigadier-General Procter, Detroit._"

No. XXIV.

_Sentence of the Court-martial on Captain Barclay, p. 112._

That the capture of His Majesty's late squadron was caused by the very defective means Captain Barclay possessed to equip them on Lake Erie; the want of a sufficient number of able seamen, whom he had repeatedly and earnestly requested of Sir James Yeo to be sent to him; the very great superiority of the enemy to the British squadron; and the unfortunate early fall of the superior officers in the action. That it appeared that the greatest exertions had been made by Captain Barclay, in equipping and getting into order the vessels under his command; that he was fully justified, under the existing circ.u.mstances, in bringing the enemy to action; that the judgment and gallantry of Captain Barclay in taking his squadron into action, and during the contest, were highly conspicuous, and ent.i.tled him to the highest praise; and that the whole of the other officers and men of His Majesty's late squadron conducted themselves in the most gallant manner; and did adjudge the said Captain Robert Heriot Barclay, his surviving officers and men, to be most fully and honourably acquitted.--Rear-Admiral Foote, President.

No. XXV.[106]

_Court-martial on General Procter, p. 113._

_Horse Guards, 9th September, 1815._

At a General Court-martial, held at _Montreal_, in Upper Canada, on the 21st December, 1814, and continued by adjournments to the 28th January, 1815, _Major-General Henry Procter_, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 41st Regiment, was arraigned upon the undermentioned charges, viz.

_1st, "That the said_ Major-General Procter, _being entrusted with the Command of the Right Division of the Army serving in the Canadas, and the retreat of the said Division from the Western Parts of Upper Canada having become unavoidable from the loss of the Fleet on Lake Erie, on the 10th September, 1813, did not, immediately after the loss of the Fleet was known by him, make the Military arrangements best calculated for promptly effecting such retreat, and unnecessarily delayed to commence the same until the Evening of the 27th of the said Month, on which Day the Enemy had landed in considerable force within a short distance of Sandwich, the Head-Quarters of the said Division, such Conduct on the part of the said_ Major-General Procter, _endangering the safety of the Troops under his Command, by exposing them to be attacked by a force far superior to them, being contrary to his Duty as an Officer, prejudicial to good Order and Military Discipline, and contrary to the Articles of War_."

_2d. "That the said_ Major-General Procter, _after commencing the retreat of the said Division on the said 27th September, although he had reason to believe that the Enemy would immediately follow it with very superior numbers, and endeavour to hara.s.s and impede its March, did not use due expedition, or take the proper measures for conducting the said Retreat, having enc.u.mbered the said Division with large quant.i.ties of useless Baggage, having unnecessarily halted the Troops for several whole Days, and having omitted to destroy the Bridges over which the Enemy would be obliged to pa.s.s, thereby affording them the opportunity to come up with the said Division, such conduct betraying great professional incapacity on the part of the said_ Major-General Procter, _being contrary to his Duty as an Officer, prejudicial to good Order and Military Discipline, and contrary to the Articles of War_."

_3d. "That the said_ Major-General Procter _did not take the necessary measures for affording security to the Boats, Waggons, and Carts, laden with the Ammunition, Stores, and Provisions, required for the Troops on their retreat, and allowed the said Boats, Waggons, and Carts, on the 4th and 5th October, 1813, to remain in the rear of the said Division, whereby the whole, or the greater part of the said Ammunition, Stores, and Provisions, either fell into the Enemy's hands, or were destroyed to prevent their capture, and the Troops were without Provisions for a whole day previous to their being attacked on the said 5th of October; such conduct on the part of the said_ Major-General Procter _being contrary to his duty as an Officer, prejudicial to good Order and Military Discipline, and contrary to the Articles of War_."

_4th. "That the said_ Major-General Procter _having a.s.sured the Indian Chiefs in Council at Amherstburgh, as an inducement to them and their Warriors to accompany the said Division on its retreat, that on their arrival at Chatham, they should find the Forks of the Thames fortified, did nevertheless neglect fortify the same; that he also neglected to occupy the Heights above the Moravian Village, although he had previously removed his Ordnance, with the exception of one six-pounder, to that position, where, by throwing up works he might have awaited the attack of the Enemy and engaged them to great advantage; and that after the intelligence had reached him of the approach of the Enemy on the Morning of the said 5th of October, he halted the said Division, notwithstanding it was within two miles of the said Village, and formed it in a situation highly unfavourable for receiving the Attack which afterwards took place, such conduct manifesting great professional incapacity on the part of the said_ Major-General Procter, _being contrary to his Duty as an Officer, prejudicial to Good Order and Military Discipline, and contrary to the Articles of War_."

