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62

The Battallion was dismissed Volunteers to remain; when a new feeling was to be produced; My gallant friends the officers all gathered round me. Capt. Towson & Barker Lts. McDonough, Davis, Stuart and Hook and even our little surgeon Dr. Near. One and all insisted on going under my command; was not this enough to flatter one. would not this make any one proud Towson & Barker were so determined on going, I began to think our Tea party would be broken up, as Col. Scott and Lt. Elliot both declared no one should go to rank me, Towson went to his tent and wrote his resignation, sent it to the Col. and Volunteered as a Citizen; This would not do. I begged for one of the Captains to go. The Colonel consented Mr. Elliot said they should not go in the Boat with him, Towson won the chance to go and went with sailing master Geo. Watts in the 2d. Boat who had orders to board the smaller Vessel - Night came -- Every man ready -- arms in order. Coffee for two & Pistols for four and the Boats prepared -- oars muffled and Grappling Irons at hand. Sailors skipping about as merry as Cricketts; a parcel of Tar, who had been marched from Albany, had just arrived and were glad to see a Vessel again - about 8 oclock we haled out of Skoneautelus Creek and tracked our Boats silently up against the rapid current of the Niagara to the mouth of Buffalo Creek Here we were to embark, to row up into Lake Erie, where there was no current, & descend to the attack on the British side where we would be least suspected -- a Detachment of the 5th. Infy. here joined us under Ensign Prestman. and the tide on the Bar being low we were obliged to wade up to our shoulders & push the Boats over the bar of Buffaloe creek; This was one of our cold sleety Evenings in October when the water of Lake Erie is too cool to bathe in and we were obliged to sit in our wet clothes for 3 hours in a small boat, and not allowed to even laugh to keep ourselves warm.

We rowed very quietly up the Lake several miles before we crossed, and then came down upon friend John Bull in hopes to catching him napping but when we neared him we found him wide awake. There was a fire on board the Detroit in the Camboose, which we steered by, Our Boats were steered like the Whaleboat with a long oar; when within a half mile of the Brig Lt. Elliot directed our men not to fire but to be silent. I told the sailor who was steering, to give me the helm and get ready his grapple, we were now within musket range when I headed for her fore foot and rounded too, so as to board her head to tide. They now hailed from the Brig, and immediately fired all their musketry, and We received a second volley before we were along side, as I preferred laying along side securely, and not to miss our game as the sailing master did in the other Boat, serving under the Enemy stern, lost severl men, and undoubt- edly would have sheered of f] If Capt Towson had not ordered the men to hale up alongside boarded & carried her -

In our Boat we were no sooner along side then well secured and every one mounted on board Lt. Elliott & myself boarded in the Brigs main rigging on the quarter deck -- The Captain aimed a severe blow at Elliots head but in tile dark struck on one side and knocked his hat overboard, In five minutes we were in possession, and our prisoners driven below, and the hatchways secured. some hands were sent aloft to loose the Tol--sails