War of 1812 Bicentennial

Kingston:

Saturday, October 24, 1812.

It is now ascertained that the number of prisoners taken at Queenston in the affair of the 13th was 926, including about 60 officers, and that about 500 were killed or drowned.—A gentleman, an eye witness, relates, that one Boat containing about 50 men was sunk by our Artillery, and that two others containing the same number did not bring a dozen men on shore alive.—120 of their wounded were carried to Niagara, part of which were lodged in the Church, the Hospitals not being sufficient to accommodate them, and the greatest attention was paid to them by our Surgeons. Thirty of those died of their wounds. Such as could be removed, were allowed to be taken to the American Camp or Garrison.—Our loss in killed and wounded did not exceed 90.—Our Militia behaved most gallantly and had their full share of the dangers and the honors of the day.—one of the conditions on which the prisoners were admitted to a surrender was, that the Americans should destroy all their Boats between Niagara and Queenstown, which was immediately executed.—The prisoners on their part surrendered at discretion; but those among them who were Militia were permitted to return home, under a promise that they would not take up arms during the war; an indulgence they did not deserve, as it appears that during the time they had possession of Queenstown they plundered the houses of every thing they could conveniently carry away. Indeed it appears that they were allured over by the hopes of plunder. The Houses and Farms which each of them was to have were pointed out to them, and a paper was actually given to one man assuring him of the Government House for a Tavern. A specimen of what we have to expect should we allow them to get possession here!

It was their intention to burn the town of Niagara, as they fired red hot shot from their Garrison into it, and actually burnt down the Court House and a Tannery.

On the same day a cannonading took place near Fort Erie, during which one of their Magazines blew up. About 70 men were killed by this explosion. On our side nobody was hurt.

In the early part of the day, before and after they got possession of Queenstown, the Americans were busily employed in carrying over their killed and wounded to their own shore, among the latter was Colonel Van Ransselaer, said to be since dead of his wounds; yet a great number of their dead were found in every direction where we had engaged them.