_5th. "That the said_ Major-General Procter _did not on the said 5th day of October, either prior to, or subsequent to, the Attack by the Enemy on the said Division on that day make the Military dispositions best adapted to meet or to resist the said Attack, and that during the Action, and after the Troops had given way, he did not make any effectual attempt in his own person, or otherwise, to rally or encourage them, or to co-operate with and support the Indians who were engaged with the enemy on the right, the said_ Major-General Procter _having quitted the Field soon after the Action commenced, such Conduct on the part of_ Major-General Procter _betraying great professional incapacity, tending to the defeat and dishonour of His Majesty's Arms, to the sacrifice of the Division of the Army committed to his charge, being in violation of his Duty, and unbecoming and disgraceful to his Character as an Officer, prejudicial to good Order and Military Discipline, and contrary to the Articles of War_."

Upon which Charges the Court came to the following decision:--

"The Court having duly weighed and considered the evidence adduced, as well in support of the Charges, as in support of the Defence, is of Opinion."

"That the Prisoner, _Major-General Henry Procter_, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 41st Regiment, is _not Guilty_ of any part of the _First_ Charge; and the Court doth therefore _wholly acquit_ him, the said _Major-General Procter_, of the same."

"On the _Second_ Charge, the Court is of opinion, that the said _Major-General Procter_ is _Guilty_ of the following part thereof, _that he did not take the proper measures for conducting the Retreat_; but the Court is of Opinion, that the said _Major-General Procter_ is _Not Guilty_ of any other part of the said Charge, and doth therefore _acquit_ him of the same."

"On the _Third_ Charge the Court is of opinion, that the said _Major-General Procter_ is _Guilty_ of that part thereof in which it is charged, _that the said Major General Procter did not take the necessary measures for affording security to the Boats, Waggons, and Carts, laden with the Ammunition, Stores, and Provisions, required for the Troops on their retreat_; but the Court is of opinion, that the said _Major-General Procter_ is _Not Guilty_ of any part of the remainder of the said Charge, and doth therefore _acquit_ him of the remainder thereof."

"On the _Fourth_ Charge the Court is of opinion, that the said _Major-General Procter_ is _Guilty_ of that part thereof, in which it is charged _that he neglected to occupy the heights above the Moravian Village, although he had previously removed his Ordnance, with the exception of one Six Pounder, to that position, where, by throwing up Works he might have awaited the attack of the Enemy, and engaged them to great advantage;--and that after the intelligence had reached him of the approach of the Enemy on the Morning of the said 5th October, he halted the said Division, notwithstanding it was within two miles of the said Village, and formed it in a situation highly unfavourable for receiving the attack, which afterwards took place_;--but the Court is of opinion, that the said _Major-General Procter_ is _Not Guilty_ of any part of the remainder of the said charge, and doth therefore _acquit_ him of the remainder thereof."

"On the _Fifth_ Charge the Court is of opinion, that the said _Major-General Procter_ is _Guilty_ of that part thereof, in which it is charged _that he did not on the said 5th day of October, either prior to or subsequent to, the attack by the Enemy on the said Division on that day, make the Military dispositions best adapted to meet or to resist the said attack_; but the Court is of opinion, that that part thereof, in which it is charged _that during the Action, and after the Troops had given way, he did not make any effectual attempt in his own person or otherwise, to rally or encourage them, or to co-operate with and support the Indians who were engaged with the Enemy on the right_, has not been proved, and the Court doth therefore _acquit_ him, the said _Major-General Procter_ of the same;--and the Court is of opinion, that the said _Major-General Procter_ is _Not Guilty_ of any part of the remainder of the said Charge, and doth therefore _fully_ and _honourably acquit_ him of the same."

"Upon the whole, the Court is of opinion, that the prisoner, _Major-General Procter_, has in many instances during the retreat, and in the disposition of the Force under his Command, been erroneous in judgment, and in some, deficient in those energetic and active exertions, which the extraordinary difficulties of his situation so particularly required."

"The Court doth therefore adjudge him, the said _Major-General Procter, to be publicly reprimanded, and to be suspended from Rank and Pay, for the period of Six Calendar Months_."

"But as to any defect or reproach, with regard to the personal conduct of _Major-General Procter_, during the action on the 5th of October, the Court _most fully_ and _honourably acquits_ the said _Major-General Procter_."

His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has been pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to confirm the Finding of the Court, on the 1st, 3d, 4th, and 5th Charges.

