It was a sight such as few lads could ever have the privilege of witnessing, and for a time I believed there was nothing so grand or so noble as war.
With the rising of the fog the wind freshened, and the vessels of the fleet advanced according to the programme mapped out.
The schooners Julia and Growler took up position at the mouth of the river, engaging the battery near the lighthouse where it was intended to land a portion of the troops. A short distance away toward the north, the Ontario came about to command the same position.
The Governor Tompkins and the Conquest were moored near Two-Mile Creek in front of a small battery where the remainder of our men were to be set ashore. Coming up with these two schooners were the Hamilton, the Asp, and the Scourge, and before they were all in such position as had been previously agreed upon, the batteries on both sides of the river opened fire.
The first notes of the battle were being sounded.
Now had come the time for Alec’s brother to display that courage which afterward won for him so great a name, and we two lads gave more heed to his movements than to all else beside.
The Governor Tompkins and the Conquest immediately opened fire on the battery they were ordered to silence, and the wind, which was momentarily increasing in force, swept away the smoke until we from the deck of the Madison could see all that took place.
It seemed to me as if no more than five minutes elapsed before the Britishers fled from their earth-works, and Captain Perry had leaped overboard from the foremost of the fleet of boats, wading to the shore, with the men close behind him like a party of school-boys at play.
Colonel Scott was not far in the rear of Alec’s brother, and these two brave men led the way up the embankment, despite the rapid musketry firing which was poured upon them from Britishers concealed in the thicket hard by.
