Page:History of the Fenian raid on Fort Erie with an account of the Battle of Ridgeway.djvu/90

Rh Lieut.-Col. Dennis and myself to go round the coast in a steam tug, taking a company of volunteer artillery, to reconnoitre the shore between Fort Erie and Black Creek, and to return to Fort Erie in time to meet Lieut.-Col. Booker at eight. Should Colonel Peacocke approve of this, he would march by the river road from Chippawa, and make a combined attack with Lieut.-Col. Booker at some point between Fort Erie and Black Creek, cutting off the enemy's retreat by the river. The tug to be employed cruising up and down the river, cutting off any boats that might attempt to escape, and communicating between the forces advancing from Chippawa and from Erie. I communicated this proposed change to Colonel Peacocke both by letter and telegraph, omitting however, I think, to mention the use proposed to be made of the tug.

The plan was merely a modification of that proposed by Lieut.-Col. Dennis, who wished to move at once with the volunteers without arranging a junction with Colonel Peacocke. Before receiving any answer from Colonel Peacocke, I went off in the tug with Lieut.-Col. Dennis, and the company of artillery, leaving word with Lieut.-Col. Booker to take care and obtain Colonel Peacocke'a approval to the proposed change before acting on it, and explaining the plan previously determined on in case Colonel Peacocke should desire him to adhere to it.

We arrived at Fort Erie about 5 a.m. Steamed along there, and past Frenchman's Creek, where we saw the enemy's camp apparently deserted. After carefully examining the shore from Erie to Black Creek, and seeing no signs of any armed force, we went ashore at Black Creek, and were informed that the enemy had broken up their camp during the night.

A part was seen by the inhabitants moving along the river in the direction of Chippawa, and the remainder to have turned inland at Black Creek.

As far as I could make out from the size and appearance of their Camp, and from the reports of the people, their combined force could not have exceeded 700 or 800 men. I then returned with Lieut.-Col. Dennis by water to Fort Erie, as appointed with Lieut.-Col. Booker. That officer not having arrived, I became aware that Colonel Peacocke had acted on his original plan, but from the information I had gained, was of opinion that he would not have more than 400 or 500 men to contend with. Lieut.-Col. Dennis then landed the Company of Artillery, and I proceeded with it patrolling the road and heights between Fort Erie and Black Creek.

Between 30 and 40 prisoners were taken by the Company, or handed over by civilians and put on board the tug at Black Creek.

Seeing nothing more to be done at Fort Erie, I drove up to the Railway station, on the line to Colborne to ascertain whether telegraphic communication had been opened, and obtain what information I could.