object had the same issue.  General Scott was again engaged in repelling the former of these, and the last I saw of him on the field of battle he was near the head of his column and giving to its march a direction that would have placed him on the enemy’s right....  Having been for some time wounded and being a good deal exhausted by loss of blood, it became my wish to devolve the command on General Scott and retire from the field; but on inquiry I had the misfortune to learn that he was disabled by wounds.  I therefore kept my post, and had the satisfaction to see the enemy’s last effort repulsed.”

General Brown said to General Miller, when he saw that to win the battle the artillery on the ridge must be captured, “Sir, can you take that battery?” He replied, “I will try, sir,” and at once moved forward, conducted by Scott, who was familiar with the ground, and with his gallant command drove the enemy from its stronghold and captured the guns.

General Scott, though severely wounded, was not disabled at the time mentioned in General Brown’s report.  Having two horses killed under him, he was at this time on foot, but was finally prostrated by his two wounds—­one in the side, the other in the shoulder.  The American loss was one hundred and seventy-one killed, five hundred and seventy-two wounded, and one hundred and seventeen prisoners; that of the British was eighty-four killed, five hundred and fifty-nine wounded, and two hundred and thirty-five prisoners.

Generals Brown and Scott both being disabled, General Ripley was sent to bring off the wounded and dead.  The captured artillery, owing to want of horses and harness, was left on the field.  The army now fell back to Chippewa and fortified the place.

It being learned that General Drummond was advancing on Chippewa with a large force, the place was evacuated and the army retreated to the ferry near Black Rock.  A division was ordered to remain at Fort Erie and repair the fort, and Brigadier-General Gaines was, by General Brown’s orders, placed in command of the army.

Very soon the British General Drummond appeared in front of Fort Erie and commenced a regular investment.  Cannonading was begun on August 13th and continued at intervals, and on the 15th a heavy British column assaulted Towson’s battery, which was stationed at the northwest angle of the fort.  The assault was repelled by Captain Towson with the aid of Major Wood, commanding the Twenty-fifth Regiment.  The western angle was then attacked, with a like result.  The British eventually succeeded in obtaining possession of the exterior bastion of the old fort.  Just at this time a number of cartridges in a building near by exploded, killing many of the British and expelling them from the fort.  The losses in these affairs were:  British—­killed, fifty-seven; wounded, three hundred and nine; missing, five hundred and thirty-nine.  American—­killed, seventeen; wounded, fifty-six; missing, eleven.