With respect to the _Second Charge_ it appeared to His Royal Highness to be a matter of surprise that the Court should find the prisoner _Guilty_ of the offence alleged against him, while they at the same time _Acquit_ him of all the facts upon which that Charge is founded;--and yet, that in the summing up of their Finding upon the whole of the Charges, they should ascribe the offences of which the prisoner has been found Guilty, to Error in Judgment, and pa.s.s a Sentence totally inapplicable to their own finding of Guilt, which can alone be ascribed to the Court having been induced, by a reference to the general good character and conduct of _Major-General Procter_, to forget, through a humane, but mistaken lenity, what was due from them to the Service.

Under all the circ.u.mstances of the case, however, and particularly those which render it impossible to have recourse to the otherwise expedient measure of re-a.s.sembling the Court, for the revival of their proceedings, the Prince Regent has been pleased to acquiesce in, and confirm so much of the Sentence as adjudges the prisoner to be _publicly reprimanded_, and in carrying the same into execution, His Royal Highness has directed the General Officer commanding in Canada, to convey to _Major-General Procter_, His Royal Highness's high disapprobation of his conduct, together with the expression of His Royal Highness's regret, that any officer of the length of service, and of the exalted rank which he has attained, should be so extremely wanting in professional knowledge, and so deficient in those active and energetic qualities, which must be required of every officer, but especially of one in the responsible situation in which the _Major-General_ was placed.

His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief directs that the foregoing Charges preferred against _Major-General Procter_, together with the Finding and Sentence of the Court, and the Prince Regent's pleasure thereon, shall be entered in the General Order Book, and read at the Head of every Regiment in His Majesty's Service.

By Command of His Royal Highness,

The Commander-in-chief,

HARRY CALVERT,

Adjutant-General.

No. XXVI.

_p. 122._

_Adjutant-General's Office, Head Quarters, Quebec, 26th March, 1814._

General Orders,

His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief and Commander of the Forces feels the highest gratification in obeying the Commands of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, transmitted in a letter from the Right Hon. the Earl Bathurst, one of His Majesty's Princ.i.p.al Secretaries of State, of which the following is a Copy, and which His Excellency directs to be published in General Orders, and read at the Head of all Corps in this Command:

"His Royal Highness has observed with the greatest satisfaction the skill and gallantry so conspicuously displayed by the officers and men who composed the detachment of troops opposed to General Hampton's army. By the resistance which they successfully made to an enemy so vastly disproportionate, the confidence of the enemy has been lowered, their plans disconcerted, and the safety of that part of the Canadian frontier ensured.

It gives His Royal Highness peculiar pleasure to find, that His Majesty's Canadian subjects have at length had the opportunity (which His Royal Highness has been long anxious should be afforded them) of refuting, by their own brilliant exertions in defence of their country, that calumnious charge of disaffection and disloyalty with which the enemy prefaced his first invasion of the Province.

"To Lieut.-Colonel De Salaberry, in particular, and to all the officers and men under his command in general, you will not fail to express His Royal Highness's Most Gracious Approbation of their meritorious and distinguished services. His Royal Highness has commanded me to forward to you by the first safe opportunity, the Colours which you have solicited for the embodied Battalions of the Militia, feeling that they have evinced an ability and disposition to secure them from insult, which gives them the best t.i.tle to such a mark of distinction.

"By His Excellency's Command, EDWARD BAYNES, Adjutant-General, N. A."

No. XXVII.

_Extract from Sir George Prevost's Despatch to Earl Bathurst, dated 18th May, 1814, p. 135._

"The princ.i.p.al objects in the attack upon Oswego, being to cripple the resources of the enemy, in fitting out their squadron, and particularly their new s.h.i.+p at Sackett's Harbour, their guns and stores of every description being drawn from the former post, and thus to delay, if not altogether to prevent, the sailing of the fleet, I determined to pursue the same policy on Lake Champlain, and therefore directed Captain Pring to proceed with his squadron, on board of which I had placed a strong detachment of the 1st battalion of the marines, towards Vergennes, for the purpose, if practicable, of destroying the new vessels lately launched there, and of intercepting and capturing the stores and supplies for their armament and equipment. Captain Pring accordingly sailed on the 9th, and with the force mentioned in the margin, having been prevented by contrary winds from reaching his destination until the 14th instant, he found, on arriving off Otter Creek, the enemy so fully prepared to receive him, their vessels so strongly defended by batteries, and a considerable body of troops, that after a cannonading with some effect from his gun-boats, he judged it most advisable to abandon his intended plan of attacking them, and return to Isle aux Noix.

"The appearance of our squadron on the Lake has been productive of great confusion and alarm at Burlington, and other places, along its sh.o.r.es, and the whole of the population appeared to be turned out for their defence."